5 Minutes with… Arianna Natale
Ever since she was a kid, Arianna Natale loved organising things. “I was managing my sister and friends!” she tells me. Later, she discovered production through a college friend, and found herself hooked immediately. The mix of coordinating, finding the right people, and running the whole show was a magic mix of everything she thrived doing – “It just clicked with me.”
Beginning as a freelancer, Arianna earned her stripes working on all kinds of sets, from events and photoshoots to ads and even some “wild projects” with people like Oliviero Toscani, Gabriele Salvatores, and Philip-Lorca DiCorcia. With years of experience as a producer and her work with The 6 Tailors, Italy's leading editing collective, she recognised a gap in the industry and turned it into an opportunity to support and elevate creative talents.
Her diverse network earned through years of producing would lay the foundation for Laconic – the first talent management agency in Italy dedicated solely to post-production artists. “Meeting my business partner, Alice Bellini, was the final piece of the puzzle,” says Arianna. Laconic is now a home for post-production freelancers. It represents various types of artists under one roof, working to combat the shrinking budgets of post-production houses and cllients, and the Italian market’s need for more industry attention. She's also running a podcast, which highlights the hidden heroes of production – you can check out it out here.
We sat down with Arianna to find out more about the challenges of building Italy’s first post-production talent agency, and how she’s redefining industry standards through creativity, collaboration, and a relentless drive to elevate emerging artists.
LBB> What inspired you to start Laconic, and what were some of the initial challenges you faced in establishing a talent management agency focused exclusively on post-production artists?
Arianna> After working with The 6 Tailors — Italy’s first editing collective — I saw a real gap: post-production artists had no agency looking out for them. So we decided to create one.
Our mission was simple: give these artists the spotlight they deserve. Talents understood what we were about right away, but producers needed time to adjust to the idea of an “agent” for an editor or a compositor. We’re still changing minds on that front!
LBB> You’ve mentioned recognising a gap in the industry for a talent agency dedicated to post-production. Could you elaborate on what that gap was and how Laconic addresses it?
Arianna> We’re somewhere between a post-house and an agency, bridging the gap between production companies and freelance post artists. Most freelancers have no unions or standards, and we’re here to support them and establish clear rates and timelines.
We also match junior artists with senior ones, so they learn directly from the pros. For production companies without dedicated post producers, we step in as their ally, helping them build teams that fit their exact needs.
LBB> How did your early career experiences, such as working with Oliviero Toscani and producing for The 6 Tailors, shape your understanding of the post-production industry and influence your approach at Laconic?
Arianna> I learned that if people have what they need to do their best work, they’ll deliver amazing results. That’s our goal at Laconic — giving talents and clients the right support so they can shine.
LBB> How would you describe the post-production landscape in Italy? Do you think it differs significantly from other markets in Europe or globally?
Arianna> In Italy, post-production is usually an afterthought. Producers here often think, “We’ll fix it in post,” but don’t actually budget for it.
Compared to other countries, only a few production houses here really value post-production and give it the respect it deserves. Working with those companies is a treat. But we also enjoy the challenge of supporting companies that need a little more help pulling the post team together. Our goal is to get the cool post-production going strong again!
LBB> You’re known for your passion for nurturing emerging artists. How does Laconic support these new talents, and what advice would you give to young post-production professionals entering the industry?
Arianna> We just launched L’Iconic Podcast to give a voice to the hidden heroes of production — the ones who may be listed in small print in the credits but are doing big things! It’s for everyone: people curious about what goes on behind the scenes, newbies to the industry, and anyone interested in the world of audiovisual production.
For new talents, my advice is to stay curious, respect the process, and keep learning. There’s always something new around the corner!
LBB> Managing creative talent requires a balance between artistry and business acumen. How do you navigate this balance, and what strategies help you support both the artists’ vision and the clients' needs?
Arianna> Empathy, listening, and a bit of intuition go a long way. We really try to understand both the client’s and the artist’s perspective. With new talents, we work for about a year before fully bringing them on, to see if they’re a fit for Laconic. Patience and willingness to learn about each of our artists are fundamental to our profession, and allow us to match every trait of that person with the variables of the campaign for which the client needs to designate a talent.
For juniors, we look for enthusiasm and a drive to learn; for seniors, it’s all about fostering their career. These are the two main mindsets we look for with freelancers; primary strengths that enable a healthy capacity of overcoming difficulties on projects, in both
levels of seniority.
LBB> With rapid changes in technology and client expectations, where do you see the field of post-production headed in the next few years? What trends do you think will shape the industry?
Arianna> Post-production is becoming more crucial than ever. VFX, animations, and 3D are popping up in everything from digital ads to music visuals. We are more and more used to watching unreal but aesthetically pleasing worlds or situations happening on our screens, so it is definitely a sector that will keep expanding its techniques. AI, for example, will be a game-changer in the automation of some processes, but there will always be experts behind it. Just because AI exists doesn’t mean everyone suddenly knows everything about it to be able to implement it — it’ll take specialists who know that language to run it and employee it for any project.
LBB> How does Laconic approach client relationships to ensure that artists and clients are well-matched? Can you share any insights or success stories where this approach made a difference?
Arianna> We listen to our clients’ needs and know our talents inside out. Coming from a production background, we understand exactly what producers need, and this helps us match talents with confidence.
A great example was our work on Comandante. I was a consultant for VFX supervisor Kevin Tod Haug, who came in from LA. It was a new experimental pipeline, and I worked closely with him to lead the scouting of the right roles needed for that specific workflow. Not just 3D artists, but also Qtake operators, DITs, and data managers. We had to find solutions for every challenge that arose in such a complex project, conscious that the main solution was on us to find. It was a big undertaking, and I can’t wait for more projects like this one in the future.
LBB> What are your long-term goals for Laconic? How do you hope to impact the post-production industry in Italy and beyond through your work?
Arianna> Laconic is here to be the agency for post-production freelancers in Italy — editors, colourists, VFX artists, 3D artists, animators, you name it. We’re a support system for both talents and producers.
Long-term, I’d love to be involved earlier in the process — starting in pre-production — so we can set projects up for success from day one. When post-production is planned from the start, everything flows better and the results are of impact.
LBB> Anything else you’d like to add?
Arianna> Having a goal (or more than one) keeps you going. It pushes you to achieve things you’d never expect and it keeps the dream on, both in life and work.
