Watching a movie is one of the best ways to leave our reality behind, for at least a couple of hours, and allow ourselves to be entertained. At times, though, it can be a way to explore those same everyday problems that are part of our reality and we either forget or decide to ignore. But who says that watching an Alzheimer’s movie needs to be excruciating? Why does homelessness have to be a political issue? What makes us assume that the story of a sick child is going to be depressing? For filmmaker Valerio Zanoli, entertaining people while offering a chance to think about serious topics has become a model on which most of his movies are based. He is also a real estate investor who has been providing affordable housing to hundreds of homeless and low-income families in Southern Nevada.
Zanoli (www.valeriozanoli.com) has shaped his entire career around the concept of social entrepreneurship. After graduating from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, he lost his mother to cancer and decided to help others in any possible way. He stated: “Mom was a social worker and, through her actions, she taught me that giving is better than receiving. Soon, I realized that filmmaking could – and should – be used to make a difference. Dad used to design buildings and, when I was a child, he showed me the importance of having a home – and not just a house. To follow in his footsteps, I got involved in real estate, which I use to have an impact on the community and ‘welcome home’ those who cannot be housed anywhere else.”
Zanoli debuted the first teaser trailer for his latest film, the documentary “Homeless,” at the 2022 Statewide Conference on Ending Homelessness. The event was hosted by Nevada Homeless Alliance and included speeches and workshops with representatives from local and national organizations, such as Steve Sisolak (Governor of Nevada), Jason Pu (Regional Administrator of the Department of Housing and Urban Development), and Brooke Page (Director of Corporation for Supportive Housing). The conference took place in a very critical moment in U.S. history: Rent prices are skyrocketing, inflation is the highest in decades, and a new recession is looming.
In this context, the documentary “Homeless” provides an honest look at what it’s like to be homeless. Though it was filmed in Southern Nevada, it depicts a situation that affects every metropolitan area in the United States and is ever more urgent. Zanoli stated: “The movie follows the stories of five homeless individuals who talk of how they ended up on the streets, the fears and issues they need to face every day, and what keeps their hope alive.” The film has the support of countless organizations and features interviews with many homeless and housing advocates: Christine Hess (Executive Director of Nevada Housing Coalition), Catrina Grigsby-Thedford (Executive Director of Nevada Homeless Alliance), Chris Petersen (Legal Director of ACLU of Nevada), Donald Whitehead Jr (Executive Director of National Coalition for the Homeless), and more.
Zanoli is very familiar with the tragic housing shortage that is affecting low-income families and individuals all over the United States. He has been acquiring and providing affordable units through accurate planning, a wise use of funds and resources, good management, and the creation of a network of charities and people with his same goal: “The burning desire to make a difference has been the driving force behind all of this. When I make a movie, I build fictional characters and their stories; in my real estate career, I build affordable units, but, above all, I have the chance to build people up. Their stories are real and need to be shared with the world.”
For the past several months, Zanoli has been supervising the renovation of two rooming houses, which Clark County Social Service will use to house up to 25 low-income individuals, every night, right in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Christine Hess, Executive Director of Nevada Housing Coalition, fully supports this project and stated: “To end our affordable housing and homelessness crises, we must consider all opportunities to provide solutions that meet those in need where they are and support their path along the affordable housing spectrum to housing security. The renovation and expansion of these two rooming houses is one example of an alternative solution that can impact multiple lives for years to come in Las Vegas.”
Zanoli is constantly looking for new housing opportunities to help the low-income members of our society. Land and construction costs have reached unprecedented records, making it difficult for real estate investors and developers like him to increase the number of affordable units on their own. Zanoli has stressed the importance for private and public sectors to cooperate: “If you consider that an individual on supplemental security income [$841] shouldn’t spend more than $250 per month on rent and bills – or 30% of their income – it’s immediately clear that public assistance and innovative solutions are needed now more than ever.”
Zanoli added: “Unfortunately, fighting homelessness is still a daily commitment and something we cannot overlook or ignore. In Southern Nevada, where I live and work, charities such as The Salvation Army and agencies such as Clark County Social Service are doing an extraordinary job, but this is a social problem that affects all of us, and all of us – as a society – need to come together so we can solve it. As a famous quote says: There is no ‘us’ and ‘them.’ There is only us, one human family, connected in ways we sometimes forget.”
Over the years, Zanoli has developed numerous initiatives, including the project Helping Vegas (www.helping.vegas), which brings together several landlords, charities, and organizations that operate in Southern Nevada in a collective effort to mitigate the housing crisis. In 2023, he plans to give life to the Homeless Festival, together with Nevada Homeless Alliance, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary of bringing people together to advance solutions to homelessness.
All the movies that Zanoli has recently produced and directed, including the documentary “Homeless,” are part of the umbrella project Let’s Make a Difference (www.letsmakeadifference.info). They are socially conscious films that talk of important issues (i.e. childhood cancer, bullying, Alzheimer’s), raise funds for charities and hospitals (i.e. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), and move audiences to action. These projects have featured Academy Award winners, have been distributed all over the world, and have won several awards (including a Social Commitment Award, an Excellence Award, and dozens of film festivals).
Zanoli’s previous film “Not to Forget” was distributed in North American movie theaters only a few months ago. While it may simplistically be seen as “an Alzheimer’s movie,” this film is far from such. Those who expect a documentary or a detailed depiction of this terrible disease will be surprised by Zanoli’s different approach: “Hospitals, doctors, patients and caregivers helped me research the topic and guided me while I was writing the screenplay. My intent was to create a movie that would not be depressing and, instead, could be watched by everyone. ‘Not to Forget’ has jokes, suspense, and dramatic situations everyone can relate to. It focuses on the positive and why it’s important to remember, rather than on the negative and why forgetting is saddening. While other beautiful movies offer the audience a realistic look at Alzheimer’s disease, ‘Not to Forget’ shifts the attention from patients to caregivers. The number of people who die of Alzheimer’s every year is appalling, but what’s even more shocking is that caregivers often pass away before the people they care for.”
“Not to Forget” has an outstanding cast that combines old Hollywood legends with up-and-coming young talented actors. Karen Grassle (from “Little House on the Prairie”) plays the role of Melody, an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s. She has done a great job delivering a solid performance and creating a lovable character. She said that Zanoli “is most sincere in wanting to use his talents to make the world a better place and is accomplishing things in this area that few others are accomplishing. At first, we had slightly different visions about my character: Valerio enthusiastically accepted my notes and allowed me to feel it mine.”
Five Academy Award winners complete an ensemble cast that has won accolades at film festivals worldwide: Cloris Leachman, Louis Gossett Jr., Tatum O’Neal, George Chakiris, and Olympia Dukakis. Before she passed away in May 2021, the Greek actress said of Zanoli: “When he approached me, Valerio wanted to create a movie to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Alzheimer’s, and I wanted to be part of it. I believed in his ambition and capabilities, and I am very happy I did. Valerio created a sweet film, which I enjoyed watching.”
Before exploring Alzheimer’s disease and homelessness, Zanoli gave life to two sweet films about important issues that affect our youths. “Hopeful Notes” tells the story of a young violinist with leukemia who inspires an entire children’s hospital with his music. The film won the International Social Commitment Award during the 2010 Venice Film Festival and received 5 out of 5 stars from the Dove Foundation. “All You Can Dream” is a coming-of-age film about a teenage girl who is bullied because of her physical appearance. Thanks to the support of her favorite singer (played by international pop star Anastacia), the girl finds the courage to explore the beauty she has inside. The film premiered at Giffoni Film Festival (the most prestigious festival for children and teenagers) and had a special screening at the historic Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
The several awards and certificates of appreciation that Zanoli received from the Governor of Nevada, U.S. Vets, The Salvation Army, many other homeless and housing organizations, and film festivals all over the world are evidence not only of Zanoli’s achievements, but also of the fact that combining a successful business and social commitment is possible. He was even praised by the White House Office of the First Lady Michelle Obama: “We are inspired by your dedication to helping people nationwide.” More recently, Zanoli was the recipient of the “Lions Pride” award from Lions Clubs International, which is home to 1.5 million members who are dedicated to serving their communities and the world. He stated: “Our motto is very simple: ‘We Serve.’ Most people think that one is supposed to lead from the front or the top, but author John C. Maxwell extensively wrote about ‘leading from the middle.’ We are on a mission to support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally. Leadership is not a position, but an action. It isn’t a pyramid with the leader at the top, but an inverted pyramid with the strength being the point upon which others are built up. If I am not serving you, I am not a leader.”
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Photo courtesy of Valerio Zanoli
