Kickstarter

"Filming this revealing story has been all consuming, having approached it from the inside looking out, rather then the other way around.  It's been a privilege getting to know Paolo Soleri and the people that have surrounded his project for many years.  With your help, the funds raised will enable me to turn this multi layered story into what I had originally envisioned, when I first started this documentation over 3 years ago."

- Aimee Madsen, filmmaker

NEW TEASER !  

"The Ecumene 10+1 is a schematic tridimensional model of an edifice for 10 disciplines working with an ecumenical intent." - Paolo Soleri 2012

“Paolo Soleri is one of the most complex of people, and his work being equally complex, with ideas ranging from Linear Cities, a concept of how to embrace the individuality of each of us as human beings and yet bring in the cities efficiencies without stultifying who we are.  Now that’s a wonderfully fascinating thing to be wrestling with in a world of 7 billion people.  He is one of the prime thinkers of our time regarding this, and it’s a mind that never stops engaging with how we bring our individualities into concert with the demands of practicality in the world.”    -  Sonny Fox

This is one sneak peak when we took it to the streets and asked several people from all walks of life if they knew who Paolo Soleri was!  Giancarlo Giannini gracefully answers our question:  

ABOUT THIS FILM

Over the years many documentaries have attempted to show the different facets of this multi talented man: the artist, craftsman, architect, urban theorist, and finally visionary, a title he himself is not very fond of.

This Documentary is fresh and unique in that it focuses on Soleri, the form giver rather than Soleri, the idea giver.  Hence the working title of the film: BEFORE FORM, which is one meaning Soleri gives to his studio, COSANTI.  The name COSANTI (cosa/anti) further implies; against things, a theme of frugality that threads through Paolo’s entire life.

He is known by most as an architect engaged in prototyping an alternative to suburban sprawl, known as Arcosanti.  To understand Arcosanti though, it helps to first look into the formative years of Paolo Soleri, from his early childhood to his Italian army days of WWII, in addition to his Frank Lloyd Wright period at Taliesin.

You’ll be taken back to the late 1940’s and early 1950’s when Soleri was building the Artistica Ceramica Solimene in Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast of Italy - which was recently designated as an Italian Historic building.

A major influence in Paolo’s life was his wife Colly, who had told how Paolo was initially criticized and even mocked for wasting his time by “digging in the dirt” much like Gérard Depardieu’s character in Jean de Florette.  She played a pivotal role in Soleri’s early Arizona desert period, where his work transitioned into both ceramics and metal bells, then blossomed into some of the most innovative and exciting structures ever built in North America.

Now nearly 93 years old, you’ll see why Paolo Soleri was green before “green” and “sustainabe” ever entered the world lexicon.

This film will also show how he has inspired thousands over the years.  Most importantly he has  encouraged by example, the creative nature and spirit in those who dare to venture into an unsure future and go beyond the norm and status quo.  

 - Roger Tomalty (Associate Producer on this project)

“So, please chip in and help make this Documentary a reality because it’s a unique opportunity to highlight Soleri’s incredibly significant work that may illuminate some possible solutions to some of the incredible problems that we are facing in the world today.”  -  Sonny Fox 

Thank you so much for any amount you can spare !

HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED

The funds we raise will be used to shoot additional footage at Arcosanti, finish up the edit, create a website, musical score, as well as general distribution (festival circuit being one of them.) The DVD’s created will be available for purchase in the Arcosanti and Cosanti galleries in Arizona - the proceeds of which will go towards the continued construction of Arcosanti.

(© photo by: Aimee Madsen - Cosanti Gallery)

(© photo by: Aimee Madsen - Arcosanti Foundry Apse)

http://www.arcosanti.org

THE CREATIVE CREW

This will be Aimee Madsen’s first, full length Documentary as Producer, Director, DP/Camera Operator and Editor - with the help of the wonderful team listed below:

• Narrator (Kickstarter) Sonny Fox:

http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/sonny-fox

• Director of Photography on main interviews: Phillip Schwartz

• Camera Assistant on main interviews: Greg Ulrich

• Camera on street interviews: Dennis Scully

• Jib provided by: David Glassman

• Still Photographers: Aimee Madsen, Roger Tomalty & Camille Bechier
• Street Interviewer: Corey Rosen
• Special thanks to: Charlie Ethridge at Clarisonus, LLC

(© Eye Am Films/Phillip Schwartz - Paolo Soleri)

(© photo by: Aimee Madsen - Soleri metal sculpture)