“For his birthday I sent Martin Scorsese a simple message of good wishes. I collaborated with the great director for nine films. He always trusted me, gave me carte blanche. We spoke very little and he was always satisfied with my work. ‘Welcome on board’, he told me, and the filming began”. With these words Dante Ferretti, the greatest Italian set designer, 7 nominations and three Oscar Awards (‘The Aviator’ and ‘Hugo Cabret’ signed by Scorsese and ‘Sweeney Todd – The evil barber of Fleet Street’ by Tim Burton), 5 Bafta Awards, 4 David di Donatello, 13 Silver Ribbons alongside many other prestigious awards, remembers with the time.news the Italian-American master who turns 80 today.
“Galetto was Federico Fellini’s set while he was shooting ‘La città delle donne’ – Dante Ferretti still remembers – Martin Scorsese with Isabella Rossellini, whom he would later marry, was in Italy to meet the famous director. Martin called me in America after ‘Le Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Terry Gilliam, the first film was The Age of Innocence, Gabriella Pescucci won her first Oscar for costume design”. An artistic partnership, the one with Martin Scorsese, formed above all by an extraordinary trinity, which also includes Dante Ferretti’s wife, Francesca Lo Schiavo, costume and set designer, also award-winning. “Very talented and highly esteemed by Martin, we’ve always gotten along very well”, adds Ferretti.
And remember a curious anecdote. “I convinced Martin Scorsese to shoot ‘Gangs of New York’ in front of a plate of spaghetti alle vongole – Dante Ferretti recalls with a smile – We were together at the Venice Film Festival during the presentation of his documentary on Italian cinema ‘My journey in Italia’ next to Armani. With his personal plane, before reaching New York, he gave me a ride at Ciampino. I asked him to stop for a few hours in Rome – continues Ferretti – Lunch at the Cascina and then an armored visit to the Cinecittà studios. Martin agreed to shoot the film in Italy. I prepared models and drawings, I took them to New York and after 4 months shooting began. ‘Great, great, thank you very much’, he repeated to me. A few words, of consecration”.