- Title: GERMANY: Actress Isabella Rossellini turns to directing insect sex
- Date: 14th February 2008
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 10, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISABELLA ROSSELLINI, ACTRESS IN AND DIRECTOR AND WRITER OF "GREEN PORNO", SAYING "We on purpose only used scientific words. I never say any derogatory slang for genitals, you know, I always say "penis", "vagina", "mating", sometimes we will say "lovemaking", which obviously doesn't apply to animals, but it's current in the talk, so I never really say anything dirty. The intent is to be on the web and so available to everybody, obviously also to reach as far as possible. So we talk about sex, but not in a dirty (way). I mean the terminology is not dirty."
- Embargoed: 29th February 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAF2OQZJBCQEHH7FYTR2SWIN6MM
- Story Text: Isabella Rossellini treated audiences at the Berlin Film Festival to wild and crazy sex scenes in a series of short films she stars in and directs.
But the shorts collectively called "Green Porno" will hardly cause a stir with ratings authorities because Rossellini, one of the world's most recognised faces after decades of modelling and acting, is always fully clothed, in bug costumes.
"I never really say anything dirty," Rossellini, 55, said in an interview with Reuters on Sunday (February 10) -- before using one choice four-letter word as an example of the language not used in the one-minute clips showing flies, spiders and snails fornicating.
"The intent is to be on the web so it is available to everybody, to reach as far as possible. It's not dirty talk. We talk about sex but the terminology is not dirty. The film is principally humorous and if anything else it's informative.
"The surreal part is the way we develop them visually," she told Reuters after a screening in Berlin drew loud applause.
Rossellini flashes a mischievous grin as she explains in her trademark Italian-accented English that flies are horny buggers and have sex many times each day. She then demonstrates, with some heavy-duty doggy-style sex on another fly.
"There are many, many ways to mate", said Rossellini, who made the films designed for small screens such as cellphones, i-pods and laptops for the Sundance Channel. "Audiences seem to be very amused and react in the way I wanted them to react which is to have a laugh and say, oh, I didn't know that about a worm."
Rossellini -- a frequent visitor to the Berlin Festival over the years starring in a great number of films -- said she has no intention of slowing down, would like to do more directing and is eager to be at the forefront of new cinematic developments.
"My parents grew up in the silent era and they made films themselves, but talkies, and they always told me about that moment that was so incredible, when cinema changed completely from silent into talkies", said Rossellini, the daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and her Italian director Roberto Rossellini. "And now we have this incredible opportunity with the web, so I think cinema and television still exist and yet the web is offering a whole new canvas and all new opportunities. It is extremely exciting to work for the web."
Rossellini, who stumbled into modelling at the relatively late age of 28, said she sees nothing extraordinary about moving on to directing at age 55, although she was quick to point out that she roles in three major films due out in the months ahead.
"Why would I want to do that?" she said when asked if she planned to slow down.
Rossellini, who was briefly married to American director Martin Scorsese in the 1970s, said it was not always easy having famous parents and a well-known ex-husband. She once complained it might have cost her acting jobs as others were intimidated.
But she said the advantages out-weighed any disadvantages -- and she admits her name and face helped get "Green Porno" made. The filmmakers label it "GP" to avoid problems with customs. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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