In this exclusive Creativepool Member Spotlight, we are thrilled to introduce Adriano Chiarelli, a visionary whose career in cinema and storytelling has been shaped by deep literary connections, groundbreaking work on social issues, and a passion for crafting narratives that resonate with audiences on a profound level.
From working alongside renowned directors like Paolo Sorrentino and Matteo Garrone to producing his own films, Adriano brings a unique blend of artistic authenticity and relentless dedication to the screen. Join us as we dive into his creative journey, uncovering the influences, challenges, and inspirations that have defined his exceptional career.
How did you first get into the industry?
I started as an assistant director for the debut film of Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino, titled One Man Up. After that, I continued my training with various Neapolitan directors, who have different methodologies and traditions from Roman cinema.
Where are you based now and who do you work for?
I lived in London for two years, from 2020 to 2022, but had to return to Italy for personal reasons. I plan to go back to London soon to resume working there, as the situation in Italy is really dire. At the moment, I work for various production companies, but the one I have the most stable relationship with is TRAMP LTD, based in Rome.
What is your personal background and what role did it play in your career?
I've always had a deep connection with literature and writing. Over the years, writing both books and films for the cinema has come naturally to me. I don't draw too much from personal experience when writing, as I don't like personalisms. Instead,
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
I would have loved to produce music and discover talents in the music world.
How would you describe your style?
I focus on creating original stories, using cinematic techniques, language, and archetypes—especially in thriller, crime, horror, and noir genres. Only in a second phase do I mix the genre with personal experiencse, which can lead to unexplored paths and interesting narrative forms.
Invention and personal experience must necessarily intertwine. When personal experience merges with invention, it can add emotional depth, authenticity, and unique perspectives that can make the narrative more engaging.
Which individuals do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?
Martin Scorsese, Luis Bunuel, Werner Herzog. Italians: Elio Petri, Francesco Rosi.
What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?
Be able to endure very painful situations, rejections, and all kinds of mockery, because after a series of disappointments, there is always some satisfaction that follows.
What tips would you give to other professionals to get more clients?
Public relations, self-promotion, good contents
Can you share a memorable experience from your career journey that shaped your approach to creativity?
The cinematic experience that marked my journey in the world of film was working as an assistant director for Matteo Garrone on the film 'L'imbalsamatore'.
His way of storytelling, of improvising with actors, his use of the camera, the linguistic freedom, the abandonment of any form of dependence on the script, are skills that few can have and use like Matteo Garrone. If others tried, they would face disasters. When he does it, he creates memorable films.
The second fundamental experience for me was directing the film "100 mistakes", a production based in South London, which was entirely entrusted to me for its entire development, budgeting and production process, first, and then for directing.
It was a film set in the world of Croydon and surrounding gangs, but it talked about possible redemption, about positive values. The crew was made up entirely of former gang members who were part of a rehabilitation program that involved audiovisual training.
Coming into contact with that kind of urban culture, understanding its dynamics, understanding what is behind certain life choices - often poverty and despair - seeing that world from the inside with my own eyes and, finally, being accepted in such a context was an honor for me. Unfortunately, the experience had to be interrupted due to my illness, which brought me back to Italy.
What kind of tools/kit/software could you not do without?
Final Draft is pretty much a must-have for anyone serious about writing screenplays. It's become the go-to software for industry professional screenwriters.
What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?
I need to spend enough time reflecting on a scene, a page, an idea. Sometimes days can go by without writing a single line, because in the meantime I'm mentally constructing the most suitable narrative solutions, then I promptly write everything down in a few hours.
What’s the work achievement you’re most proud of?
My first book, 'Malapolizia,' addressed police brutality. It detailed cases of police brutality against unarmed civilians who often died as a result of the beatings they received. While this book led to several defamation lawsuits filed against me by the Italian police (all of which I won), it also managed to shift public perception of the police, albeit partially.
The public came to understand that the police were no longer infallible and untouchable, but were often prone to making mistakes and committing unjustified abuses of power. Today, after a long process of cultural, social, and political change, there is a law against torture, and the police are much more attuned to human rights, thinking twice before resorting to violence against migrants and other vulnerable members of society.
As someone with experience in the industry, what trends do you foresee shaping the future of creativity?
Today, it is imperative to engage a young audience. We must reintroduce adolescents to art, educating them about new aesthetic forms and contemporary artistic standards.
By attracting young people with innovative art forms, we can cultivate not only conscious and thoughtful generations but also individuals who will drive innovation and propel society towards a more advanced future. I am not referring solely to technological advancements but rather to a broader evolution of consciousness and culture.
What do you think sets apart truly exceptional creatives from the rest of the pack?
It is extremely difficult to identify trends today, as they are constantly and rapidly changing. I can say that in the audiovisual world, any content that attracts young audiences is already a winner. There is a turbulent, fluid generational shift underway that is difficult to pinpoint. We must intercept and narrate this shift
How do you think technology has influenced the creative industries and how have you adapted to these changes?
There was great concern among screenwriters about the rapid and aggressive advent of AI. These concerns are currently unfounded, as even the most advanced form of artificial intelligence cannot match the complexity of the human mind in conceiving articulated, original, and personal forms of narrative.
Ask any AI to write a screenplay or a story, including varied elements, and it will always respond with banal, disconcerting, and often unintentionally comical proposals. The human mind will always be one step ahead of AI.
The problem is different for the visual arts, but even in that case, we can all now distinguish between a work created by human ingenuity and one created artificially. Some people are satisfied with shortcuts, while others want to sweat and suffer to propose original contents.
What is the one thing that you would change about the industry?
I would facilitate a market access based more on true meritocracy than on one's ability to cultivate public relations. There are phenomenal artists out there who fail to emerge because they lack the right connections. This is scandalous and has nothing to do with art
Any websites, books or resources you would recommend?
Books about narratology and narrative structures: Tzvetan Todorov, “The Poetics of Prose”; Roland Barthes, “Image, Music, Text Mythologies; Umberto Eco, “Six Walks in the Fictional Woods”; Gerard Genette, “Narrative Discourse”; Seymour Chatman, “Story and Discourse”.
Books to improve screenwriting skills: Syd Field, “Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting”; Robert McKee, “Story”; Christopher Vogler, “the Writers’ journey”.
I highly recommend downloading and reading many screenplays and writing constantly, every day, each following their own method and inclinations but...write, write, write.
