Asude: Ciao Ludovico! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have a chat with you! We’ve been following you for some time and would like to get to know you much better along with our audience. Let’s start with where you came from and how you got started with videography!
Ludovico: I was born on August 3rd 1984 in Turin. My first approach to photography was when I was 8, when my father gave me a Contax camera with which I immediately began to photograph my little world. After several years of studying and investing in my portfolio, Piaggio company sponsored me on a trip to Machu Picchu in 2011 for the anniversary of the centenary of its discovery. An off-limits adventure of more than 4000 kms across the Andres with an Ape City Passenger (a Tuk Tuk). It was a commercial roadshow that helped Piaggio promote its brand and launch the distribution of its vehicles in Perù. After 2011, I have driven more than 10.000 kms for Piaggio, some in Central America and some others in Italy and Africa. Cool stuff!
A: Such an amazing opportunity and an awesome start! So, what have you been up to lately?
L: Early this year, we founded the first online courses platform for Italian travel videomakers, the Travel Film School which has over 2000 active members from all over the country. The school is constantly growing with new courses and teachers. We’re working to build a network that can help us produce and tell travel stories with global impact. We are growing fast and have many ideas in the development. I am very proud of this adventure on which I invested more than two years of my life.
“It is not an adventure until something goes wrong” by Yvonne Chouinard
A: It’s an amazing initiative. Could you please describe your videography style for our readers?
L: I’m a documentary filmmaker with a focus on travel stories. I improved my technique a lot during these years, but today the most important aspect of my productions is the story. Many of my efforts are put on the discovery of the stories that I’m going to tell in my documentaries. I think that storytelling is the key, a good direction is the key ring.
A: So, you’re almost entirely focused on travel filmmaking and storytelling. What does being a travel storyteller requires in terms of equipment? Do you rent or do you travel with a minimal equipment?
L: I prefer to buy my equipment, but depends on the circumstances. Renting could be an excellent solution, but in my case it is very difficult to find it. I am not scared to break my gear, this is why I get unique shots sometimes. Would you rent something to someone that probably breaks it in the middle of the desert? Also, I work with mirrorless cameras. Everything small that fits easily in my bag usually comes with me.
A: Excellent points! And, what are the preparations you make before you begin filming?
L: When I’m getting prepared for a new travel, I usually put a lot of attention on cleaning and verifying my gear. Making travel videos means that you have to be really careful on spaces and dimensions of your equipment. Transportability is fundamental. I rather prefer to sacrifice a bit of quality in order to be able to travel easily.
A: As the founder of the first online courses platform for video makers in Italy, what would be the best piece of advice you could give to other filmmakers?
L: The most important advice that I give to all my students is that the story is more important than the equipment. I suggest investing in storytelling more than cameras and transportability and more than quality.
Awards Ludovico has won:
1. 1st place - Travel Section - Hollywood International Independent documentary award 2017
2. Award of Recognition Travel Feature - Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards 2017
3. WINNER - European Cinematography Awards - Best Nature Travel Film 2017
4. Official Selection - Travel Film Fest Cyprus 2017
5. Best Debut Film Maker - Calcutta International Cult Film festival 2017
6. Travel Section Winner Calcutta International Cult Film Festival 2017
7. Semi Finalist at Los Angeles Cine Fest 2017
8. Iveco Daily4Africa Team 2013 & 2014
9. Pentax Ambassadors 2011, 2012 , 2013 & 2014
10. Ferrino Ambassadors 2011 & 2012
11. K-Way Testimonials 2013
12. Monza Motor Film Festival 2012 - 2nd place
13. Piaggio Dealer Award - Best Marketing Performance 2011
A: What software do you use for post-production?
L: When i started video editing my videos, i learned Final Cut and today i personally continue to use it. In my studio we mainly use Premiere Pro and AVID Media Composer instead. Da Vinci Resolve for color grading.
A: Tell us Ludovico, what is your biggest ambition for the future?
L: One day, I’d like to be able to produce great films, documentaries and documentaries worthy of important international awards. All this remembering that my projects, at the base, will always have to have great travel stories that I think can have an important global impact.
A: We believe you’ll make it! We’d also like to know your thoughts on the future of filmmaking with the technology is advancing so fast?
L: People who can tell stories with a global impact will make the difference. If I take a look at the past, I can see that the amount of people who can produce a nice project is growing really fast. Today, we can see a lot of mediocre products but, we need new ideas and great story tellers. Another big problem is that there are too many “media containers”, audience is being spread too much across multiple platforms. Thousands of video channels, VOD platforms and social media have increased the possibility to publish good content but, made it so much more difficult to emerge and have success. Content distribution for independent producers is just a mystery, I am investing a lot to find the right way to give the right light at the content of my company.
A: Last but not least, could you share with us the best advice you’ve ever been given?
L: Investing in what you like is not a sacrifice, but a healthy madness. You will have no regrets if you do not make it, failure is just the beginning of a new adventure. This message has been the one that made me decide to invest in this career.