The Milan trip
I was gone for only five days last week but it sure felt like longer, a very jam-packed quick visit. The reason I was in Milan as I had mentioned was work: the italian release of the Ratatouille DVD. I prepared a presentation for the press conference held at Terrazza Martini (great view of the Duomo from there). I used keynote for the talk, it was quite interesting to put together something like that. It’s really darn easy with that software and you’ll be sure to feel like Steve Job, remote control in hand and all. My multimedia talk was mostly about how I got to where I am at and how my job as a storyboard artist works. I even did a little silly comic about the process, will have to post that here sometime too. I also showed some sequences from the film in storyboard and finished form. I worked on a couple of the deleted scenes on the DVD (only on the blueray in the US) and an italian newspaper has posted one on their site, you can see it here. At the event I had the honor of meeting Bruno Bozzetto, an italian animation legend. I watched movies like West and Soda and the Fantasia-like Allegro ma non troppo when I was a toddler, they have a special and nostalgic place in my memories. I also had the pleasure to give a longer presentation to students at the European Institute of Design (which I briefly attended 15 years ago) covering storyboarding on Ratatouille but also my own work on comics and self-publishing. It was really fun to talk with students about drawing, storytelling, drive and passion. They seemed excited about the SketchCrawl idea, so we might have a nice contingent joining in from Italy. After the crazy couple of days of PR and interviews I was able to head down to Genova and hang out with my family for a day or two. All and all it was a really hectic but interesting trip. I want to thank especially all the wonderful friends at Disney Italy, they really made my visit easy and enjoyable, they are pros. Here’s some photos from my iphone, sorry about the low quality I didn’t bring my good camera, but I hope to receive some decent photos they took at the event soon.
The Duomo from Terrazza Martini, very grey day.
The set up at the press conference.
How cool is that building?
The students at the European Institute of Design.
My parents’ dog Briciola - means crumb - from a certain angle (I couldn’t capture) she looks like an ewok.
On my way back, over the Alps an amazingly beautiful dawn.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Sure sounds like you were busy, but hey, that’s exciting and it must’ve been somewhat rewarding for you to do this in your “home country.” That animated is wonderful. It’s really great to see your boards in action. Thanks for the link!
February 8th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
^Meant to write “animatic” not “animated.”
February 8th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Sorry to inundate you with comments, but I wanted to add one more thing. That shot of the Alps is amazing!!! I’ve traveled through the Austrian Alps by train and that was spectacular, but I have never seen them from this angle. Nice capture! Also, I have walked in and around the Duomo in Milan, but never seen it from this angle, either. Almost seems like you were on one of those cranes.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Enrico,
It is great that you were able to go back to your home country to participate in a movie that you were heavily involved with. Cudos to the Studio that and recognizes and rewards its contributors. Based on the “Art of Ratatouille Book”, it looks like you were not only involved in the story boarding but layout design for the art department.
The Italian version must be interesting. An Italian doing a Frenchman.
cK
February 10th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Caro Enrico, I have (finally) received my copy of Three Trees make a Forest and enjoyed it immensely. I was actually surprised because I thought this collaborative effort was ALSO around a story (possibly because of the evocative title), which it was in a way but not in the sense I was expecting it. A lovely book nevertheless.
Waiting for the next one…
February 11th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
LeeRoy- yes indeed, it was rewarding to be back in Italy and show what I do for a living. Glad you liked the animatic. And YES that was a beautiful dawn, the sun gradually hit all the peaks just as we were flying over it. I really really wished I had my canon with me just for that shot.
cK- the italian version is not bad, no famous italian actor but all involved did a good job. The great thing is that over there you a get a 2 dvd version, with 95% of the extras and special features, while in the US most of all that is only available on blueray.
Nathalie- ah great to hear Nathalie! thanks … 3 tree make a forest 2 ? sounds like a good idea … gotta call up Tadahiro and Ronnie.
e
February 11th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
February 14th, 2008 at 11:53 am
wonderfull picture of the sun set over the Alpes.
…
and I believe Italia been the best place to live in for an artist in europe.
(I was for a while living in Firenze, kind of an intelectual paradise with the scens of perfect made cappuccinos… I loved it
February 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Lee-Roy - yah, what you’re gonna do … I guess we’ll slowly head that way … I do hear it’s pretty amazing … but still …. they should have given the DVD release a little more features.
Man Arenas- ah … nice … cappuccinos … the question is how do you pay for those as the intellectual artist ?
e
March 9th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Ciao Enrico :-), qua è un italiamo che ti scrive vicino alle Alpi che tutti ci invidiano ah ah io ho visto il film in inglese mi è piaciuto molto e complimenti per il lavoro , ma non sono potuto venire ad vederti a Milano
due domande 
esiste un video del tuo incontro con lo IED ? hai frequentato lo IED di Milano tu? thanks