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ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES-MAKE UP ARTISTS SODANO AND SIGNORETTI TO ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE “MAKE ME UP A STAR” ON MARCH 3 IN SANTA MONICA,CA LOS ANGELES, 02/09/10 - The greatness of Italian cinema has often been recognized worldwide; not only as a result of the "genius" by directors like De Sica, Fellini, Tornatore and Muccino, but also thanks to the amazing skills and imagination displayed by its behind-the-scene artists. That is, cinematographers, production designers, composers and, last but not least, make-up artists. This latter group is now being celebrated with an "eye-opening" exhibition, "Make Me Up a Star", a truly case-study revealing some of the secrets of this fascinating and yet often unheralded film department. Created by Elisabetta Cantone and Francesca Silvestri with their Dress in Dreams Foundation, the show will open on March 3rd at the Jeanie Madsen Gallery in Santa Monica. It will shine a bright and intriguing light on the techniques, methods, tools and props used in many movies by world-famous Italian make-up and hair artists such as Vittorio Sodano and Aldo Signoretti, current Academy Award nominees for Paolo Sorrentino's "Il Divo", in which they "morphed" lead-actor Toni Servillo's face into disgraced politician Giulio Andreotti (Sodano won the David di Donatello Award in 2009 for the same movie, and it's the first time ever that an Italian make-up artist is nominated by the Academy for an Italian movie); Manlio Rocchetti (Academy Award Winner for "Driving Miss Daisy"), Maurizio Silvi (nomination for "Moulin Rouge!") and Francesco Freda, hair and make-up artist "of choice" - actually the only one - for Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, among many other Italian movie stars. Thanks to their superior know-how and dexterity in their trade, these make-up artists are busy not only in Italy and Europe, but also in Hollywood and its major productions. Manlio Rocchetti, for example, was called by director Martin Scorsese to create the make-up effects for the new psychological thriller "Shutter Island". "Manlio [Rocchetti] worked with me on 'The Last Tempation of Christ'," remembers Scorsese, a true lover of Italian cinema and its artists (his long standing collaboration with production designer Dante Ferretti, Oscar winner for "The Aviator", has become all but legendary). "When 'Shutter Island' came up, I couldn't think of a make-up magician better than Manlio. I had to have him for this project." "Make Me Up a Star", presented under the auspicies of Regione Lazio, Sviluppo Lazio, the Italian Consulate and Cultural Istitute in Los Angeles, will make its local debut on March 3rd, 2010, at the Jeanie Madsen Gallery in Santa Monica, running through March 7th. The visitors will be able to see sketches, drawings, props, videos and documentaries explaining the art and techniques of make-up, and why the Italian specialists are so appreciated around the world. The exhibit will also include a special presentation in memory of the late Fabrizio Sforza (make-up for "The Last Emperor”). The Italian Consul General Nicola Faganello and many Hollywood celebrities who had a chance to work with these great artists, will be on hand for the gala opening of the exhibit in Santa Monica, which will then move to New York on April 20th, at the Italian Cultural Istitute, during the Tribeca Film Festival. For press inquiries or other information please contact info@dressindreams.com Or call Anna Rita Dell’Atte Tel: 310 7042276 ardellatte@yahoo.com