Interview with Giovanni Agnelli, Producer of Welcome to the Rileys

Producer Giovanni Agnelli took time out to answer questions for Welcome to the Rileys Saturday's Staff.
(Our very own -S-!) Here is a portion of the interview:

-How did you get into the movie business?

Giovanni Agnelli - I started out wanting to be an actor. I had friends in the business that were always telling me I had the “look” to be an actor. I took a few classes and videotaped them. After reviewing, I realized that the look was ok, but the talent was nowhere to be found. I decided right then to focus my efforts behind the camera.

-Did you always know you wanted to work in movies?

Not at all, I actually wanted to work in real estate. I love architecture and design but dealing with insane newlyweds looking for their dream nest seemed like a one way road to hell.

-What was it that drew you to being a producer?

I love movies. I love television. I am a fan of the bizarre tiny film and the epic blockbuster. I wanted to have a chance to make other people feel what I felt when I was sitting there looking up at that screen. There is an amazing allure to Hollywood that you don’t realize is just a façade when you first get here. I really thought I could just step in and make a movie…boy was I wrong.

-How did you get a hold of the WTTR script?

I got the script via Ridley Scott at Scott Free. We were doing another project with Tony Scott, but it fell through. We really enjoyed working together and wanted to find another project that we could work on.

-Was there a concern about the Twilight fans? And not having to try to cater to them?

No, absolutely not. I look at the Twilight fans as a blessing. Because of Twilight, fans are going to see films they might have missed otherwise. They are looking back at the actors past films and taking interest in their future films. They get to discover whole new worlds. The Twilight fans have been such a unified force that it has given the actors the ability to choose roles that they may not have been able to do before. The possibility of a whole new audience being exposed to independent film making is actually really exciting.

-For those that have read the script, we know that the ending in the movie is actually different. Can you explain why it was changed?

Kristen and Jake didn’t think it was authentic. The whole thing was a very collaborative process. In the end it seemed to flow and make more sense. The basic repetitive thread is honesty. It needs to be honest.

-What are your expectations for the movie?

I hope the film allows the actors to show that they are more than their iconic roles of the past. I really hope that they are given the recognition they deserve when the awards roll out. They busted their asses and there isn’t a trace of Twilight, Sopranos, or Frozen River in any of these performances. They have exceeded my expectations already.

To read article in it's entirety, please visit: Welcome to the Rileys Saturday