FILM
From brainstorming to concept development to screenwriting, from cinematography to editing, Denis enjoys his productions by overseeing all the steps that lead to outstanding and compelling results. He collaborates with producers and other professionals for the most complex projects according to production’s budget and needs.
Denis is available as a Director and camera operator with experience across multiple genres; from documentaries to corporate films and commercials. Embracing the art of filmmaking represents for him a new amazing challenge to explore and develop new work.
INTRODUCTION
FILM PORTFOLIO
5'.50''
Short Doc 11'.00''
GEAR
SCRIPTWRITING
RESEARCH
A script is like carrying a map when you set out on a road trip. Likewise, a shooting script is a conceptual map for your shooting journey. It allows for finetuning the story's structure, tailored by the production's budget.
Scriptwriting is, for Denis, an integral approach for campaigns, docu-series and long feature films. Regardless of the cultural background or target group, we all respond to the same golden rules of storytelling.
Photo: the story's diagram developed for the documentary Zero Caffè.
Denis Guzzo has also developed a tool for scriptwriting called StoryHive ®, successfully implemented for the scriptwriting of the film project Zero Caffè. This documentary aims to improve the coffee value chain into a fairer and more sustainable industry.
Photo: the StoryHive ® was developed for the documentary Zero Caffè.
Documentary scripts share many common elements with scripts for fiction films, shorts and features. However, they also have their specific consideration: documentary deals with fact, not fiction. As a result, there are fewer 'rules' to be followed, making it more challenging but infinitely more exciting. By simply pointing the camera in a specific direction, a subjective choice has been made.
Photo: Denis Guzzo filming in the field after the Vaja storm | Italy 2019
It's not only about moving images. Most films have the elements of sound. The choice and the experience of using the best microphones can significantly differentiate between a good and an outstanding film.
Furthermore, it is time to select the footage and edit it towards the final result after shooting. Denis likes to oversee all steps and is used to editing his films. This offers the opportunity to speed up the process by already having a good overview of the best shots, ready to be crafted with the cinematic grammar of the film.
Photo: Denis Guzzo filming a double interview for the short documentary REWIND LGBTQI MONUMENT | The Netherlands 2020
See project
PRODUCTIONS
Everything starts with a script. Film, especially documentary, has a 'value' that could be social, political, historical, philosophical, artistic or of some other kind.
The amount of research a scriptwriter puts in is directly related to the 'value' of the film. For any gender, format, campaign; good research can deliver a solid foundation for the story and its central message. Good research is the key to a great script.
Denis's research skills and methods are rooted in a long experience during his documentary projects; some have also spanned five years.
Photo: the research book of the project FREEDOMLAND | 2010-2015
Denis' passion for ultra-sharp Zeiss lenses started in 2000 with the Contax 167MT. This legacy continues today with the new generation of lenses applied to professional Black Magic film camera systems. He has accumulated experience across various genres of productions, mastering multiple techniques, including the use of gimbals and Steadicam stabilizers.
Denis believes that to learn to use something effectively, we need to own it. All his equipment allows him to practice, adapt the rigs to custom needs, and, most importantly, travel and be productive without being dependent on rental services. Next to the lighting gear, he owns 4.6k and 6k cameras, Zeiss prime lenses, pro-microphones, and a drone that he brings everywhere he goes. His camera rigs are highly customized and versatile for different filming modes, resulting from years of trial and error.
