Dangers of technology, secrets, violation of confidentiality, manipulation, espionage. Actress Janet De Nardis wanted to tell all this in the film that became her directorial debut. Waves of positivity. At the center is a mysterious but powerful application that allows anyone who owns it to access the most sensitive data.
Where did the idea for an app that secretly hacks profiles come from?
“From a conversation with my co-authors Ersilia Cacace and Mirko Virgili. We have already begun to write history, starting with the idea that we can spy on the lives of others through technology. Imagining that certain realities, such as intelligence agencies, can penetrate into the phones of any person, we came up with such an application idea, making it more fantastic through the use of special effects. In essence, the film is a metaphor that talks about the real dangers of technology that await us in the near future. I believe that the misuse of technology and the insistence on propaganda in all aspects of life are very dangerous trends for everyone, especially for the new generations who are constantly monitored in all aspects, starting with the electronic register in school.
Why did you choose “Good Vibes” as the title?
Waves of positivity because every time a character picks up a cell phone, the first vibrations are positive, he immediately realizes how much power he has in his hands, then everything gets worse because the temptation to abuse power is too strong.
What prompted you to make your directorial debut?
After traveling into the world of cinema through commercials, short films, scripts and festivals, I felt the desire to express myself behind the camera. I enjoyed getting the public to think about the consequences of misusing technology and glorifying a technological medium, in this case the mobile phone.
What did you learn from signing this first job of yours?
It was a very complex film with a very complex production, I realized that everything will work out if you have a great team, and I had one, they listened to me and supported me throughout the whole process.
Your film starts out as a teen film, then becomes a feminicide thriller, then a gangster thriller: can you explain to us this choice of strong heterogeneity?
I wanted to tell completely different realities, the intersection of different worlds allows us to show how everyday life consists of completely different people and environments. The message is the same and addressed to everyone: beware of the oblivion of technology, of which we are all victims. We could recognize this and protect ourselves from the worst consequences, my film is an invitation to think about this. I decided to use the prism of genre cinema, which is very popular among the new generation: I really love thrillers, fantasy, everything that goes beyond “simple” drama or comedy. I find mixing genres more interesting.
How was it working with the cast, from Vincent Riotta to Caterina Murino coming through Mimmo Calopresti?
Being a fan of detail, I tried not to leave anything to chance, I pushed and even nagged the actors a little in developing their character studies, I wanted to ensure the success of the interpretations that I am proud of today. In Vincent Riotta and Caterina Murino I saw a great question and a willingness to enrich their characters with nuances, full of subtext even in the numerous close-ups that I used to achieve intimacy in the image on a limited budget.
What are your cinematic models?
As performers, I’ve always loved Charlize Theron and the versatile Will Smith. Like Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. Among Italians, I consider Paolo Sorrentino a constant source of inspiration, he manages to make every shot magical. Among the actors I respect Luca Marinelli, Caterina Murino, whom I was proud to work with before she was named godmother of Venice, and Valentina Belle, who I think is very good.
Are you already preparing your second film?
As I write this, it will be a far cry from this family fantasy. It starts with my experience (not autobiographical) and touches on the topic of motherhood.