Numero 176
Valentina Castellani Quinn
C'era una volta...
Valentina Castellani-Quinn is an Award Winning Film Producer, President and Chairman of Quinn Studios Entertainment, Home – Quinn Studios Entertainment which was created in memory of her husband Award Winning Actor Francesco Quinn, and continues the Legacy of Academy Award Winning Actor Anthony Quinn, in the fields of art and entertainment. Mrs. Castellani produced several Academy Awards candidate films, (IMDB) Internationally recognized and distributed.
She won the prestigious US CONGRESS AWARD, The HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD, the English WIFTS Award as a “Visionary Producer” together with Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and actress Gal Gadot. Because of her ethical work as a producer, and her service to global society, Valentina Castellani was invited to speak at many International Organizations, including, The US Congress, United Nations, UNESCO, The YPO/Young President Organization, and a number of International Universities.
Miss Quinn was Awarded in 2022 with The Books for Peace/UNESCO Award, The International Academie Diplomatique Pax et Salus Award, and she received the Women Empowerment Global Forum Award, together with Mrs. Michelle Obama. In 2023 Mrs Quinn received a prestigious Nomination from the Mayor and authorities of Taormina, Italy to create a new International Art/Cinema program and Foundation to lead the region. The program was officially presented at the Biennale di Venezia 2023. Mrs. Quinn received the English W.O.H.A Award in November 2023, London UK, for her leadership and achievements as an International Producer and spokesperson. Mrs Quinn is currently producing a Documentary about the meaning of Democracy now-days. She just filmed with Thomas Friedman.
I am a Film Producer, I come from a family that owned opera theaters since two centuries ago in Florence.
I grew up behind the stage, living the life like a full stage production; we watched Opera, ballet, classic concerts, plays.
My grandfather, Riccardo Castellani was a producer and President of ANICAGIS, now ANICA, the International Film Distribution organization, we owned many cinema theaters, I grew up watching films, and later on, I married Francesco Quinn, the son of Anthony Quinn and also an actor himself. Making Films came very natural to me. In my free time I love doing sports, I live in front of the ocean in Malibu, Los Angeles is one of the few cities which gives you the possibility to live in nature and being part of one of the biggest metropolis in the world. I love to wake up at sunrise and go hiking, walk on the beach, swim, kayak, cycling on my Italian road bike. I also love reading. My mom is an amazing intellectual and reader. When I was 12 years old she put a pile of books in front of me…all the American “modern” writers, starting from the 60th, JD Salinger, Hemingway, Carver, Tony Morrison, Faulkner and so on: “read them, understand about people and how to tell a story”. I never stopped.
I finished my studies in Paris, I loved that city but always knew it wasn’t the City where I would have lived my life. It is a knowing inside…When you walk on the street, the people, the scent of the air, a sense of destiny. I went for a job in NY and life took a turn…love, work, a new chapter. Six months later I moved to Los Angeles. It felt like home to me. I love the incredible creativity this town has…The City of Angels, in it’s chaotic puzzle it has soul. Writers, musicians, actors, directors…There are stories, and scripts everywhere you go…and the sun. After 25 years living in LA this is home to me, although I like to spend time in Italy and work internationally, to come back in Malibu, in my house in front of the ocean makes me feel happy. I belong here and in Italy at the same time.
I knew Francesco Quinn since we were kids, my grand father was one of the financiers of “LA STRADA” the iconic Fellini Film, starring Anthony Quinn. Our families were friends. For a long time we were just friends. Then one day we were both called in to re-dub “The Passion of the Christ” all the parts shot in original language.
It was at Paramount Studios. I met Francesco again there, now we were adults. We spent days working on the Film and kissed for the first time in front of the iconic Anthony Quinn Stage Theater, inside the Studios… it was meant to be.
The Hollywood sign reminds us in some way that there is still hope, there are dreams that do come true and the capability to imagine, to create. That old sign, planted on a burned hill, overviewing the whole city has tremendous power in our imaginary. The power of storytelling and the courage of being an artist. I am a story teller, a believer, I chose to be photographed here because The Hollywood Sign almost says ” Once upon a time” ..under it.
ITALIANY.US is a brilliant project, it contains the Soul of millions of people immigrated in America, believing in a dream and the possibility to start again a new life. I love the personality of the pictures and to read the stories. It is a distilled version of the character of Italians, the dramatic, artistic way of expressing themselves through everything, and their passion for life. I think it should be a traveling exhibit and would love to bring it in some Galleries.
Through my life achievements, the successful work, the adventures, the loss, I think there are some qualities that transpire and identifies me/us as Italians and unify us. The Qualities of courage, resilience, passion, our limitless creativity and love for life, our culture and profound sense of humanity. Through my work, my way of being, I’m recognized for these qualities and very proud to always keep them alive.
