It isn’t more than ten percent of his work. Probably less. And when the show begins, the most important decision — the wardrobe — has already been made. There is no going back. It’s the red carpet, or the green carpet, or the photo call. Cameras and dilettantes. And there — watching over everything calmly but without even a single frayed nerve — is Antonio.
It isn’t more than ten percent of his work. Probably less. And when the show begins, the most important decision — the wardrobe — has already been made. There is no going back. It’s the red carpet, or the green carpet, or the photo call. Dresses. Nerves. Cameras and dilettantes. And there — watching over everything calmly but without letting even the smallest of details slip, without even a single frayed nerve — is Antonio. I have always marvelled at his absolute serenity in those moments, a Buddhist approach to social events. Antonio is tall … like myself, and during a decade we have been waving to one another over the heads of others, smiling ironically at the absurd- but inexcusable- ceremony of the awards. It is with a certain ‘tono Fosse’ that I say, ‘let the show begin:’ We won’t let our whispered analysis stop us from enjoying it.
It may be that all the above is what is we call professionalism. It may be that receiving a text with the names of the designer of Penelope Cruz’s dress and the designer of her jewels 30 seconds before her appearance at these events is something normal, it may also be the case that getting your clients to be punctual shouldn’t come as a surprise … But in times like these the work of Antonio shines. As a journalist, I for one don’t ask for smiles, or politeness. I only ask for a little professionalism. And Antonio is professional. And polite. And all smiles. And a lot of silent hard work — work that goes beyond the red carpet, work that the public doesn’t even suspect — the type that can hurt actors: telling them the truth; telling them what is in their best interest; struggling with them and their work, for their contracts: convincing them of the importance of self-promotion — that you can be the best actor in the hallway at home but if the public doesn’t see you, it matters little; the importance of constantly training; of not allowing oneself to be swept away by a quick success or dwell at the bottom after a big let down; not lying to them; not lying. He has never lied to me. Of course, I have never asked him about somebody’s rumoured pregnancy.
He has been at Kuranda for years, for the low points and for the moments of glory- That Oscar … for the crazy working hours and draw-dropping successes, enjoying his clients’ successes with them. And the time had come for a move. It will work well for him. No, we know it will be work out very well. For him and his clients, and the projects that he is about embark on …. The new kid on the block from León — with the experience of a veteran — has just arrived on the block.