December 2009
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Letter from Washington

Republished with permission from Oscar Bartoli

To Subscribe:

Editor Oscar Bartoli
Oscarb1@starpower.net
www.ilgonline.com
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(Beyond the News)

Circulation 21,000 in Italian and English

Happy Holidays !

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The attack on Silvio Berlusconi

At 11:30 am on July 14, 1948 Palmiro Togliatti (leader of the Comunist Party in Italy, financed by Soviet Union) was hit by three caliber 38 pistol shots fired at close range while exiting Montecitorio in Rome accompanied by Nilde Iotti, his mistress. The shooter was Antonio Pallante, a young man of vague liberal political affiliation, who feared the possible effects of his victim’s pro-Soviet policies on Italy. The leader of the Italian Communist Party was hit in the neck and back and one shot grazed his head.

It took Gino Bartali’s cycling victory in the Tour de France to calm a nation on the brink of civil war.

We regret the attack on Silvio Berlusconi. Unfortunately is a calculated risk run by high profile politicians. We wish him speedy recovery.

But where was his protective service?

If we were to look for a cyclist capable of calming the nation now (!), we would not find one. First because cycling no longer enjoys in Italy the popularity it had 70 years ago and secondly because many cyclists are doping themselves and ending up badly.

Ethan Marten, a Movie Talent

Every film project is based on team work. Atlantis Down from MaXaM Productions and directed by Max Bartoli is no exception. The financial resources that gave the green light to the movie came from the company’s newly acquired Anglo-American production house and the collaborative efforts of this young Italian director with the producer Ethan Marten. Ethan Marten was born to the movie business. He has decades of experience as both an actor and executive producer. His father Albert Marten was a leading entertainment lawyer during the 1950s and 60s who pioneered the now commonplace use of completion bonds. For his part, Ethan Marten has been involved in every aspect of film making. He began acting at a young age, and has worked with stars such as Harry Sean Stanton, Frank Langella, Jason Robards, Piper Laurie, Jose Ferrer and Whoppi Goldberg. His production work includes Lucas Films, Hollywood Pictures, the Discovery Channel, the Family Channel, New Dominion Pictures and NASA. As a producer Ethan Marten launched three movie companies and was among the first to develop interactive marketing strategies. He was the first film producer to test (for Panasonic) and use digital P2 cameras.

In the early 1980s he convinced his father and his brother Richard to establish Virginia’s first film studios and he co-managed them until the beginning of the 1990s.

Today Ethan Marten comes equipped with a large number of financial backers who trust him. His joining up with MaXaM Productions has led to immediate results as evidenced by the fact that it took only three months to collect the budget for Atlantis Down.

Now all one can do is hope the movie will not disappoint investors and public and that the Bartoli-Marten collaboration will be a lasting one.

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(Beyond the News)

Circulation 21,000 in English and Italian
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Translation by Prof. Maria Enrico — m.enrico@att.net

Full Beacon article online

“Italian director films ‘Atlantis Down’ in Va. Beach”

The Virginian-Pilot
© January 7, 2010
By Melanie Barker
Correspondent

Italian film director Max Bartoli has fallen in love with Virginia Beach.

Bartoli, 40, is the CEO and co-founder of MaXam Productions, which has offices in Rome, London and Los Angeles.

But Bartoli spent most of December here, shooting scenes for his new feature film, “Atlantis Down,” at First Landing State Park.

Darla Grese, right, and Denise Hawkins at Itlaian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for announcement of Atlantis Down principal photography.

“I’m in love with Virginia Beach,” Bartoli said.

“I’m amazed by the beauty of this place, and I’m thankful to the people of Virginia Beach, because without them, this movie never could have happened,” Bartoli said.

Although Bartoli brought many cast and crew members from Rome and Los Angeles, he also employed several local residents on the almost-$1 million production….

From left, Actress Pamela Good, Actor Michael Rooker, Executive Producer Ethan Marten, Producer/Director Max Bartoli and Actor Travis Quenton Young on set of Atlantis Down.

Full Beacon article online