What is the best thing that I love about my work? What i love about my job as filmmaker is that i get the chance to dive into many different stories and issues. I can sit back and let curiosity drive me. Curiosity is indeed my guide both in my personal and
professional life.

What is my idea of happiness? I have always thought that happiness means waking up in the morning and do something because you want to, not because you have to. This is true both for work and personal relationships. Then Bojack Horseman taught me it’s not that easy…

What is my greatest fear? I don’t recall where and i don’t recall when exactly but I heard a story which goes pretty much like this: “When i will die, i will not be scared of dying. I will be scared of being surrounded by all those talents of mine which i didn’t manage to make the most of. I imagine them angrily looking at me sort of fading away, forced to be buried with me without having had the change to leave a tranche of their existence.” Here you are, this is what i am scared of.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I have many flaws, but i learned to live with them. What i can not stand is my inability to do something unwillingly.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire? The two professionals I admire the most are: Hayao Miyazaki ed Hideo Kojima. I don’t admire them only as artists but also as founders of their own creative studios. I like their artistic and ideological courage. I also like their willingness to built their own “oasis”: there they can find their own reflection and keep their intellectual independence safe.

What is my greatest extravagance? Many find odd that I let myself getting caught into the stories I love and their characters. To be honest, I indeed look a bit nuts when i end up talking about the same things all over again for hours, weeks, even years! It’s fun though, really fun!

On what occasion would I lie? I am not really good at lying. I am trying to improve my negotiation skills but without success. Maybe i could lie for the sake of something i consider a greater good.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Money. From the budget to the compensation…and I also dislike the fact that after all you need a return on the investment made to finance the project, right? This necessity can sometimes negatively affect the whole concept of the project.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? Definitely at the beginning of a project: that is when i am in my studio and i start off with the creative process. I start seeing many disconnected imagines which however already reflect a mood and the message i am going to hold on afterwards. This is the North Star that will guide me throughout the process.

If I could, what would I change about myself? I would like to know well at least a couple of foreign languages. I would also really love to get pissed off less often…

What is my greatest achievement in work? I think i am a natural born leader. Also i love what i do and i am honest while doing it: it’s unlikely for me to work on a project that doesn’t reflect my personality and ideas.

Where would I most like to live? As a kid i have always thought that if i had decided to move somewhere i would have chosen Canada, maybe near little lake surrounded by a forest. My travels brought me to Iceland and Japan, but i consider them like oasis where to come back time to time for a few days. I have a strong bond with my town, Calderara, a few km outside Milan: as of today, i think there’s really no better place where i can be.

What is my most treasured possession? My pc

What is my most marked characteristic? I wish i could say my enthusiasm, the truth is that the answer is probably my nose.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? There is a park near my house. It is an old mine site where they created two little lakes surrounded by woods. I go there on daily basis, when i feel fine and when i don’t. Not sure if i can say that place is inspirational to me, but surely I feel relaxed when i am there, and that’s enough.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city? I think i don’t have one…

What books influenced my life and how? Among the books that influenced me the most i have to mention The adventures of Tom Sawyer, but “Uno, nessuno e centomila” by the Italian author Pirandello surely makes the list and I would also add Kafka’s “the metamorphois”.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? I love “Breathe” by Midge Ure : given that i will then stop “breathing” for real, i would pick this song.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? I you ask me to pick just one, i go for Solid Snake. Not exactly the stereotypical, perfect hero. On the contrary, he’s an independent thinker whose name is synonym for “resilience”.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? I have huge respect for all those who decided to do the right thing even when the situation did not seem to allow it. I will mention two names: Rudolf Jacobs and Chen Guangcheng.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? One flew over the cucko’s nest and Spirited Away

What role plays art in my life and work? It’s crucial. Due to health reasons i was forced to stay at home for several months sometime ago, Art was my best companion in that dark period. Since then I constantly need it, day after day.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? I don’t know, probably my mother is my greatest fan. Wait! I’m italian, definitely my mom! My partner in crime is my girlfriend, my partner in time is Alessandro Marini.

What project, in 2020, am I looking forward to work on? I am working on a new documentary about plastic pollution on the Alps (microplastics and other contamitants ) I hope it will get the chance to participate to many festivals around the world. I would really like to contribute to other projects with other creative, like-minded people. Video games or comic books for for instance.

Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2020? Working on a National Geographic documentary would be incredible. I would like to work on a project with the writer Paolo Cognetti and the illustrator Nicola Magrin. They are artists I admire a lot, and i share with them my passion for mountains. As far as the video games world is concerned, my dream would be to meet Hideo Kojima, but i also love the work of the art director Matt Nava and Naughty Dog.

Which people in my profession who can make a real difference in my creative career would i love to meet in 2020? Among my italian countrymates i would like to collaborate with: Mauro Pagliai, Michele D’attanasio, and the colorist Lorenzo Ameri.

Where can you see me or my work in 2020? I hope in any Festivals around the world, may somewhere on TV. You can find my work on chora.me as well.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story?  Martina Daeder, Emanuele Agosti, Giorgio Labagnara, Mauro Pagliai

How can you contact me? You can use my Vimeo channel(https://vimeo.com/user57807217) , i have facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/manuelcamiafilmmaker/?modal=admin_todo_tour), linkedin
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-camia-571064115/), Instagram
(https://www.instagram.com/nate_drake89 or you can contact me directly at
manuelcamia@hotmail.it