TAYLOR TAGLIANETTI

BY ANDREW COTTO

Taylor Taglianetti, 23, is a selfdescribed “old soul.” She accredits this assessment to her longstanding interest in things well before her time, like music as far back as Doo-Wop and films from throughout the previous century. This cultural anachronism often left her feeling generally isolated, a condition she attempted to remedy through the camera lens. “My interest in film came out of a desire to connect with people and make a positive impact through storytelling,” Ms. Taglianetti said. “I want to understand people and to be understood, to make sense of the world and get people thinking.”

The introduction to film began when the Brooklyn born and raised Ms. Taglianetti would earn $0.25 from her filmenthusiast parents for every Roger Ebert movie review their young daughter would read. This consistent learning about films generated an interest in creating films of

Filmmaker Taylor Taglianetti her own, an effort which an adolescent Ms. Taglianetti began in middle school, making short films that featured her grandmother in an effort to keep her beloved Nonna intellectually engaged - an act that many attributed to elongating her life. In high school, Ms. Taglianetti

“A lot of reasons there are so many negative stereotypes of Italian Americans is that there are not a lot of people in the industry who are fighting to make those changes or making films that are more positive. There are so many remarkable stories from our heritage that people just don’t know exist.”

was accepted into the free, non-profit documentary film-making program, Reel Works, which serves underrepresented youth in New York City. Her film created within the program was her ticket to acceptance at the prestigious film school at New York University (NYU).

At NYU, Ms. Taglianetti discovered quite a bit about film making beyond the actual making of films. “For starters, I realized that I enjoy bringing people together and getting people to do their best work, to perform at the top of their game. That’s my thing, and this talent is not necessarily exclusive to directing,” Ms. Taglianetti said as she explained her turn while at NYU towards producing and the more business oriented aspects of film making.

Taylor Taglianetti at the Los AngelesItalia Film Festival in March for the premiere of Heirloom, the first film credited to her production company, Half House Productions.

She also realized the reasons behind her passion for documentaries, an interest initially stimulated by Martin Scorcese’s 1974 film ITALIANAMERICAN. “I’m attracted to relationships and families, and how people interact. Something about documentary film making offers more of a window into the soul,” Ms. Taglianetti said. “I’m a very curious person. I love asking questions, and documentaries allow access to people and the world. It gives me an excuse to learn things.”

What Ms. Taglianetti also learned while in college–lessons first generated by ITALIANAMERICAN and also during some time spent in Italy, thanks to an educational trip sponsored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)–was that her heritage, as it occurred to her, was not necessarily part of the popular narrative in the film industry. With this in mind, as a way to pay it forward for the extremely generous scholarships she received from the Columbus Citizens Foundation, at the age of 20 she founded the National Organization of Italian Americans in Film & TV (NOIAFT) with the intention of provid-

ing Italian Americans opportunities to network, promote, and work together to share their often-underrepresented voices in film and television.

“A lot of ethnic groups have organizations to help them in the film business, and for some reason, Italians don’t have that,” Ms. Taglianetti said. “A lot of reasons there are so many negative stereotypes of Italian Americans is that there are not a lot of people in the industry who are fighting to make those changes or making films that are more positive. There are so many remarkable stories from our heritage that people just don’t know exist.”

One of those remarkable stories is Heirloom, the first credit to Ms. Taglianetti under her production company, Half House Productions. The 30-minute documentary was directed by Michela Maria, and it features Ms. Maria and her mother, who set out together to discover why Italian Americans still love to garden. The film features segments with noteworthy Italian American gardening enthusiasts, such as iconic actress Isabella Rossellini, whom they visit on her Long Island farm. “The film is really about family and preserving our roots and our stories,” Ms. Taglianetti said. “It’s about a passion many Italian Americans have that provides a sense of connection to the homeland.”

Heirloom premiered at the Los Angeles-Italia Film Festival in March with additional festival appearances scheduled throughout the year.

Currently in the works for Ms. Taglianetti is her role of director and producer of What’s Next? - a feature documentary about the world’s oldest practicing physician, a neurologist from Cleveland named Howard Tucker, who faces the loss of relevancy because of his age despite the retention of physical

Heirloom, featuring Isabella Rossellini, is a documentary exploring the relationship of Italian American women and gardening. and mental prowess. The filming will culminate this July when Dr. Tucker celebrates his 100th birthday. Since she has already spent all of the quarters earned for reading Roger Ebert reviews as a child, funding for her films and efforts via NOIAFT can be provided by contacting Ms. Taglianetti at taylor@noiaft.org. This same address can be used to arrange a screening of Heirloom. Free membership in NOIAFT is available at www.noiaft.org.

Andiamo! The Hidden Gem of Le Marche

BY CHANTELLE KERN CEO, CO-FOUNDER & ITALIAN TRAVEL EXPERT THE ITALIAN ON TOUR

Transport yourself three hours east of the Eternal City by car, and you will be in Ascoli Piceno, the capital of Le Marche’s southernmost province. Le Marche is revered as “All of Italy wrapped up into one region.” Ascoli Piceno remains under-the-radar, offering all the charms of Italy’s well-known regions without the crowds. This up and coming status lends Ascoli to being a city where you still get to meet the locals and can truly experience the authenticity of genuine Italian hospitality.

This type of experience is one I didn’t achieve until visiting Ascoli Piceno with my then boyfriend, now husband, Giovanni as my local guide. Getting married in Ascoli and sharing a slice of the real Italy with our guests was the impetus to leaving Canada and starting The Italian On Tour, a boutique travel company that offers intimate, multi-day small group tours for food & wine lovers who want to experience Italy’s hidden regions like a local.

Ascoli Piceno boasts a rich history that dates back to before the inception of Rome. The sense of being “Ascolani” is embodied by the local phrase: “Quando Ascoli era Ascoli, Roma era Pascoli” (“When Ascoli was Ascoli, Rome was just meadows”).

The city of Ascoli Piceno was built almost entirely with travertine marble. An architectural gem, known as the “City of 100 Towers,” it is also home to one of Italy’s most beautiful squares, Piazza del Popolo. In the evenings the streets around the piazze (squares) come alive, buzzing with energy, as locals meet-up to enjoy cocktails at Caffe Meletti (One of Italy’s 150 Historical Cafes) before the nightly passeggiata (stroll) to one of the many restaurants

Photos courtesy of The Italian on Tour Inc. All rights reserved

Piazza del Popolo in the city of Ascoli Piceno

The rolling hills of the province of Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche

Photos courtesy of The Italian on Tour Inc. All rights reserved

SUMMER 2022 14 ITALIAN AMERICA

Photos courtesy of The Italian on Tour Inc. All rights reserved

Olive all’Ascolana, the signature dish of the region.

in the historic center that is mostly blocked off to traffic, making it the perfect base for your trip to Le Marche.

Unlike many of the towns of Tuscany that have been surrendered to tourism, the heart of Ascoli still beats to the rhythm of its 50,000 residents. It is big enough to support a local shopping and dining scene, but small enough to have maintained its authenticity and heritage. Highlights of this heritage include: La Quintana (the second largest medieval reenactment in Italy); the Mercatino dell’Antiquariato (an antique market held every third weekend of the month); and two festivals for the famous Olive all’Ascolana (lightly-fried and stuffed olives made with the Oliva Tenera Ascolana), a symbol of Ascoli’s culinary heritage that you’ll learn to make when you join The Italian On Tour on your next trip to Italy.

The hills surrounding the city remain uncrowded and hide many gems of the Le Marche region. There are numerous multi-generational wineries using indigenous grape varieties, both red and white, in full respect of the land. During cooler months, these rolling hills are coveted for their black & white truffles. To get a taste for Le Marche’s top truffles you can join The Italian On Tour for the “Italian Truffle Adventure” where you’ll enjoy a truffle hunting expedition and savor numerous truffle tasting menus. Come the warmer months, from spring into early fall, a visit to the pristine beaches of San Bendetto del Tronto’s Riviera delle Palme (Palm tree Riviera), lined with numerous beach clubs and seafood restaurants, is an easy 30-minute car ride from Ascoli Piceno.

Whether you desire to dip your toes in the turquoise Adriatic sea, delight in exclusive culinary experiences, wine taste at award-winning wineries, cook with local chefs and truffle hunt at the height of Italy’s truffle season, The Italian On Tour has put together multiple small group itineraries that are perfect for experiencing Ascoli Piceno, nearby destinations of our neighboring region of Abruzzo, as well as the hidden gems of the Veneto region.

Ready to experience Italy’s hidden regions like a local? Please feel free to contact Giovanni and me at info@ theitalianontour.com.

Photos courtesy of The Italian on Tour Inc. All rights reserved The Italian On Tour has been featured in Forbes, Italy Magazine, USA Today and more. For all the details on our tours and to hear what our past guests have to say visit: www.theitalianontour.com

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