What is the best thing that I love about my work?

I love my job because it is always full of surprises, every day you have to solve a different problem and make so many different elements fit together perfectly. Doing 2d animation requires a lot of patience and concentration but once the creativity part is worked, drawing the same subject many times becomes a meditative and relaxing action.

What is my idea of perfect happiness?

Stand on a small Greek island, kissed by the sun and refreshed by the sea that caresses my feet, take a swim and come back to lie down beside my partner.

What is my greatest fear?

I have an irrational fear of being alone, when in reality I spend so much time alone but I have to be sure there is someone at home.
I’m not afraid of thieves or scary monsters 🙂 I’m just afraid of loneliness but I’m working on it !!

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

I am extremely touchy and opportunistic but without realizing it, also Maybe even a little too vicious 😉 but i love the “Dolce Vita”.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?

I adore and admire the work of Ruff Mercy, British visual artist and director of several video clips. I think that at the moment it is my greatest source of inspiration.

What is my greatest extravagance?

Sneakers, I love them and I have lots of pairs, some of them never worn.

On what occasion would I lie?

I’m not a person who by nature loves to lie, on the contrary I never do it, but I think I would do it only if the truth could really create so much harm to another person.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

When the customer is very dull and does not like to have a constructive exchange: I feel like a machine that does its job. Accounting and debt collection, which often happens when you’re a freelancer. Customers who ask for a discount on a discount, that really hurts me because I find it disrespectful.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

Every time I face a new job I feel happy because it’s like giving in a sponge, washing everything and finding a blank page in front of you: all this is really exciting!
I think one of the jobs that made me happiest was the video clip made for CLAP! CLAP! (https://youtu.be/3p5SdbNrFfM) with drawings by Jonathan Calugi.
I animated this work in 2017, in my kitchen, where I had set up a small studio. This is really a nice memory!

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I would like to be more instinctive and being in contact with my body, instead I am a very cerebral person, I forget reality and I float among my thoughts. This is very nice for the business side but definitely less beautiful in facing everyday life.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

My work is starting to be recognizable and this is really important, but I still have a lot to learn, experiment and refine. For the moment I am really satisfied with the work I did together with David Hartono and Monogrid for the visuals of an Italian/Persian band called Bowland.

What do the words ‘The Financial Freedom to Create’ mean to me?

It means being lucky enough to be able to express yourself but also means the responsibility to spread, as much as possible: culture, experiences and contacts. Give something back in charge of attention and love, is the most important thing.

Where would I most like to live?

Probably the Canary Islands, I think of Fuerte Ventura or in any case in a place where there is always a mild climate, you can go to the beach and slow down the pace of the days.

What is my most treasured possession?

My partner and my closest friends, my health and my vinyl collection.

What is my most marked characteristic?

I like being professional, punctual and very meticulous at work.
I am a pro active person who tries to find solutions for the community too.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

I live in Florence, so I am surrounded by beauty but I think the place that inspires me the most is the Bargello museum, not that much famous but really a pearl of my city.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?

My favorite place to drink is definitely a small “fiaschetteria” behind the Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo called Nuvoli where you taste lovely red wine.
My favorite place to eat is a small “trattoria” near the San Lorenzo market and it’s called La Burrasca: I’m just hungry to name it.

What books influenced my life and how?

Mostly I read very technical things or biographies of artists like “The Illusion of life” by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston or “da cosa nasce cosa” by Bruno Munari. At the moment I am reading “Crossing the walls” by Marina Abramović. A book that really change my mind set and made me understand jazzmen better is “Peggio di un bastardo” the autobiography of Charles Mingus: that book is crazy!

Who are my favorite writers?

My favorite contemporary writer is probably Simon Reynolds because he has a really complete vision of the world of music and undergorund movements. I really like an Italian named Marco Vichi who writes police stories. Among the classics I think Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

I love music and my life is full of it. I would start with Plastikman (Closer), go to Raymond Scott (soothing sounds for baby) then I would go to a crazy thing like Art ensemble of Chicago (Reese And The Smooth Ones), ending with an Italian classic: Bruno Martino – Estate. One day is very short!

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Don Draper of Mad Men played by Jon Hamm

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My grandmother, my parents and my photography teacher, all of them contributed to the formation of the person I am today.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?

Dead Poets Society – 1989 – Peter Weir
Barry Lindon – 1975 – Stanley Kubrick
Il trono di sangue (蜘蛛巣城 Kumonosu-jō?) – 1957 – Akira Kurosawa

What role plays art in my life and work?

I would say a really important part of my life. Every day I look at artist catalogs, at Instagram in search of inspiration and latest fashions, open youtube or vimeo in search of experimental animations. For me it is important to increase my cultural background and always be updated on what is happening around me.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

Jonathan Calugi, a dear and trusted friend, a great adviser and an excellent visual artist. (https://www.behance.net/Lovers)

Whom would I like to work with in 2019?

I would like to work with BadBadNotGood, with Nils Fraham and with Kendrick Lamar in the music field. In the fashion field with Gucci, Louis Vuitton and off-white. You can dream every now and then !! 😉

Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2019?

As I mentioned above, I love Ruff Mercy’s work and I’d like to see it live to learn his techniques.
In Italy I respect a lot Nerdo TV, an animation studio based in Turin and I would like to do a project with them. In France i love MMparis, what they do with communication for luxury brands is really fresh and poetic

What project, in 2019, am I looking forward to work on?

I still don’t know what I have in mind this 2019, surely I would like to do many other video clips since I love music. A dream would be to work with some artist from the new impro-jazz wave.

Where can you see me or my work?
my videos

vimeo.com/simonebrillarelli
my sketches
instagram.com/simonebrillarelli
my projects
behance.net/SimoneBrillarelli

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

Passion is something that burns inside, it drives us to improve and always be busy. Passion is what drives human beings to do great things even without a purpose. Passion is one of the reasons this life is worth.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story?
Jonathan Calugi (https://www.behance.net/Lovers), Ray Oranges (https://ray-oranges.com), Fresh YO! Label (http://www.freshyolabel.com)

How can you contact me?
brillarelli@gmail.com or search for my name on social media