The versatility of art — Interview with Franco Pistoni

How did you get into acting? Was it a choice dictated by the case or passion?

Pistoni: I believe there is a necessary path for each one of us, because we live an unconscious, mechanical, incapable, in reality, of being the creators of our destiny. We can rarely decide how we are in a sort of vortex that drags us wherever you want. In mine, I am encapsulated in this profession“

What theatrical character did you have left in your heart? What makes it special?

Pistoni: From every character I’ve ‘indulged’, from Edipo to the Shakespearean Malvolio to the Lucifer of Genesis, I had the opportunity to experience worlds, different psychophysical horizons to discover then that, at the bottom, our existences always revolve around the same handful of Laws that govern us“

Do you prefer roles suitable for your person or away from your world?

Pistoni: Each character is, for me, an inevitable mix of subjectivity and objectivity. I don't have preferences even though, I have to say, a character as far away as possible from my features obliges me to look for different new doors that is interesting

How was it working on the film set next to Sean Connery? What do you remember about him?

Pistoni: I was just a little more than a contour, the first weapons, so there was no possibility of contact as well as acting with such an important actor. I can say that he struck me his safety, his scenic mastery, the majesty of his experience because, being me at the very first film steps, I was, on the contrary, tense and insecure“

What are the ingredients to become an actor?

Pistoni: Today as today it is enough to wear a costume, learn the jokes to parrot and follow the director’s directives. Not at all, in fact, we are increasingly lacking in great actors

Why in the comedy theatre world, is the “rice” so important?

Pistoni: As the genre itself demands (Comico comes from the Greek kômos that means ‘festino’) it would be embarrassing to arouse sadness in the public even if, I must say, there is also those who succeeds egregiamente“

Where does the character come from?

Pistoni: First of all, it was born from the inventiveness of Bonolis and the authors of the television broadcast, I limit myself to interpret it only. I think there was a banner of eye to the Pirandello License and the film played by Totò“

What are the models that you have inspired to become an artisan of the theatrical world of cinema?

Pistoni: I've been feeding on the skills of many actors, it's a very long list of names. However, I tried to get rid of these charms by trying to find a personal acting key, I don’t know how far I managed to do it,” he said.

What is the soundtrack of your life? How do you imagine the future of cinema and theatre?

Pistoni: My soundtrack is breathing, heartbeat, internal resonances, the rest is contour. I have not been going to the cinema or the theatre for years, I care less and less, so, I have no desire that these arts, in the future, undertake certain tragedies. If Humanity does not change, nothing evolves or renews“

Who would you like to thank for your personal career? What will your future projects be?

Pistoni: I have people to whom all my gratitude goes, some never met, but who do not belong to my profession. For a few months, I have become a pensioner, so now I live the ‘here and now’, day by day my lifestyle is far away from the chores until here, I am addressing myself elsewhere and, perhaps, this is my best project“