Dr. Emily Carman and Dr. Federico Pacchioni open an interdisciplinary pathway at the crossroad of Film Studies, Cultural Studies, and Creativity Studies with the goal of unveiling the genesis and negotiation of shared vision in Italian film production. This line of inquiry is effectively poised to fill in gaps in film historiography that have traditionally favored individual auteur lenses and male agency. The lead investigators’ groundbreaking studies on collaborative practices in Italian art cinema (Inspiring Fellini: Literary Collaborations behind the Scenes) and on business practices of 1930s Hollywood freelance actresses (Independent Stardom: Freelance Women in the Hollywood Studio System) pave the way for an exploration of the participatory mechanics of creative families and female agency in Italian filmmaking. The research now extends to the case of Italian female stars of the golden years (Anna Magnani, Sofia Loren, Silvana Mangano, etc.) and contemporary director Alice Rohrwacher.
Lead: Dr. Emily Carman and Dr. Federico Pacchioni
