Sometimes, there are films that stay with us, and A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini, directed by Davide Fiore, is one of those films, and I'm pleased to present Davide today on our #LittleItalyPodcast.

Back in the day, banks were primarily for the wealthy, and the poor and working class immigrants often stashed their savings under a mattress. But at the turn of the 20th century, A.P. Giannini revolutionized the industry with his small bank in San Francisco. A first-generation Italian-American, his goal was to serve “the little fellow” and breed prosperity within his immigrant community. By building trust and giving loans on a simple handshake, he created one of the largest banks in the country – Bank of America.

A LITTLE FELLOW tells his story, and it's remarkable. In addition, A.P. Giannini was also one of the first investors in Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hewlett-Packard. His forward-thinking helped the country through two World Wars and the Great Depression.

Davide is a native of Torino, Italy, and has made a name for himself directing and editing in the Italian fashion and advertising industry. He eventually started filming music videos, working along side major Italian labels, singers, and DJ's, when he embarked on his first documentary, titled JUST US, about two Italian DJ's. That documentary gained worldwide distribution, and Davide went on to work in Germany, and London. His subsequent photo exhibition, I’VE ALREADY SEEN IT SOMEWHERE, showcased New York movie locations, and has been hosted in Torino, Rome, and Miami, and published by Vogue Italia.

His latest film, A LITTLE FELLOW, is blowing up for its incredible vision and artistic expression. I simply loved it, and had no idea about the story of A.P. Giannini. Please join me in welcoming Davide Fiore on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it's my pleasure to welcome you here.

Italians have shaped the culture of America throughout this great nation, and
particularly here in Los Angeles. Please welcome to our show an expert in this field, Marianna Gatto, Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles & Author, The Italian Americans Of Los Angeles. And let me tell you, this book is incredible and comprehensive. Marianna seems to have uncovered every inch of Italian heritage throughout this great city.

Since Italians first came to this region, they have been agriculturalists, pioneers, outlaws and dreamers, and have brought with them tremendous culture, science, culinary expertise, and vibrancy to a variety of neighborhoods in Los Angeles, from the ports in Long Beach and San Pedro up to the northern most sections of Los Angeles.

Marianna's comprehensive book talks about the trailblazers, winemakers, the original Italian Hall and Little Italy, Hollywood, and of course the secret History that she has uncovered. It wasn't easy being the first Italians to grace the soil here, but hard work, family, and perseverance carried them through. Today, Italians throughout Los Angeles are honored and respected for their many contributions here, much of it heralded at the #IAMLA Museum that Marianna has dedicated much of her life to running in downtown LA.

Please welcome Marianna Gatto to our show today on our LittleItalyPodcast,
LittleItaly Of LA Podcast and Deborah Kobylt LIVE.

I'm your host, Deborah Zara Kobylt, and it's my honor to welcome you here

Whenever I return from Italy, where my family is from, I wonder why I don’t get a
place there for my family to enjoy. But I have no idea where to start, who to call, or
what it involves.

Please welcome Antonello Pierro, attorney and Italian real estate expert to our show,
who can walk us through the steps on how it done.

First up, purchasing property in Italy is different than buying a place in the states. So
you need to know the rules so that you don’t run around in circles wasting time and
spending money you don’t need to spend. Also, once you find that coveted property,
what’s involved in terms of contracts, and you need to be fully protected. For
example, there’s different types of properties to purchase, and Antonello can walk us
through those steps, too.

Please join #deborahkobyltlive, #LittleItalyPodcast & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all
video and audio podcast platforms. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my
pleasure to welcome you here. Please invite your friends to listen, too!

Award-winning chef, @Barbara_Pollastrini, owner of @da_Barbara_P restaurant in
Hollywood, has been cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen since she was a little girl
in Rome. And dining at her restaurant here, it’s easy to see why Appetito and Los
Angeles Magazine named her one of the top Italian restaurants not to miss in LA. The
entire experience is like being in someone’s home. In fact, the kitchen at da Barbara is
literally part of the dining space, so you can watch your meal being prepared while
enjoying a glass of wine.
Please join me in welcoming Barbara to our #LittleItalyPodcast &
#DeborahKobyltLIVE, where we will dive into her early years studying in Rome and
her dream of coming to California, making a name for herself while competing in
shows on the Food Network and Discovery Channel. Clearly her dream came true, as
she is not just a famed chef, but also a female entrepreneur. Barbara also serves on
the board of the Italian-America Chamber of Commerce West @IACCW_LA, led by
president Genny Nevoso and a group of dedicated professionals - all women.
Please join our discussion with Barbara on all video and audio platforms of
@deborahkobyltlive, @littleitalypodcast, and @littleitalyoflapodcast. I’m your host,
#DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.

It’s been just 100 years since silent films were all the rage in Hollywood,
followed by talkies, moving color, digital, and now AI.

Please join me in welcoming two experts in the film world who join us to talk
about the ever-changing world of Hollywood, Valentina Castellani Quinn,
president of Quinn Studios Entertainment, and Marvin Williams, founder of Big
M Entertainment Pictures, discussing their latest venture on the Sony Pictures
Studios lot to combine the best of Hollywood with the latest technologies.
Valentina’s father-in-law was Anthony Quinn, and she talks about the timing of
this venture with Sony, once Columbia Pictures, which produced one of Mr.
Quinn’s greatest films, Lawrence of Arabia. The film’s poster hangs proudly in
the halls of Sony to celebrate its 100-year anniversary making motion pictures.
Marvin, best known for producing “The Jungle Book,” among other classics,
said he plans to combine the past with the future of Hollywood projects by
merging AI technology with art. He says much like Netflix, Apple, and Hulu,
streaming is where it’s at. At least for now. Will they transform older films with
AI technology? We be talking about that, too.

We’ll also discuss some new ventures, including involvement with the Canne
Film Festival and a very “passionate” film development that’s in the works as
well. Please tune into #DeborahKobyltLIVE, the #LittleItalyPodcast and
#LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all video and audio podcast platforms to hear our
discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.

Debora Medici-Guetta has inspired me since the day I met her. I could feel her intense passion for her work, her support of women, and for being someone not afraid to talk about her journey in life.

So won't you please welcome her to our show this incredibly talented photographer &
photojournalist, graphic artist, and documentary filmmaker. Debora was born in Rome, and the first time she landed in Los Angeles, she felt at home among other creatives free to express their art unfiltered. She now divides her time between
here and Italy.

Debora took time off, like many women, to focus on family. Her husband is famed artist #MrBrainwash, aka Thierry Guetta, and that alone is a full time job managing that level of notoriety.

But a decade ago, Debora decided to get back into the game and began the intuitive process of reframing who she was, one image at a time.

A return to making art meant embarking, in Debora’s words, on “a big, long, introspective journey.” After several years refining her technique and honing her perspective, she would reveal a series of photographs aptly titled, “Out of The Shadow,” a haunting body of images that reflected Debora’s desire to shed the trappings of the past and position herself as an artist in the world.

She followed this exhibition with “Landed”, a series of collages that capture the frenetic and freeing energy of the world’s great urban centers. As her vision grew, so did Debora’s interests, so she started working with, and eventually joined, the board of directors for We Do It Together (WDIT), a nonprofit that produces films,
documentaries, TV, and new media uniquely dedicated to the empowerment of women.

Recently, for International Women’s Day, the group launched “One of Us,” a documentary for which Debora served as honorary set photographer. The film, sponsored by Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, follows four Italian women who are challenging gender bias and discrimination in their fields of work.
We will talk with Debora about her incredibly successful career, and how she encourages women to discover who they are. She says her work “prioritizes emotions over mere moments,” and we’ll talk with her about that, in addition to her life, and of course living with #MrBrainwash himself. Lots to ask there.

Please join my interview with Deborah Medici-Guetta on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host,
#DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you with us.

Please welcome to our show, the director of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di LosAngeles, AKA the Italian Cultural Institute, Emanuele Amendola, and he joins us to discuss the mission of the @iiclosangeles in bringing cultural, scientific, academic, and culinary experiences that highlight everything authentic direct from Italy. The programs are all free, engaging, and open to everyone.

Emanuele works closely with our Consul General of Italy in LA, Raffaella Valentini, and together they have forged a partnership that brings us the best of everything from Italia, including products direct from Italy.
Each exhibit, talk, and experience is unique. Recently, there was a showing and discussion about the film, Womeness, followed a few days later with the opening and lecture about the Volterra exhibit. There was a Q&A and demonstration with famed chef Nancy Silverton, and the list goes on. So we wanted to know, how does

Emanuele select what to present to the public, because the Cultural Institite goes beyond the walls of their physical location in Westwood.
Their work extends down to San Diego in addition to nine states, so in effect, they take their work on the road! Also, in addition to top exhibitions, musical performances and more, the @IICLosAngeles offers language courses and incentives for exchange programs. Before coming on board here in Los Angeles, Emanuele was appointed Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington DC, where his duties included fostering partnerships between Italian and American cultural institutions. He started his tenure
at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles in January 2022.

Please give a warm welcome to Emanuele, and join our interview on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, and the #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

As we continue to celebrate #InternationalWomensMonth, please welcome my guest,
Yvonne Scio, actress, model, and the writer/director of the documentary, Womeness,
which was just recently screened at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles to rave
reviews!

Yvonne, who was raised in Italy, is also known for her work in the 2006 version of The
Pink Panther, in addition to Redline, and Rose Red. She’s appeared on TV in both
Italia and the States, including The Nanny. In fact, here’s a bit of trivia for you - her
best friend is Fran Drescher, who was in attendance at the screening of #Womeness.
Yvonne’s film is a magnificent look into the stories of five extraordinary women,
offering a portrait into female resilience, identity, and the evolution of feminism.
Womeness unfolds in two parallel narratives: on one side, three women who lived
through the formidable season of Italian feminism, who reflect on the battles fought,
the victories won, and the challenges that remain. On the other side of the story, and
the world, are the lives of two women who defied societal prejudice by following the
painter Balthus to Italy, and embracing what became her silent revolution. Through
music and performance, they turn art into resistance, amplifying the voices of women
from Iran and beyond in their fight to reclaim control over their bodies. The film
remains with me, it is extremely powerful. In addition, my dear friend, Lorenza
Calamandrei, composed the music in the film.

During our interview, we will ask Yvonne about the inspiration behind Womeness, and
the impact the film is expected to create throughout the world. Now more than ever.
Please find my full interview with Yvonne Scio on all video and audio platforms of
#DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host,
#DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to have you join us. Please invite your
friends as well to this important conversation.