Nicola De Stefani in Brooks Range, Alaska
Born in Milan, Italy, Nicola (Nick) De Stefani discovered his passion for photography at a young age. After obtaining a degree in Natural Photography at the European Institute of Design where he received the highest score possible, Nick began working in various aspects of the film industry. His primary role in the beginning was that of a producer and documentarist.
Through his former production company, World Watching Film, Nick and his partner created and produced an extensive list of documentaries for the Italian market. His work in the world of documentary filmmaking equipped him with an incredibly diverse skillset that would later allow him to expand his expertise into the advertising industry where he has worked as a line producer for the last two decades.
“My schooling, and being a filmmaker and a documentarist in the first 5 years of my career really trained me in the practical use of cameras, cine-cameras and lenses, and with the use, or control, of the light, which is the basic element of filming,” explained Nick De Stefani. “All of the things I just mentioned really helped me to understand what’s required to ensure the attention of the audience and forced me to focus and concentrate on how to give the proper means of communications to those (directors, DPs, set designers and other roles) who are in charge of achieving it.”
While working as a line producer, Nick has been in charge of the overall function and day-to-day production management of more than a hundred commercials, many of which have received the advertising industry’s most impressive accolades. Nick played an integral role as the line producer of a commercial for the Mercedes Class A vehicle. The commercial, which was directed by multi-award winning director Dario Piana, received the Golden Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, as well as several awards at the New York Advertising Film Festival, Epic Awards and Moebius Venice Film Festival.
Over the course of his career, Nick De Stefani has worked alongside some of the world’s most celebrated individuals including two-time Oscar Award winner George Clooney, super models Eva Herzigova and Naomi Campbell, soccer champion David Beckham, Olympic swimmer Federica Pellegrini and many more.
Although Nick began his career on the more creative side of the entertainment industry where he often fulfilled roles such as co-director, director of photography, co-writer and cameraman, he realized early on that he thrived best on the business side of things. Nick’s meticulous preparation and creative problem solving have been key assets in the production of a long list of successful projects including commercials for Italian automobile maker Lancia featuring Eva Herzigova, 13 commercials for Fastweb, 11 commercials for Italian chocolate manufacturer Ferrero, 7 commercials for Fiat, the feature film First Night and many more.
While he works primarily in the strategic organization and execution of a project, Nick De Stefani remains passionate about the artistic value of the productions he associates himself with.
“If I can help to please the audience with an aesthetically beautiful video product, a commercial for example, or a feature film or a documentary, if I can help to pass important messages and maybe even values besides the need there is to create something that sells that specific product, be it the commercial itself, or a film or a doc, then my purposes are met in the end,” said Nick De Stefani.
It is rare for producers, and most positions fulfilled behind the scenes, to receive individual praise for their work outside of being associated with the entire production team because the goal of all of the departments involved is to be able to work together and create the client and the director’s vision with seamless ease. That being said, individuals like Nick De Stefani, often find their opportunity to shine when unexpected problems arise and they are called upon to circumvent obstacles while maintaining the efficiency and progress of a production.
One instance where Nick was able to demonstrate his vast expertise as a line producer was on a commercial entitled “Aria” for the Fiat Bravo. Nick was able to do what no other member of the production could; he managed to find, transport, and hatch butterfly cocoons, as live butterflies were an integral feature of the commercial. The season for butterflies in Europe had long passed, and so, while on location in Prague, Czech Republic with co-directors Anthony Atanasio & Valerie Martinez during the below freezing month of September, Nick was able to find hundreds of cocoons in South and Central America.
“I had them shipped to Prague where the cocoons were hatched with the help of an Italian entomologist whom I knew from my previous work. The commercial ended up successful and aesthetically pleasing,” said Nick De Stefani.
A truly talented and passionate individual, audiences around the world will continue to be seeing more of Nick De Stefani’s work for decades to come.