50 and 50 was Davide Lupinetti’s first short film: a comedy born from the uncertainty faced by young professionals in the Italian arts and education sectors.
The story
Gennaro is a young art teacher who cannot find stable work. Following a colleague’s advice, he starts giving private art lessons to children. Then Alessandra, a determined young student, arrives at his home with an unusual proposal—one that turns the situation upside down.
Why tell this story?
Italy is celebrated around the world for its artistic heritage, yet many people trying to build a career in the arts live with financial uncertainty. The film approaches that contradiction through comedy, using humour to make a difficult subject immediate and human.
An international crew
Screenwriter Pietro Albino Di Pasquale helped shape the project through the screenplay, casting and location scouting. The crew also included former university colleagues Alessandro Fiori and Steve Marullo, together with Vladimir Ponomarev from Russia and Riki Ikushima from Japan, whom Davide met while studying film in San Francisco.
The multilingual set reflected the collaborative spirit that would later become central to storyREC.
Three days of filming
Production took place over three intense days. The first brought extreme heat; the second involved working with a group of children appearing on camera for the first time; and the third was disrupted by rain, forcing the team to repeat several scenes.
Those challenges became practical lessons in directing people, managing time and adapting the visual plan when reality changed.
Festivals and recognition
The film went on to receive nominations abroad and awards across Italy. That unexpected festival journey reinforced a simple idea: even a small independent production can travel far when its story is honest and accessible.
Behind the scenes
Watch the film
Credits
With thanks to Alessandra Riccio, Danilo Aceto, Eugenia Rofi, Pietro Albino Di Pasquale, Aniello Senatore and every member of the cast and crew. Special thanks also to Davide’s family for making the production possible.