Emilio Mercanti a talented filmmaker

Emilio Mercanti,a talented filmmaker from Civitanova Marche, Italy, developed a deep passion for cinema at an early age, immersing himself in films daily. His fascination with the art form soon expanded to photography at 14, where he began experimenting and honing his skills. This exploration led him to the world of videomaking and directing, where he found his true calling. Emilio pursued formal education at an art high school, seeking guidance from videomaker Tommaso Malaisi. Through this mentorship, he discovered not only the technical aspects of filmmaking but also his desire to create works that move the soul and leave a lasting impact on the audience. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/birdmanproduction/tictac-unloop-the-future-distributi on-funding?ref=project_link 

Cosa ti ha ispirato a creare TicTac - Unloop the Future? C'è stato un momento particolare o un'idea che ha scatenato il concetto del film? 

What inspired you to create TicTac - Unloop the Future? Was there a particular moment or idea that sparked the film's concept? 

1. Tic Tac originates from a desire that I believe resides in each of us—the wish to be able to change our choices. The film’s concept is built on the notion of a kind of “final reckoning” that occurs when one lies or withholds something from someone very dear, forcing us to retrace our steps in order to determine the right course of action.

Come regista con una formazione in fotografia e videomaking, in che modo queste competenze hanno influenzato il tuo approccio alla direzione di TicTac? As a filmmaker with a background in photography and videomaking, how did those skills shape your approach to directing TicTac? 

Choosing the path of a director inherently places one in a challenging position, as it requires a comprehensive understanding of every department and an insight into how each team intends to work, from sound recording to post-production. 

My background in photography and videomaking has not only provided me with interesting visual inspirations but has also enabled me to discern the moments when it was most advantageous to rely on the expertise of my crew versus the moments when close supervision was necessary. This balance is essential for creating a work that feels both human and authentic in its visual language; otherwise, one risks producing a film that only makes sense visually to its creator. I believe that while this profession is as beautiful as it is complex, given that its ultimate destination lies with the masses. I think every young director should endeavor to participate in as many projects as possible, assuming various roles along the way. 

Personally, however, I would recommend steering clear of acting, despite it being one of the experiences to explore, haha.

Hai lavorato a film sperimentali come Believe In You e 2+2—come hanno influenzato questi progetti precedenti il tuo processo creativo in TicTac? 

You’ve worked on experimental films like Believe In You and 2+2—how did these earlier projects influence your creative process in TicTac? 

Believe In You was my first work, and I hold it in very high regard because it allowed me to engage with a world that was previously unknown to me. It won numerous festivals and was featured in notable screenings, thanks in large part to the Wild Filmmaker community and Michele Diomà. In contrast to TicTac, however, I believe it is a more "embryonic" product—being a silent film with only diegetic audio from objects and a musical accompaniment, without any dialogues, in addition to its experimental nature. TicTac, on the other hand, is a full-fledged live action production, complete with breathtaking dialogue and scenes of intense dramatic tension. I believe that both Believe In You and the 2+2 music video have influenced my approach to depicting the protagonist’s mental processes, capturing images almost as they appear in dreams. The images must be worthy of such an ethereal quality. Both projects have significantly contributed to my formation in visual storytelling, and TicTac has reaped the complete benefits of that experience.

. I loop temporali e il destino sono temi affascinanti nel cinema. In che modo TicTac - Unloop the Future esplora queste idee in modo unico? 

Time loops and fate are fascinating themes in cinema. How does TicTac - Unloop the Future explore these ideas in a unique way? 

I consider these themes to be among the most captivating precisely because they attempt to explain phenomena that currently elude our full understanding namely, the concept of time as a "fourth dimension" akin to space. With TicTac, I sought to represent this idea within a very specific and personal context. 

The film is not meant to provide definitive answers, but rather to evoke a sense of being understood through the conjectures and patterns we create when we reflect on our choices. Humanity is making tremendous strides in technology, and sooner or later I believe we will reach an understanding of this elusive dimension. For now, however, it is delightful to explore and observe it with the curiosity of a child. 

The cast embraced the challenge of offering their own interpretative key to this vision, complementing my direction. In particular, Riccardo Andreucci, Linda Campana, and Simone Riccioni were remarkable in fully capturing the essence of my intentions for this project.

 Qual è stata la sfida più grande nel portare TicTac alla vita, dalla concezione alla post-produzione? 

What has been the biggest challenge in bringing TicTac to life, from conception to post-production? 

ITA:Bhe essendo completamente indipendente ed essendomi appoggiato sulle mie forze direi tutto, abbiamo girato in due giorni per cui in primis l'avere poco tempo ed un'idea di visione chiara ci hanno messo a dura prova ma siamo molto soddisfatti del risultato, un lato difficile è stato il seguire narrativamente tutto e non sbagliare in errori in cui era facile cadere. Ci sono stati più momenti difficili proprio a ridosso delle riprese, abbiamo lasciato un costume per il Daemon nel magazzino, con Simone Riccioni (Daemon) che ha recitato in entrambi i giorni con la febbre. Siamo stati messi a dura prova diciamo ahaha, ma ne siamo usciti sicuramente con degli ottimi risultati. 

ENG:Well, being completely independent and relying solely on my own resources, I would say that every aspect was challenging. 

We shot the film in just two days, which meant that the limited time and the need for a clear, unwavering vision really put us to the test. 

We are, however, very satisfied with the final result. One of the tougher aspects was maintaining a coherent narrative and avoiding the pitfalls where it would have been all too easy to make mistakes. There were several difficult moments, particularly towards the end of the shoot. 

For instance, we left a costume for the Daemon in the warehouse, and Simone Riccioni (Daemon) had to perform on both days despite battling a fever. We were truly pushed to our limits, haha, but we undoubtedly emerged with excellent results.

Attualmente stai cercando finanziamenti per la distribuzione internazionale nei festival. Cosa speri che il pubblico di tutto il mondo possa portarsi a casa da TicTac? You're currently seeking funding for international festival distribution. What do you hope audiences worldwide will take away from TicTac? 

ITA: Mi auguro che il pubblico si possa in qualche modo rivedere, che possa rimanerne affascinato o semplicemente intrattenuto da una visione di un certo tipo di una determinata tematica sociale che coinvolge tutti noi come l'essere parte di una coppia avendo poi la possibilità di sostenere il prodotto stesso direttamente come più si preferisce 

ENG: I hope that audiences will, in some way, see themselves reflected in the film that they find it captivating or simply entertained by a unique perspective on a specific social theme that resonates with all of us, such as the experience of being in a couple. 

Additionally, I aspire for the viewers to feel compelled to support the project directly in whichever manner they see fit.

Con la tua esperienza nella creazione di video musicali e cortometraggi sperimentali, come bilanci la visione artistica con le aspettative del pubblico dei festival e dei distributori? 

With your experience creating music videos and experimental shorts, how do you balance artistic vision with the expectations of festival audiences and distributors?

ITA: Sicuramente venendo da un'opera semplice quanto riconosciuta ormai come Believe In You sapevo fin dall'inizio di "alzare il tiro" e cercare di creare qualcosa di nuovo anche dal punto di vista visivo, ho cercato di non cadere con una regia il più semplice possibile quanto comunicativa dove necessaria, l'esperienza dei videoclip musicali secondo me sono un'ottima gavetta per imparare a gestire piccoli set ed iniziare con le indicazioni attoriali verso chi in primis attore non è, ti costringe a trovare soluzioni efficaci velocemente e ad aver sempre un pensiero sul cosa verrà dopo, spero che tutto ciò venga intravisto in TIC TAC anche dai distributori quanto dagli spettatori come tentativo di portare in sala e nei festival nuove idee di fruizione anche dei cortometraggi oltre che delle produzioni stesse, l'aver girato in una sola location strizza sicuramente l'occhio all'ottimizzazione produttiva 

ENG: Certainly, coming from a relatively simple work such as Believe In You which has now achieved recognition. 

I knew from the very beginning that I had to "raise the bar" and strive to create something innovative, even from a visual standpoint. I endeavored to avoid a direction that was merely simplistic yet communicative when necessary. In my view, the experience gained from producing music videos serves as an excellent apprenticeship for managing small sets and for beginning to direct individuals who, first and foremost, are not trained actors. 

This experience compels you to quickly devise effective solutions and always keep in mind what comes next. 

I hope that both distributors and audiences can perceive in TicTac an attempt to introduce fresh ideas regarding the viewing of short films, as well as the productions themselves, whether in theaters or at festivals. Additionally, the decision to shoot in a single location certainly highlights a focus on production optimization.

Cosa ti aspetta dopo TicTac? Ci sono progetti futuri o idee che sei entusiasta di sviluppare? 

What’s next for you after TicTac? Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’re excited to develop? 

ITA: Diciamo che per ora mi sto concentrando sul terminare la visione distributiva di TICTAC per poter proporre altri progetti, ho in mente una sceneggiatura per un lungometraggio che sto portando avanti da un anno oramai ma a tempo debito premeremo l'acceleratore anche su quella, per ora mi voglio godere il viaggio di TICTAC nei loop temporali

ENG: At the moment, I am focused on finalizing the distribution strategy for TicTac so that I can confidently propose new projects. 

I have been developing a screenplay for a feature film for about a year now, and when the time is right, I fully intend to accelerate its production. 

For now, however, I want to fully savor the journey of TicTac as it navigates through its temporal loops.