Having heard about Matt Tyrnauer's indie film during Miami International Film Festival, and being a fashion design student and lover, I was excited to find out that our school and Fashion Group International were putting together a meet and greet with him, and a special viewing at the Regal in South Beach.
Looking just like one of us, the director chatted with teachers and other attendees, and then walked into the theater as we all took our seats and he was introduced by a rep from the Fashion Group International. Tyrnauer explained that the movie shows how it had been to work with “…a fashion icon and the tannest man on Earth.”
The movie started. From my perspective, it was amazing. It was very interesting and entertaining to see a designer was such prestige as Valentino, that ‘up, close, and personal.’ From the history of how Valentino started off, how he met Giancarlo Giammetti, his partner… to the buy-out of the company that carries his name and, eventually, his retirement. Memorable movie moments keep coming to my mind: Valentino and his adorable pugs, always in the middle, even when there is a crisis. His arguments with Giancarlo and how it was all solved by a simple “you look fat”. The planning of what was to become one of his last collections and runway shows. The party of the century, with Valentino designs from the 60s all the way to today, a celebration that brought tears to his eyes. His relationship with designer Karl Lagerfeld, and how they both looked like little children in this multi-million dollar playground in which Valentino was to throw his 45th anniversary party. And, finally, the disappointment and anger in his face when the company which he led with grace, class, and dedicated his life to, was to be bought out by investors.
The film gave all of us a quick yet profound glimpse of what it is like to be him, deal with his pressure and fears, and celebrate his victories and achievements. Moreover, it helped us, designers, understand more about the insane industry in which we are trying to get involved.
After the showing, Director Matt Tyrnauer took over the microphone again. He explained how the film had been shot in a span of over two years, in which Valentino would get sick of the cameras, quit, and “…rehire himself in the morning.”
Someone in the audience asked if he had been aware of the disintegration of the company. Tyrnauer explained that they had no idea at all; he said he thought that “we’d film for one year, and then it became clear that [Valentino] was considering retirement, so we thought we’d stay around… and then Giancarlo started to plan the largest party in the history of the universe, so we thought we’d star around for that.” It proved to be great instinct, since he was able to capture everything from the creative process, to the celebration, to the demise.
Tyrnauer also said that the legend is actually a very nice and amusing man, obsessed with finding out Tom Cruise’s and Orlando Bloom’s secret homosexual life. He also told us how much Valentino and Giancarlo hated the movie when they first watched it in London. The duo wanted Matteo Marzotto, at that time the hated head of the company, out of the movie altogether.
Valentino: The Last Emperor was finally shown at the Venice Film Festival, after many months of re-editing and negotiating contracts back and forth. Valentino and Giancarlo sat in a balcony, above from everyone. After the movie, the 1,600 spectators turned to both and gave a long, standing ovation. According to Matt, the couple loved the movie from that moment on.
Looking just like one of us, the director chatted with teachers and other attendees, and then walked into the theater as we all took our seats and he was introduced by a rep from the Fashion Group International. Tyrnauer explained that the movie shows how it had been to work with “…a fashion icon and the tannest man on Earth.”
The movie started. From my perspective, it was amazing. It was very interesting and entertaining to see a designer was such prestige as Valentino, that ‘up, close, and personal.’ From the history of how Valentino started off, how he met Giancarlo Giammetti, his partner… to the buy-out of the company that carries his name and, eventually, his retirement. Memorable movie moments keep coming to my mind: Valentino and his adorable pugs, always in the middle, even when there is a crisis. His arguments with Giancarlo and how it was all solved by a simple “you look fat”. The planning of what was to become one of his last collections and runway shows. The party of the century, with Valentino designs from the 60s all the way to today, a celebration that brought tears to his eyes. His relationship with designer Karl Lagerfeld, and how they both looked like little children in this multi-million dollar playground in which Valentino was to throw his 45th anniversary party. And, finally, the disappointment and anger in his face when the company which he led with grace, class, and dedicated his life to, was to be bought out by investors.
The film gave all of us a quick yet profound glimpse of what it is like to be him, deal with his pressure and fears, and celebrate his victories and achievements. Moreover, it helped us, designers, understand more about the insane industry in which we are trying to get involved.
After the showing, Director Matt Tyrnauer took over the microphone again. He explained how the film had been shot in a span of over two years, in which Valentino would get sick of the cameras, quit, and “…rehire himself in the morning.”
Someone in the audience asked if he had been aware of the disintegration of the company. Tyrnauer explained that they had no idea at all; he said he thought that “we’d film for one year, and then it became clear that [Valentino] was considering retirement, so we thought we’d stay around… and then Giancarlo started to plan the largest party in the history of the universe, so we thought we’d star around for that.” It proved to be great instinct, since he was able to capture everything from the creative process, to the celebration, to the demise.
Tyrnauer also said that the legend is actually a very nice and amusing man, obsessed with finding out Tom Cruise’s and Orlando Bloom’s secret homosexual life. He also told us how much Valentino and Giancarlo hated the movie when they first watched it in London. The duo wanted Matteo Marzotto, at that time the hated head of the company, out of the movie altogether.
Valentino: The Last Emperor was finally shown at the Venice Film Festival, after many months of re-editing and negotiating contracts back and forth. Valentino and Giancarlo sat in a balcony, above from everyone. After the movie, the 1,600 spectators turned to both and gave a long, standing ovation. According to Matt, the couple loved the movie from that moment on.
Barbie
