Gian Carlo Petraccaro
Encyclopedia
Gian Carlo Petraccaro (born 22 November 1962) is a film director
from South Australia
. He is usually called "Carlo Petraccaro", though he has received film credits as "Gian Carlo". He is best known as the screenwriter and director of the independent film Offside
.
and Clipsal
. He attended Thebarton High School, before graduating from Flinders University
in 1988 with a Bachelor of Economics and a post-graduate Diploma in Accounting.
After early employment with Bridgestone Australia
, he went on to work for the Treasury Department of the Government of South Australia
as the Management Accountant. During this time, the State Bank of South Australia
suffered an irreversible financial setback, which led to its collapse.
Carlo arrived at work early one morning during the 1991 crisis and, as a registered signatory, was required to sign thirteen individual cheques of AUD 99,000,000 (for a total of $1.287 billion) as part of the Bank bailout.
He inherited a love of movies from his mother and frequently watched them on TV with her. He was a ten year-old boy, engrossed in movie fantasies about "fighting villains for a beautiful woman in a foreign country" when he first saw The Godfather
, which became his greatest influence as a director.
His mother loved actors, so Carlo decided to become an actor. During his participation in a now-forgotten comedy/farce, he was thrust into the role of director and found that it came naturally. He has since developed an approach which is a mixture of careful story-boarding and free-flowing improvisations during rehearsal.
Carlo was a member of the Board of the South Australia
n Media Resource Centre from 1997 to 1999. In September 2009 he received funding from the South Australian Film Corporation
to attend the 2009 SPAA Conference
After a dozen years spent making his own short films, or helping others with theirs, Carlo made his first feature film. Offside
was shot in 2008 and released in 2009. It was also the first feature produced by Urtext Film Productions
, an independent film company based in Adelaide
, South Australia, which functions as a filmmakers co-op. The film was independently financed and shot in less than 30 days, with limited access to locations.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
from South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He is usually called "Carlo Petraccaro", though he has received film credits as "Gian Carlo". He is best known as the screenwriter and director of the independent film Offside
Offside (2009 film)
Offside is a 2009 Australian romantic comedy written and directed by Gian Carlo Petraccaro , and produced by Matthew Salleh at Urtext Film Productions.-Plot:...
.
Life and career
Carlo Petraccaro was born in Adelaide, the son of production line workers at GMHHolden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
and Clipsal
Clipsal
Clipsal is an Australian brand of electrical accessories. The main factory was located at Bowden, but it was announced in 2008 that a move would be made to a new site, located at Gepps Cross. The move took place in 2009. Clipsal also boasts smaller factories in Nuriootpa, Strathalbyn and Wingfield...
. He attended Thebarton High School, before graduating from Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
in 1988 with a Bachelor of Economics and a post-graduate Diploma in Accounting.
After early employment with Bridgestone Australia
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
, he went on to work for the Treasury Department of the Government of South Australia
Government of South Australia
The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
as the Management Accountant. During this time, the State Bank of South Australia
State Bank of South Australia
The State Bank of South Australia was a bank owned by the Government of South Australia. Its collapse in 1991 was a major political event in South Australia...
suffered an irreversible financial setback, which led to its collapse.
Carlo arrived at work early one morning during the 1991 crisis and, as a registered signatory, was required to sign thirteen individual cheques of AUD 99,000,000 (for a total of $1.287 billion) as part of the Bank bailout.
He inherited a love of movies from his mother and frequently watched them on TV with her. He was a ten year-old boy, engrossed in movie fantasies about "fighting villains for a beautiful woman in a foreign country" when he first saw The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
, which became his greatest influence as a director.
His mother loved actors, so Carlo decided to become an actor. During his participation in a now-forgotten comedy/farce, he was thrust into the role of director and found that it came naturally. He has since developed an approach which is a mixture of careful story-boarding and free-flowing improvisations during rehearsal.
Carlo was a member of the Board of the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Media Resource Centre from 1997 to 1999. In September 2009 he received funding from the South Australian Film Corporation
South Australian Film Corporation
South Australian Film Corporation is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972. Former State Premier Don Dunstan played an instrumental role in the foundation of the Corporation and its early film production activities....
to attend the 2009 SPAA Conference
SPAA Conference
- Screen Producers Association of Australia :The Screen Producers Association of Australia represents the interests of Australian film producers on all issues that affect the business and creative aspects of independent screen production...
After a dozen years spent making his own short films, or helping others with theirs, Carlo made his first feature film. Offside
Offside (2009 film)
Offside is a 2009 Australian romantic comedy written and directed by Gian Carlo Petraccaro , and produced by Matthew Salleh at Urtext Film Productions.-Plot:...
was shot in 2008 and released in 2009. It was also the first feature produced by Urtext Film Productions
Urtext Film Productions
Urtext Film Productions is a film company located in Adelaide, South Australia. It was set up in 2005 when Matthew Salleh combined with a number of other young university graduates to establish a place where they could pursue their filmmaking dreams....
, an independent film company based in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia, which functions as a filmmakers co-op. The film was independently financed and shot in less than 30 days, with limited access to locations.
Director
- OffsideOffside (2009 film)Offside is a 2009 Australian romantic comedy written and directed by Gian Carlo Petraccaro , and produced by Matthew Salleh at Urtext Film Productions.-Plot:...
(2009)
- Venice (2000)
- Arts Around Adelaide (1999)
- Connections (1999)
- Angst (1998)
- Search for the AntiChrist (1997)
- Misplaced (1995)
Consultant
- Snapshots - Chloe Gardner (director) (2010)
- The Decayed - Josef Weber (director) (2009)
- I Rot - Josef Weber (director)
- Creamy Love - Dick Dale (director)
See also
- List of Australian films
- Australian films of 2009Australian films of 2009-2009:...
- List of films set in Australia
- List of people from Adelaide
- List of films shot in Adelaide