Fact is, we’ve seen a number of production companies we’ve worked for shutter their doors. We’ve seen our media contacts dwindle and countless colleagues leave the business as production work withered away. 

On a balmy May evening this year, we opened our doors to friends, former clients and colleagues, and a handful of our closest family, from Italy and the U.S., to celebrate with us. We held our event in an old shoe factory owned by dear friends, a nod to our Tuscan city’s shoemaking legacy, who’d created a beautiful setting thanks to their astute aesthetic sense. Minimalist, industrial, yet welcoming. Because we believe in promoting our territory, the caterer prepared beautifully presented dishes with local ingredients, and a few Chicago-inspired ones as a nod to where our business was born, a selection of artisanal beers and organic, biodynamic wines. Lining the space’s walls, stills unfolded into a visual timeline of projects touching on virtually every sector’s Italy’s celebrated for, including two viewing stations where guests could take a break from the party to view old showreels, excerpts from branded videos and documentaries we’ve produced, and wonder at our very first project we collaborated on, an artistically edited video sans dialogue showing a changing Sicily I’d been privileged to film on the cusp of the second millennium.

The atmosphere and conviviality, the well wishes from beloved guests made this a truly memorable celebration, much-needed at this moment at this late stage in our careers. Mostly, it was a reminder of how much we’d seen and done, and how very grateful we are that we’ve come this far even despite uncertain times. And who knows? Twenty-five years isn’t that far away.

Grazie infinite to the fabulous, much-adored, Letizia Donati and Gianluca Maver for hosting us at Ombra.
And to Laura Peri for her delicious catering, Antonio Massa of Birrificio Valdarno Superiore and to Clio Cicogni Winery.