"Show Don't tell" written by Al Fenderico

 Speak more about yourself? Who is AL as a person?

   Hello, first of all, thank you so much for this interview, as I am very grateful for it.

Apart from my artistic career, I define myself as a genuinely curious human being because I am constantly studying and exploring the arts and soul deeply. I find inspiration from life itself, which is the real engine of my work: the arts are the mirror of life. 

My curiosity has driven me to travel and live abroad since I was younger, granting me the chance to grow as an artist and, more importantly, as a human being. I developed such respect for this industry that has given me so much expertise but has also led me to become a better person, which I am still working on every day as usual.

I believe so much in kindness and helping each other, and without this premise, I find it challenging to build authentic relationships.

Moreover, I believe that curiosity on the business side of things and gratitude are driving forces that make us stronger and stronger every day as they lead us to discover ourselves deeply.

In this case, I love thinking of having the same sight of a kid who discovers things for the first time and has that deep excitement, and I can quote the “Fanciullino” written by Pascoli (Italian poet). When instinct and irrationality accompany reason, these help us see reality with fresh eyes. Therefore, as an artist, I feel a bit like Peter Pan: I’d rather keep that child full of imagination and wonder inside me than become an adult who has forgotten what it truly means to live.

 

What sparked your passion for writing?

 I believe that theatre and film are the mirrors of life and soul deeply because human beings live and act guided by emotions, and these reflect our work inevitably.

 Writing for me is a cathartic experience: It allows me to reflect a sort of form to our lives while transforming them into something shareable with others, kind of like you have a secret diary of thoughts, emotions, and memories but that has kept as secret for a reason of privacy (laugh).

 Most of my work is inspired by or based on true events. For example, in the short film “Hey You!” - for which I wrote the screenplay, directed, and produced, and by being a co-lead in it - one of the themes explored is robbery. This experience really happened three years before filming and two weeks before I had to move to London and happened close to my house - and they pointed a real gun at my forehead just for a phone. An experience like that touches you, and it becomes impossible not to find inspiration to channel that for something, and in this case, for the arts.

 Sometimes we don’t understand certain situations until we don’t live and experience them. Therefore, channeling them into the arts generates empathy with the audience.

The same way is for a Feature Film and a TV series I am developing. They have similar themes closer to us all and have received international awards from Italy, the United States, and Canada.

Therefore, my passion for writing comes from experimenting, which has led me to study more and more screenwriting/playwriting, directing, facilitating, and producing at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama of London. And I am very grateful to have lived that experience.

 There indeed exist other ways to express myself as I am capable of, but in a sense, writing offers such unique freedom to express it.

Creating stories and characters means even sharing little pieces of ourselves inside and then letting them follow their lead and leave their own stories. In this process, as a writer, I am not the one who guides them but are themselves to find their path by picking up and choosing what they want exactly. That’s why writing is so fascinating.

 Stories are loved because they connect everyone by empathizing and understanding them without reason but following their hearts. That’s why I believe 100% that writing has such a key responsibility in the world: you can’t “buy” the reader’s attention or of the audience, but you must understand it to create such an authentic channel.

 Overall, what connects everyone is the emotions, and projecting ourselves into the characters, the experiences, and emotions makes art so powerful and universal and deserves so much respect.

 Why did you decide to write a book titled “Show don’t tell: A step-by-step handbook for Aspiring Screenwriters, Producers and Directors”?

 Why write the book “Show Don’t Tell: A step-by-step handbook for Aspiring Screenwriters, Producers and Directors”? The idea of the book was born because many of our industry, principally the newcomers of the industry do not know some aspects of it which are connected to screenwriting, producing, or distribution, nonetheless the legal aspects. Therefore, we make mistakes more often because we don’t have some information despite working on it, and we can’t find a solution.

 My book comes from ten years of experience, studies, and many mistakes committed, but more importantly, having learned from them through the help of the resources I met during these work experiences, and they are all in the book.

 We make the most frequent mistakes in writing screenplays: characters, the setting, and the format of the same screenplay as the industry follows a standard one. Those are essentially the mistakes a new screenwriter makes at first impact, but even the experts sometimes do.

 That’s why there is a method to write and rewrite different drafts at least three times. Then, the screenplay gets more changes during the production process, but that is part of the journey.

 At the same time, there are also production aspects of an indie production reflecting how the whole engine works and encounters so many different dynamics that are all part of a big puzzle to make the best Picture.

 The idea is to help and make it as simple as possible and accessible by avoiding unnecessary wordiness that could create confusion.

The book includes practical advice I learned along the way by gaining experience and study, besides giving insights from other industry experts I have connected with and learned from.

 Everybody has a different production path, and without a doubt, the more insights you get, the better you can learn from any situation.

 I always say that producers and there are different types of them, they not only invest money, but invest time, dedication, and most of all, they are problem solvers. Believe me, Film or Theatre productions are just as complicated as machine and business companies, more than you can imagine.

However, it is such an extraordinary experience and so educational, because it gives you the chance to be inside any creative process: from the development of the script to pre-production, production, distribution, and in the same way marketing of all projects.

 In my screenwriting courses, for example, I always highlight all the different aspects of production. The most important advice I can give is not to be afraid to experiment and make mistakes, because it is literally because of them that you can find the best ideas.

Therefore: write, rewrite, and rewrite.

 

Where is available to purchase the book?

 The book is available for purchase on Amazon, Google, Books Kobo in English and Italian versions. I am truly grateful for the 5-star reviews the book has already received! Readers have found practical and immediately applicable advice, and that is precisely my goal: to provide concrete tools to help aspiring screenwriters, producers, and directors.

 My passion for education has also led me to teach at various international schools, sharing with students and professionals the knowledge I have gained through years of experience in the industry.

 

What message and opportunities does the entertainment world offer to young artists today as it is constantly evolving and now deeply integrated with the digital sphere? Is there room for talented young people in Italy?

 Interesting question to ask, which is something I always ask myself. Today, in this crazy digital shift, the artistic craft changes so quickly. The opportunities of ten years ago are not the same anymore: some have more than disappeared while others transform and shift. At the same time, you can film a Feature Film of 90 min with your cell phone and release it on YouTube, and so gaining millions of views today.

 This makes the production more accessible but does not always grant the same quality of obtaining that instead of using a true professional camera just for cinema.

 Another important aspect is the budget: realizing projects without funds is complicated unless you work with a group of people who share the same objective and are ready to invest time and energy without seeing an immediate return, and believe that sometimes better films are made because of that. But, in the handbook, I explain how to find the resources for the funds necessary to develop your project.

 In this Entertainment world, being on trucks with trends is essential, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Besides, the huge factor is education: everyone should study 360° all the subjects in a matter of their interest, whether writing, directing, producing, or acting. At the same time, the role of the crew as you can be so talented, but without real education, the opportunity would never knock on your door.

 Moreover, I have always supported originality instead of a commercial product, but I understand the trends again.

 At the same time, I have always prioritized originality over mere commercial products while still understanding the importance of trends. However, following a trend should be done with such careful balance, never losing sight of the main goal: to feel emotion and move with the audience.

 I often ask myself questions: What can I offer that’s different? How can I avoid clichés? From these reflections, ideas emerge when I strive to develop carefully, selecting the ones that I find most intelligent and innovative.

 In Italy, young creators are finding their space thanks to digital platforms. Today, having a film distributed in theaters is no longer enough if no one goes to see it—without effective marketing, even the best product risks going unnoticed. In an ever-evolving industry, knowing how to communicate and promote your work has become just as essential as creativity itself.

 

What about your future work?

 At the moment, I am focused on writing and producing new projects, but I can’t speak for now yet, and I can’t wait to share them asap.

 Moreover, I keep writing for The Hidden Review, a blog for film and theatre where I share news and reviews in Italian and English with which I have partnerships with international major studios and more recently, with the Oscars® an experience that excites me for this year.

 At the same time, as a trained actor and in this digital world, I created a character named John Stats, a football fan who was born during the pandemic while I was playing fantasy football. This year, I revived the character: he’s an eccentric English reporter from London and a die-hard SSC Napoli fan.

 He never misses a chance to interact—ironically yet respectfully—with the players, the president, and the team’s coach, always bringing his British flair and unwavering passion for the club’s colors.

 I have a lot of fun playing him, and since I improvise everything without a script, it’s also a great acting exercise. I must say, now and then, I get comments from people saying, "I don’t understand how you’re not viral!"—and of course, I let John Stats answer for me. So, you can imagine! (laughs). But if you're curious, you can find everything on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube.