Interviewed by Olga Burak

Photography: Ernesto Semas

The young American-Italian actor Sebastiano Pigazzi has a lot of reasons to smile these days. This Fall we will see him in the upcoming HBO drama We Are Who We Are, filmed by famous director and one of the greatest contemporary artists Luca Guadagnino. A bit later he will hit the screen with a documentary about Pompeii, where his colleague on set was Isabella Rossellini. And being a modern young man he explored his talent in different directions, experiencing a fashion field by launching a niche brand.

Needless to say, that in his life Sebastiano perfectly combines American pragmatism with astonishing Italian ability of enjoying every aspect of life. Being a descendant of famous film dynasty, he took nothing for granted, choosing to earn his place in this “grueling” industry with his own talent, rather than using past achievements of his family members. Difficult way that deserves respect!
We spoke to upcoming movie star right before his moment of glory and got honest answers about his family, new projects, responsibilities towards creative heritage and attitude to losses.

You come from a family that is strongly connected to acting and film production. Your mother is an actress, as was your grandfather – famous Italian actor Bud Spencer. Did your family support your decision of becoming an actor?

Not really... My mother grew up with a father as an actor, so she knew how grueling this industry could be, but she also respected my decision to pursue my dream. She suggested I give it two years, and if nothing picked up I should begin to question my choice. My father, on the other hand, is a doctor and a very practical man. He never considered acting as a legitimate career and desperately tried to get me to do anything else. Honestly, it’s understandable. But if I needed support and encouragement to go after my choice, it meant that I didn’t want it badly enough. As to my grandfather, I never had a chance to tell him my desire of becoming an actor.

Growing up in such a creative family as yours, have you ever thought of any other career, aside from being a part of a movie world?

Actually no. I went to college in the hope that a career path would manifest itself, but I quickly realized that nothing makes me feel the way acting did. I still had no idea what I wanted to be, but at the same time everything was on the table. I was encouraged to consider becoming a lawyer or a doctor, as I never really believed acting to even be a possibility. But the other choices were more as a distant dream, rather than something I saw myself actively pursuing.

Who influenced your decision to commit your life to acting?

During my freshman year of collage a family friend, Gabriele Muccino (the director of The Pursuit of Happiness and Seven Pounds) asked me to make an audition for the lead role in his upcoming movie Summertime. I ended up getting called back three times, but didn’t make the final cut. However, throughout the audition process the assistants and casting directors told me that I had some raw talent. That feedback was a huge confidence boost for me, as it wasn’t my grandma or mother telling me I could act. If it wasn’t for Gabriele and that experience, I probably wouldn’t have had courage to choose acting as a career. Of course, after coming that close to the role in Summertime, I felt a little disappointed. Thankfully, at that time, I knew how to channel the rejection into the fuel for fire. So I learned everything I could about acting. I watched every great classic movie – American and Italian, and did deep research into my favorite actors. The first actor I fall in love with was Dustin Hoffman. I watched all of his films in about a week, and I remember after I saw Tootsie I finally decided to tell my dad about the decision of becoming an actor.

In one of the articles dedicated to your new work We Are Who We Are, you were mentioned as “a grandson of a person who created family’s classics”. Did you ever feel a special responsibility to you family and society overall? Or maybe fear of failing?

Well, high expectations just push me to work harder! I try to stay away from comparing myself to my grandfather. First of all, we are such a different actors and come from totally different acting worlds, so you can’t really compare us... I know that he became almost a godly figure in some communities, so in respect of that I would never want to compare myself to him. My grandfather would always half-jokingly say, that I would have made it to the Olympics for swimming just like him, something that I obviously never did. So I owe him at least this. About failings... I try not to think about it. I know there is always a possibility to face one, but I also know that I will do everything I can to minimize the chance of it as much as possible!

2020 is going to be particularly important year for you, as a new TV series We Are Who We Are is coming out this Fall. How did you get into this project?

Last year my Italian agent asked me to film an introduction self-tape for Luca Guadagnino’s new HBO project. Of course I was aware that every actor in the world would do the same, so I knew that my chances of getting seen were very slim. But two days later, standing in the line at the Newark airport I saw Luca Guadagnino! I was star stuck, but somehow I managed to walk over and introduce myself. We ended up talking for a good twenty minutes and he gave me his e-mail, so I could send another tape. After two self-tapes and three more auditions I got a call from Luca telling me I got the part! Among the cast members there were some big names, such as Chloë Sevigny and Kid Cudi.

How was it working with such professionals on the set?
Everyone was great! From Chloë and Kid to Alice, Jack and all the cast. Most of my scenes were with other teenagers, but I had a chance to see Chloë and Kid Cudi handle some tough monologues. I have to admit, I was really impressed with their precious and maintained enthusiasm take after take.

Your new project is based on typical teenage themes, like love, friendship and self- discovery. What kind of teenager were you? Did you have any dramatic experience at that time?

I was a bit of a loner. I don’t think I was ever invited to a party or had more than two friends. I just remember swimming a lot and always being exhausted. To be honest, I’m a little disappointed about my teenage years. I could have met more people and experienced way more different things. But I was so afraid to fail, that I ended up doing nothing. I think I got used to rejection quite early – as trying to date girls and applying to colleges. At first, it really hurts not to get into universities you have chosen to. I never understood how could someone, who never met me, send a “reject” as a reply. Now I see it as a blessing in disguise, as I can always use these memories as a fuel for my fire.

You were lucky to work with such an incredible contemporary artist as Luca Guadagnino. Did you enjoy the experience? What kind of unique knowledge you picked up from him?

I loved it! Luca is one of my favorite directors. He is a real artist with such an incredible taste. He knows exactly what he wants and won’t let you off until he gets it (mainly, because he also knows that you are capable of doing what he asked for). This approach to work applies to the whole film crew. Also, he is incredible creative with his shots. He flips conventional and boring bits on its head, and puts all the effort to facilitate the storytelling. Honestly, I could go on and on, because Luca has all the qualities I admire in people. Besides being a great director he knows a lot about everything. I hope one day I can become that kind of visionary as he is, and learn to integrate my perception of the world into my art as he does.

Until now you were mainly involved in US movie projects, but are you planning to expand your filmography with European films?

I’d love to! I’ve always felt strong connection and deep passion for Italian and French films. Today I’m interested in new, creative and ambitious stories with ideological and inventive sense. For a long time Italy was a breeding ground and epicenter for great filmmakers and actors. That was achieved through the formation of their own way of storytelling. I think in recent years Europe is trying to copy Hollywood structure, but isn’t successful in it, mainly because it isn’t native for them. That’s another reason why working with Luca was a dream come true. He is such an innovative and unique filmmaker, that I felt a part of something special right from the beginning.

Your life seems like a combination of two different lifestyles – USA, with it’s incredible workaholism, and Italy, where people live a more relaxed life, enjoying “La Dolce Vita”. Which one of them is closer to you and why?

You mentioned “La Dolce Vita” as a lifestyle and the famous movie just happen to be very close to my heart, family and partially who I am. My great-grandfather, Giuseppe “Peppino” Amato was a producer of Federico Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita”. But getting back to the question, I really think I have become the combination of these two lifestyles. I think both of them are necessary, as at the end of the day they complement each other. I can’t enjoy the “dolce vita” without putting in the hard work before, but at the same time relaxing allows me to appreciate my previous achievements. I always look back at my grandfather and what his life used to be: for thirty years he did two movies a year, but he always took time for pleasure and his family. I hope I will continue to find balance throughout my life.

What other plans do you have in the nearest future? Any new projects, where we can expect to see you soon?

Right now I’m working on a niche clothing line called Sepu X. I hope my small fashion project will be up and running within the next few months. I also have a small role in a documentary on Pompeii with Isabella Rossellini, which I’m excited to see, as it is very original for me.