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Cannes Actor to AFI-Award Winning Director: Interview with Stefano Da Fre
- Emily Maguire
- Apr 18, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 23
In episode 3 of the podcast Inside Entertainment Industry Careers, we explore the inspiring journey of Stefano Da Fre, co-owner of Rosso Films International. From being a Cannes film actor to becoming an AFI-award-winning film producer and director, Stefano shares his experiences in acting, producing, and directing.
Stefano Da Fre's entertainment industry journey is inspiring and insightful. He began his career as an actor and gradually transitioned into producing and directing. Currently based in New York City, Stefano reflects on his early days living in Harlem and how his proximity to Central Park symbolised his growing success.
Gain insights into his career journey, the importance of clarity and coherence in art, and the challenges of navigating a vocational life in the entertainment industry. Stefano also offers valuable advice for aspiring filmmakers, emphasising the need for strong work ethics, emotional resilience, and the ability to build trusting relationships with actors.
Listen to Podcast: Episode 3 with Stefano Da Fre
Discovering a Passion for the Entertainment Industry
"I think that all of us who are creative, painters or writers, like to sketch or have a big imagination, don't know per se that we want to make a living in the industry. The reason is that you don't know whether you want to turn your hobby and what you love into your job or into your life. I think I was always a creative kid. I have always been involved in arts programs and creative writing programs."
Stefano always had a creative spirit, participating in arts programs and creative writing from a young age. His academic background in philosophy played a significant role in shaping his approach to filmmaking, helping him understand the deeper purpose behind storytelling. He realised that his passion for creativity could be transformed into a fulfilling career.
The Influence of Philosophy
"I always found my philosophy background extremely helpful because it asked the question, why are we telling this story? What is the reason for the audience, and what are they going to learn from this? What's the point of seeing this scene and then connecting it to the next scene?"
Stefano's philosophy degree has been instrumental in his film career. It provides him with a framework for understanding the human condition and the reasons behind storytelling. This philosophical approach helps him create films that resonate with audiences on a deeper level. By questioning the purpose and impact of each scene, Stefano ensures that his films are meaningful and coherent.
Cultural Identity and Universal Stories
"It's important that when you're making movies and ultimately when you're creating characters, you're tapping into something hopefully beyond identity, something that is universal and human. You don't want to get caught up in the last parts of overly identifying, overly labelling oneself, and overly labelling other people so that you can't bridge that connection."
Stefano emphasises the importance of transcending cultural identity in art. While he is proud of his Italian heritage and upbringing in Quebec, he believes that universal stories that connect with human experiences are crucial for creating impactful films. He cautions against becoming too focused on identity politics, as it can hinder the ability to create stories that resonate with a broader audience.
Overcoming Challenges in the Entertainment Industry
"Your work ethics are the most important, more important than designing the greatest shot or the greatest script. Without your work ethic, you don't have anything. It's even more important than talent. Talent comes second. Your work ethic comes number one."
Stefano highlights the importance of resilience and a strong work ethic in the entertainment industry. He shares his experiences of starting Rosso Films International with no connections and how being an outsider helped him develop the grit needed to succeed. Stefano believes that a strong work ethic is the foundation of any successful career, even more so than talent.
Favourite and Challenging Acting Roles
"My favourite roles as an actor were two. One was working with a director who heavily influenced me. His name was Kelly Beam, and he became a friend of mine. It was a crime film called Animal. It was a very slick film in which I played a young man. There was a whole psychological profile of neglect and abuse from his father."
Stefano recounts his favourite acting roles, including his work in the film "Animal" and his experience at the Cannes Film Festival with "Taking Woodstock." These roles were not only significant in his career but also provided him with valuable lessons and inspiration. Working with directors like Kelly Beam and Ang Lee helped Stefano grow as an actor and later influenced his approach to directing.
The Challenges of Directing
"The challenges that I had for them required me to enter a rough cut out of a very, very quick deadline. That means that I was filming the movie at the very end of April, and I had to deliver a cut for them at the very end of August. And for your listeners who are filmmakers who know, that is like a crazy deadline for a feature film. I mean, it's a lot of pressure."
Stefano discusses the challenges he faced while directing his feature film "Stolen Dough." Despite the pressure of tight deadlines and complex subject matter, he managed to deliver a compelling crime docudrama that is now available on major streaming platforms. The film explores the legal battle between Italian-American inventor Anthony Mongiello and Pizza Hut over the patent for stuffed crust pizza. Stefano had to make patent law exciting and understandable to the audience, which required meticulous editing and storytelling.
"Making that deadline for August 31st for the movie and handing that movie to the Russo Brothers was so stressful for me. That was probably one of the most stressful things. Now, in hindsight, as my wife Sierra, my friends, my cinematographer AJ, and my producer Laura would say, that worked out to be a blessing because it made me and everybody know there's no time to joke around."
Stefano faced immense pressure to meet the tight deadline set by the Russo Brothers, who funded the project. The quick turnaround required intense focus and dedication from Stefano and his team. Despite the stress, the deadline ultimately proved to be a blessing, pushing them to work efficiently and deliver a high-quality film.
"The hardest part was how you make patent law exciting, dramatic, dark, gritty, and understandable to an audience. I really focused on my editing, making it comprehensible, understandable, clear, and bite-sized."
The subject matter of "Stolen Dough" presented unique challenges. Stefano had to ensure that the complex legal aspects of the story were conveyed in an engaging and comprehensible manner. This required careful planning, creative storytelling, and a deep understanding of the audience's perspective.
Advice for Filmmakers
"Make sure that your art has clarity and that you value clarity and coherence. If you have to over-contextualise it or over-explain it to someone, it doesn't work. That's a feeling, and it should be understood. If you're aiming for universal ideals, those universal ideals should be felt with clarity."
Stefano offers valuable advice for aspiring filmmakers. He emphasises the importance of clarity and coherence in art, developing a unique signature style, and learning from other art forms to enhance one's work. He believes that clear and coherent storytelling is essential for creating impactful films that resonate with audiences.
Wisdom for Aspiring Artists
"If you're making art and you're starting off, it's a vocational life. It's like being a priest or being someone who has any type of vocation where it's a calling. And if that's a job that you really feel is your calling, be prepared for the ups and downs, the challenges, and the disconnects."
Stefano shares wisdom for those starting their careers in the arts. He advises aspiring artists to be prepared for the emotional and financial challenges of a vocational life and to develop resilience to navigate these ups and downs. Understanding that a career in the arts is a calling can help artists stay committed and passionate about their work.
Short Biography
STEFANO DA FRE is an AFI Award-winning film Director and Screenwriter. His Films and Documentaries have been streamed on NBC Universal, MSNBC, Apple TV, and The Roku Channel.
His work has premiered around the world, specifically at the Cannes Film Festival (where he earned top recognitions for the 'Coup de Foudre'), NBC's Meet-The-Press (in collaboration with AFI), WorldFest Houston International Film Festival (Canadian Screen Qualifier), Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA-Qualifier), St. Louis International Film Festival, and Festival REGARD (Oscar Qualifier).
Notably, Stefano is the award recipient of a Filmmaking Grant by The Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum, sponsored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), the Russo Brothers and AGBO. He was given this grant for the Feature Film "Stolen Dough," a crime-docudrama on Apple TV.
Apart from filmmaking, Stefano is an experienced media personality, having appeared as a recurring guest on Court TV (1.14 Million Subscribers), MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports, Scripp News, The Grio TV, ABC Network's Law & Crime, and other news outlets.
He is currently in Post-Production for his second Feature Film, "A Dream Beyond The Dark," which stars Clara McGregor (FX's American Horror Story) and Jacopo Rampini (Netflix's The Medicis).
