The landscapes of Southern Puglia provide the backdrop for the romantic comedy directed by American director Michelle Danner, entitled Under the Stars.
In April and May 2024, filming took place in Campi Salentina, Casalabate, Lecce and Otranto whose characteristic alleys provide the setting for a story about Ian who is looking for inspiration for a novel along with a beloved aunt. Locations also included Brandos Studios, the first sound stage in the Salento region.
“When I received the script for Under The Stars I contacted Italian producer Giangi Foschini who suggested I shoot in Puglia. I already imagined this beautiful love story in a fascinating, special, romantic place... and when he sent me videos and images, I knew it was the place for the film. For its landscapes, small villages, the sea, nature... I discovered a region rich in culture, gastronomy... and I met magnificent people" said producer Pia Patatian, President of worldwide sales at Arclight Films and CEO of Nura Films.
The cast includes well-known Hollywood faces such as Toni Collette, Andy Garcia, Alex Pettyfer and Eva De Dominici. Chiara Iezzi was the first name to be announced, she is known to the television public for her role as Giulia’s mother in the series Mare Fuori. The cast also includes: Rob Estes, Jessica Michel Serfaty, Vincent Riotta, Elia Tedesco, Marco Marzocca, Luca Seta, Rachel Petladwala and Nicole Ansari Cox, Mattia Sbragia, Simone Gentile, Samba Ndiaye, Ferdinando Ciaccia, Michelle Danner herself, Tim Fellingham, Robert Fedelmaier, Tony Herbert, Raffaele Gabrieli, Josie Aponte, Andres Garcia, Edward Wray, Teferi Dejene, Alessandra De Rosa, Erica Papasergi and Jason Vinuesa.
Screenwriter Victoria Vinuesa also wrote See you in Venus, film adaptation of the romance novel, available on Netflix worldwide.
“The pace in Puglia is different to that of a big city – commented Pia Patatian. We had a magnificent local team, the locations we found were perfect... and I would have liked to shoot in more places but I'll leave that for the next project”.
The executive production of Under The Stars was entrusted to local production company Brandos Film helmed by Giangi Foschini and partners.
“We are also grateful to the Puglia Film Commission for their support, and the Municipality of Campi Salentina for their patronage, we believe that this film will really take off and garner international success; it’s also being distributed by one of Hollywood’s most prestigious distributors, Arclight Films, who will handle international sales while Capstone will handle sales in the USA” – says Giangi Foschini.
“Under the Stars is a funny, heartfelt romantic comedy about love, truth, beauty, human connection, and the romance genre itself. The differences between our characters and their dynamics, like those of the main settings of the story, facilitate the bond that develops between them and the exploration of what people are looking for in others and from their own lives - concludes director Michelle Danner. It's a love story between the young and the less young, told with unusual and sincere humour, that will entertain audiences of all ages".