STUDY OF MY FRIENDS

STUDY OF MY FRIENDS is a series of short videos, about fear, beauty, future and where we feel to belong. I have always loved close-ups and shooting video of my friends. I interviewed some of them, looking for answers for myself. I do have a lot of questions to become a self conscious human being. I rely on my friends everyday, they give me the confidence that I don’t have and the courage to always pursuing my goals. - With: Carla Funari, Nicola Griffante, Alice Sabinot, Joanna Kai, Ester Messina, Andrea Tagliati, Giulia Mello Ceresa, Teresa Fraioli, Jacopo Milani, Anna Miotti, Lorenzo Carnielo, Roberta Rigano, Francesco Aloia, Angelo Martucci, Kevin Rodengen, Dario Timpani, Alisa Lutchenkova Story Editor: Jacopo Milani Translation and Subtitles: Andrea Puglisi Graphic Designer: Guido Testa

STUDY OF MY FRIENDS - #1 FEAR What do we fear the most? I think it is useful to unhide our fears. It’s important to show our feelings and emotions, especially if they are negative. Doing that we allow the others to be in connection with us, so that we can be understood.

STUDY OF MY FRIENDS - #2 ANXIETY How do we relate to anxiety? I think that I've always experienced it, but I didn't know that it had a name until my 20s. I was attending a faculty that I didn't enjoy, and one day during a lesson, I started to sweat a lot. I was not able to breathe. People around me noticed and started pointing at me, laughing. Some months after that, I changed my studies, university, and town. Did the anxiety disappeared? Of course not, but now I realize what it is, and I'm trying to cope with it like everybody else.

STUDY OF MY FRIENDS - #3 LOVE Love, be loved, keep loving.

STUDY OF MY FRIENDS - #4 BEAUTY I believe that beauty is something that brings you closer to feeling happiness. It's an overwhelming sensation of peace and joy, and it's not rare at all. I experience it every day in what surrounds me and in the relationships I have.

STUDY OF MY FRIENDS - #5 FUTURE This project was a simple idea that I had in my mind one year ago. In these months, I spent hours and hours with these people on my screen, and fortunately, also in person. I noticed some details about them that I hadn't noticed before, vulnerabilities that were often hidden. I believe that now I understand all of them a little bit better, even though we will always be changing. - story editing: Jacopo Milani translation and subtitles: Andrea Puglisi graphic designer: Guido Testa consultant: Ada Consolo

I often find myself feeling out of place, experiencing that sense of discomfort that brings anxiety, sweating, and a difficulty connecting with the space and the people around me. When it happens, I take a deep breath, wipe away the sweat, and try to focus on the present moment. Story Editing - Jacopo Milani

There are many negative aspects of my personality that I struggle with every day and wish to overcome. It’s hard to pinpoint just one, and even harder to understand where they come from. I seek balance in my emotions, even though I know I’m not a balanced person yet. This episode was inspired by the interview with Anna Miotti, who suggested I ask myself this question. Two episodes came out of it. Here’s the first one. Grazie infinite Anna! Story editing Jacopo Milani With Claudio Cesaroni, Federica Tudisco, Ester Messina, Sophie Zach, Dario Timpani, Nicola Griffante, Simone Vacca, Marco Napoli, Joanna Kai, Alessandro Laurenzi, Roberta Rigano, Angelo Curci, Nina Cornet Fontaine, Irene Parisi, Carlotta Saccani, Loris Elba, Alisa Lutchenkova, Kevin Rodengen

I'm truly happy to have kept my desire to be part of a group alive, as Simone Vacca also mentioned in his answer. I've always looked for friends to surround myself with, people I can share ideas with and lean on for mutual support. Through this series, that’s exactly what I’m striving for: to deepen my connection with those I care about, draw inspiration from them, and keep them close. Always sharing a seat for conversations. Story Editing : Jacopo Milani

The transition to adulthood is a complex process, not always tied to an obvious change. For me, appearing younger in the eyes of others makes this journey even more challenging, as the acknowledgment of maturity often depends on how others perceive us. When my physical appearance leads people to underestimate my age or experience, I feel stuck in an intermediate phase where I am not treated as an adult. The greatest difficulty lies not only in how others see me but also in the internal struggle to feel validated. When acknowledgment is lacking, it’s easy to doubt my worth as an adult, even if my experience proves otherwise. What truly matters is recognizing and celebrating my journey toward maturity, even when it is not evident to those around me. created by Sebastiano Messina story editing Jacopo Milani

My earliest memories are, ironically, connected to cinema. The first one is a nightmare, the very first thing I remember in my life: I was dreaming of running away from a T-Rex, managing to hide in the tall grass, and then I woke up in my little bed. The second one is my first time at the movies, the heartbreaking cry over Mufasa’s death in The Lion King. I was screaming so much that my mom took me out of the theater to calm me down.   However, I think we all share the same moment, something impossible to memorize or relive in our minds, the moment when you see that exhausted, yet love-filled face, embracing us for the very first time.  Grazie Mamma.   Thanks to all the friends who gave their time to this project. Story Editing: Jacopo Milani With: Nina Cornet Fontaine, Andrea Tagliati, Joanna Kai, Carlotta Saccani, Angelo Curci, Irene Parisi, Federica Tudisco, Marco Napoli, Alessandro Laurenzi, Loris Elba, Alisa Lutchenkova, Ester Messina, Kevin Rodengen, Roberta Rigano, Claudio Cesaroni, Simone Vacca, Dario Timpani, Nicola Griffante, Sophie Zach