This article originally appeared in
October 12, 2007
Fest success good news for the last
paparazzo
By ERIC J. LYMAN
ROME -- Rino Barillari delights in being called a "paparazzo."
Roughly translated from the Italian word for "pest," and immortalized as the
name of the irritating gossip-rag photographer in Federico Fellini's 1960
classic "La Dolce Vita," the word has long held a negative connotation.
He says the world has changed since the
"Dolce Vita" era of the late 1950s and 1960s. The proliferation of digital
cameras and photo-capable cellular phones means there are potential
rivals in every crowd, Barillari says, and the demands of stars today means
few have the time to relax in any one city, making it hard to capture their
images any place besides a press conference or on a movie set.
Then there's the age-old problem of
celebrities who don't want to have their
photo taken. Barillari says he's been
chased, insulted, punched, pelted, run
over and, all told, sent to the hospital an
astonishing 173 times from attacks by
unwilling subjects in a career that dates
to 1958, when he started snapping
photos as a young teenager.
But despite all the disadvantages,
Barillari says he is undeterred. "This is
what I do, and after so many years, I still
love it," he says. "What's not to love? I'm
in the middle of it all."
The launch of the RomaCinemaFest
last year has led some nostalgic
Romans to wonder if the "Dolce Vita"
years might rise again, and that the
city's best hotels, restaurants and
clubs might again host a slew of
camera-shy screen stars.
"No," he decides. "Those days are gone. Things have moved on. But who's
to say that in some ways what we have now isn't even better than what there
was before? I'm just as busy and as happy as ever."
paparazzo
By ERIC J. LYMAN
ROME -- Rino Barillari delights in being called a "paparazzo."
Roughly translated from the Italian word for "pest," and immortalized as the
name of the irritating gossip-rag photographer in Federico Fellini's 1960
classic "La Dolce Vita," the word has long held a negative connotation.
- But the 63-year-old Barillari scoffs at
that notion. His business cards have
the words "The King of Paparazzi"
splashed across them in red ink, and
as perhaps the last paparazzo working
in Rome since before Fellini called
attention to the profession, Barillari
says that he is an unofficial elder
statesman among celebrity
photographers.
- "These days everyone thinks they're a
photographer, but it takes more than a
camera and some good luck to be a
paparazzo," he says. "I'm one of the last
ones left who remembers the old way
of doing things."
He says the world has changed since the
"Dolce Vita" era of the late 1950s and 1960s. The proliferation of digital
cameras and photo-capable cellular phones means there are potential
rivals in every crowd, Barillari says, and the demands of stars today means
few have the time to relax in any one city, making it hard to capture their
images any place besides a press conference or on a movie set.
Then there's the age-old problem of
celebrities who don't want to have their
photo taken. Barillari says he's been
chased, insulted, punched, pelted, run
over and, all told, sent to the hospital an
astonishing 173 times from attacks by
unwilling subjects in a career that dates
to 1958, when he started snapping
photos as a young teenager.
But despite all the disadvantages,
Barillari says he is undeterred. "This is
what I do, and after so many years, I still
love it," he says. "What's not to love? I'm
in the middle of it all."
The launch of the RomaCinemaFest
last year has led some nostalgic
Romans to wonder if the "Dolce Vita"
years might rise again, and that the
city's best hotels, restaurants and
clubs might again host a slew of
camera-shy screen stars.
- To be sure, the festival's first two
editions have attracted scores of
established top-name stars,
including many who are familiar
subjects to Barillari's lens,
including Robert DeNiro, Martin
Scorsese, Sean Connery and
Harrison Ford in 2006, and
Sophia Loren, Robert Redford,
Francis Ford Coppola, Tom
Cruise, Bernardo Bertolucci and
Gerard Depardieu this year.
- As to whether or not the Rome
fest's star-studded invitee list
will spark a return of the city's
famous and infamous "Dolce
"No," he decides. "Those days are gone. Things have moved on. But who's
to say that in some ways what we have now isn't even better than what there
was before? I'm just as busy and as happy as ever."
| (c) 2007 The Hollywood Reporter All rights reserved. |
| Volume 77; Number 9 |
| Volume 77; Number 9 |
Rino Barillari
A Barillari shot: Sammy Davis Jr. and
Lola Falana circa 1970
Lola Falana circa 1970
Another Barillari: Marcello Mastroianni and
Sofia Loren
Sofia Loren
October 28, 2007
RomaCinemaFest ends
strong; Popular 'Juno' wins
Best Film
October 27, 2007
'Juno' takes home top prize
at RomaCinemaFest
'Canvas,' 'Pride' earn Rome
fest's Alice nods
October 26, 2007
Top prize still up for grabs at
Rome fest
October 25, 2007
'Haifa' earns New Cinema's
Italian nod
October 24, 2007
'Lambs' stars in like lions at
Rome fest
FilmItalia, UniFrance team
for young talent
October 23, 2007
Veneto buyer buzz builds on
Biz Street
Star wattage waning at
Rome fest
October 22, 2007
Coppola lights up Rome fest
October 20, 2007
Depardieu imposter fools
hotel staff in Rome
'Elizabeth,' Loren big draws
at Rome festival
'Elijah' first production at
new I am Third
October 19, 2007
RomaCinemaFest gets
Second Wind
Fellini script 'Viaggio' on
new voyage
October 18, 2007
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
October 12, 2007
RomaCinemaFest sets
sophomore bar higher
Fest success good news for
the last paparazzo
Film spotlight: "Youth
Without Youth"
Italy offers versatile
location, strong incentives
'Business Street' initiative a
high-end venue
RomaCinemaFest owes debt
to Auditorium
September 28, 2007
Rome Fest's love affair with
Hollywood continues
RomaCinemaFest ends
strong; Popular 'Juno' wins
Best Film
October 27, 2007
'Juno' takes home top prize
at RomaCinemaFest
'Canvas,' 'Pride' earn Rome
fest's Alice nods
October 26, 2007
Top prize still up for grabs at
Rome fest
October 25, 2007
'Haifa' earns New Cinema's
Italian nod
October 24, 2007
'Lambs' stars in like lions at
Rome fest
FilmItalia, UniFrance team
for young talent
October 23, 2007
Veneto buyer buzz builds on
Biz Street
Star wattage waning at
Rome fest
October 22, 2007
Coppola lights up Rome fest
October 20, 2007
Depardieu imposter fools
hotel staff in Rome
'Elizabeth,' Loren big draws
at Rome festival
'Elijah' first production at
new I am Third
October 19, 2007
RomaCinemaFest gets
Second Wind
Fellini script 'Viaggio' on
new voyage
October 18, 2007
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
Rome Fest dressed up in
second outing
October 12, 2007
RomaCinemaFest sets
sophomore bar higher
Fest success good news for
the last paparazzo
Film spotlight: "Youth
Without Youth"
Italy offers versatile
location, strong incentives
'Business Street' initiative a
high-end venue
RomaCinemaFest owes debt
to Auditorium
September 28, 2007
Rome Fest's love affair with
Hollywood continues