Interview / News

Interview with Tamela D’Amico

- by Maria Spanadoris

Tamela D’Amico is keeping busy right through Covid.  She’s directing a film, been a producer, director, actor and singer.

How does she find the time to juggle it all?  Well, in this interview, she gives us a peak behind the scenes.

 

MS) You are currently directing a short film on the pandemic. I’ve not seen many tv shows showing the pandemic yet. Do you think when this all settles, that we will be talking about the pandemic for decades to come?

TD) I’m working on an anthology feature film called The Antiviral Film Project. It’s a collaboration of international filmmakers telling stories from different cultures around the world to the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m directing the story from the Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota and I am super excited about it. I was offered the opportunity to direct a piece within this anthology and it was important to me to convey a story about indigenous peoples because their stories are not told enough. I am looking forward to COVID being a thought of the past so I can get back to work properly, but yes, we will be talking about this time period for many decades to come unfortunately.

MS) You’ve been a producer, director, actor and singer. Do you find the skills you develop in one helps you in the other?

TD) They sure do. I am simply…a storyteller. No matter what I am doing. As a producer, I worry about all departments. As director I invest in the creative big picture, but also am happy to be there in the pockets of my actors if need be. As an actor and singer I try to bring to the life the story that those other two positions desire. So, they all reflect one another in too many ways to list and I certainly have compassion for those other roles when I am not in them and understand them.

MS) What good do you think will come out of this pandemic? Will we learn to work differently?

TD) This has been a journey of self reflection of what matters most in life and I hope the next decade brings a lot more heartwarming stories to all media instead of shoot em up bang em up blockbusters. People are looking for connection and substance now in a real way. We are already working differently, physically speaking with masks and repeated Covid testing and I gather those mandates will continue. It is more difficult to work, but it has become more sanitary, so I guess that it is huge plus, overall.

MS) I’ve had a friend say: “I juggle so many jobs purely so I’m not losing my mind! ” You seem to have quite a few projects going on… is keeping busy giving a side benefit of mentally surviving a pandemic? 🙂

TD) It’s a side benefit of mentally surviving being an artist, no matter what is going on in the world.

MS) You sang the theme song “Love and the Gun” in both Italian and English. Being a fellow Italian-American, how important and how much of an influence is your heritage to you?

TD) My father is from Sicily and my mother’s side is from Calabria. I am first generation Italian American. My heritage is everything to me. It was celebrated in my home, in all ways, from tradition, to food, to music to Italian family history, in general. I have been raised with Italian American influence and European Italian influence and most importantly Italian pride. The best of both worlds, I feel. I wrote, produced and directed a film entitled Volare based on my father’s journey coming to America as a boy. It stars Federico Castelluccio from The Sopranos. You can watch it here: https://vimeo.com/299343827 Italians are famous for major contributions to the worlds of art, architecture, fashion, opera, literature, design and film…do I need to even mention food? Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? I love being Italian.

Learn more at: https://www.tameladamico.com/

Photo courtesy of: Johnny Buzzerio

 

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Maria Spanadoris

Maria Spanadoris an experienced online writer with a passion for general entertainment stories. As a Greek mom, Maria brings her unique perspective to her writing, infusing her work with warmth and humor. She has been writing online for over 20 years, starting her career at thecelebritycafe.com. Since then, Maria has honed her skills as a writer, developing a talent for crafting engaging and informative content that keeps her readers coming back for more. Whether she's covering the latest celebrity gossip or writing about her own experiences as a mom, Maria's writing is always relatable and engaging.