Gabriella Martinelli
Encyclopedia
Gabriella Martinelli is an Italian-Canadian
film and television producer. She is president and CEO of Toronto
-based Capri Films Inc., a vertically integrated production and distribution company that she founded in 2000.
Born in Italy
, Martinelli emigrated to Canada
with her family when she was a child. She studied art history and film at Carleton University
in Ottawa
and at the University of Victoria
in British Columbia
. From 1980 to 1984, Martinelli produced and served as production manager on television commercials and TV variety specials. She went on to coordinate the Canadian feature films Walls and My American Cousin
. Martinelli went on from there to work as head of production for the Toronto-based Independent Pictures, serving as associate producer on John and the Missus and co-producer of Milk and Honey.
Martinelli's producing credits also include Baz Luhrmann
's Romeo + Juliet, David Cronenberg
's Naked Lunch
and M. Butterfly
, Clive Barker
's Nightbreed
(including the documentary), Between Strangers, starring Sophia Loren
and Pete Postlethwaite
, and Journey to Enlightenment, based on the life of Dilgo Khyente Rinposhce, a revered teacher of the Dalai Lama
with narration by Richard Gere
and music supervision by Philip Glass
.
In 2005, Martinelli co-produced Terry Gilliam
's Tideland
with Jeremy Thomas
of the UK's The Recorded Picture Company. In 2009, Martinelli was executive producer of Suck
, a rock 'n' roll vampire comedy.
For television, Martinelli produced the highly successful two-part, four-hour mini-series Lives of the Saints (inspired by the Nino Ricci
novel), a co-production with the CTV
Network in Canada and RTI in Italy, directed by Jerry Ciccoritti
, and starring Sophia Loren
, Sabrina Ferilli
, Kris Kristofferson
, Nick Mancuso
, Jessica Paré
and Fabrizio Filippo. The mini-series played to record audiences in both countries and was nominated for three Gemini Awards.
Capri Films also includes a live theatre division. In 2003, Martinelli produced (in association with David and Ed Mirvish Productions
) Scaramouche Jones, an award-winning one-man show starring Pete Postlethwaite
.
Italian-Canadian
An Italian Canadian is a Canadian of Italian descent or heritage. According to the 2006 census of Canada, 1,445,335 Canadians consider themselves to be of Italian origin. The Italian-Canadian population climbed by more than 12% and half have combined Italian origins along with another ethnic...
film and television producer. She is president and CEO of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based Capri Films Inc., a vertically integrated production and distribution company that she founded in 2000.
Born in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Martinelli emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with her family when she was a child. She studied art history and film at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. From 1980 to 1984, Martinelli produced and served as production manager on television commercials and TV variety specials. She went on to coordinate the Canadian feature films Walls and My American Cousin
My American Cousin
My American Cousin is a Canadian drama film, released in 1985. Written and directed by Sandy Wilson based on her own childhood, the film stars Margaret Langrick as Sandy Wilcox, a pre-teen girl growing up on a ranch in rural Penticton, British Columbia in the late 1950s...
. Martinelli went on from there to work as head of production for the Toronto-based Independent Pictures, serving as associate producer on John and the Missus and co-producer of Milk and Honey.
Martinelli's producing credits also include Baz Luhrmann
Baz Luhrmann
Mark Anthony "Baz" Luhrmann is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for The Red Curtain Trilogy, which includes his films Strictly Ballroom, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
's Romeo + Juliet, David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
's Naked Lunch
Naked Lunch (film)
Naked Lunch is the 1991 Canadian/British/Japanese film adaptation, directed by David Cronenberg, of William S. Burroughs' novel of the same name...
and M. Butterfly
M. Butterfly (film)
M. Butterfly is a 1993 romantic drama film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay was written by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name...
, Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
's Nightbreed
Nightbreed
Nightbreed is a 1990 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his 1988 novella Cabal. The film features Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby and David Cronenberg. The story centers in a community of mutant outcasts that hides from humanity, known as the...
(including the documentary), Between Strangers, starring Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
and Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, was an English stage, film and television actor.After minor television appearances including in The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He played a mysterious lawyer, Mr...
, and Journey to Enlightenment, based on the life of Dilgo Khyente Rinposhce, a revered teacher of the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
with narration by Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
and music supervision by Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
.
In 2005, Martinelli co-produced Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
's Tideland
Tideland (film)
Tideland is a 2005 British-Canadian fantasy thriller film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, an adaptation of Mitch Cullin's novel of the same name. The film was shot in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and surrounding area in the fall and winter of 2004...
with Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Jack Thomas, CBE is a British film producer, founder of the Recorded Picture Company. He was the producer of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2006 he received a European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World...
of the UK's The Recorded Picture Company. In 2009, Martinelli was executive producer of Suck
Suck (film)
Suck is a 2009 rock-and-roll vampire comedy film starring, written and directed by Rob Stefaniuk. Stefaniuk stars alongside Canadian actress Jessica Paré, Malcolm McDowell and rock legends Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Moby and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Production took place in and around...
, a rock 'n' roll vampire comedy.
For television, Martinelli produced the highly successful two-part, four-hour mini-series Lives of the Saints (inspired by the Nino Ricci
Nino Ricci
Nino Ricci is a Canadian novelist who lives in Toronto, Ontario. He was born in Leamington, Ontario to Italian immigrants, Virginio and Amelia Ricci, from the province of Isernia, Molise....
novel), a co-production with the CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
Network in Canada and RTI in Italy, directed by Jerry Ciccoritti
Jerry Ciccoritti
Jerry Ciccoritti is a Canadian film, television and theatre director. His ability to work in a number of genres and for many mediums has made him one of the most successful directors in the country.- Biography :...
, and starring Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
, Sabrina Ferilli
Sabrina Ferilli
Sabrina Ferilli is an Italian theater and movie actress.- Selected filmography :* Natale a Beverly Hills * Tutta la vita davanti * Natale A New York * Dalida...
, Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
, Nick Mancuso
Nick Mancuso
Nicodemo Antonio Massimo "Nick" Mancuso is a Canadian cinema and stage actor.-Career:Mancuso was born in Mammola, Calabria, Italy and immigrated to Canada in 1956...
, Jessica Paré
Jessica Paré
Jessica Paré is a Canadian film and television actress. She has appeared in the films Stardom , Lost and Delirious , Wicker Park , Hot Tub Time Machine , and co-starred in the vampire horror-comedy Suck...
and Fabrizio Filippo. The mini-series played to record audiences in both countries and was nominated for three Gemini Awards.
Capri Films also includes a live theatre division. In 2003, Martinelli produced (in association with David and Ed Mirvish Productions
David Mirvish
David Mirvish, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian art collector, art dealer, theatre producer and son of the late "Honest" Ed Mirvish, Toronto discount department store-owner and artist Anne Lazare Macklin....
) Scaramouche Jones, an award-winning one-man show starring Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, was an English stage, film and television actor.After minor television appearances including in The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He played a mysterious lawyer, Mr...
.