Paolo Cerrino: Italian‑Born Director and Art Director Leading Award‑Winning Projects in Los Angeles

By Akanksha Harsh

Los Angeles is famous for the stars we see on screen, but filmmaking depends just as much on the people behind the camera. Paolo Cerrino is one of those craftspeople. Born and raised in a small town in northern Italy, he grew up making short films with his father and absorbing classic cinema from the golden age of Universal’s monster movies to the avant‑garde visions of David Lynch and Federico Fellini. That early love of storytelling drove him to study ancient and modern literature in high school and to experiment constantly with no‑budget shorts alongside friends who shared his passion. When the COVID‑19 pandemic struck, he seized the moment to uproot his life and move to Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking full-time. Four years later, Cerrino has established himself as a director and art director whose projects have been nominated and awarded at festivals, like IndieX Film Fest, LA Shorts International, the Chicago Horror Film Festival, and the Unnamed Footage Festival.

Moving to LA and Building a Community

Paolo arrived in Los Angeles in 2020 with little more than a suitcase and a portfolio of self‑made short films. The transition from a tight‑knit Italian town to one of the world’s most competitive creative hubs was daunting, especially during a pandemic. He navigated immigration paperwork, embassy closures, and personal loss as COVID‑19 claimed the lives of several relatives, including his grandparents. Once in California, he found himself a small fish in a vast ocean of aspiring filmmakers. He quickly realized that to succeed, he couldn’t simply rely on talent; he had to develop a network and prove his worth by taking on multiple roles. So, while continuing to write and direct, he began working in production design and the art department to gain on‑set experience. Over time, he built a loyal community through local production companies, like HRVST Films and Saylor’s Eye Productions. That collaborative network not only supported his projects but also allowed him to evolve into a leader who thrives on trust and clear communication.

Award‑Recognized Directing Projects

Cerrino’s directing work blends genre influences with the personal intensity he brings to each set. His short films Spin the Bottle and Restrung have circulated on the festival circuit, earning nominations and awards while showcasing his ability to craft suspenseful narratives on modest budgets. In Spin the Bottle, Cerrino assembled a team that included casting director Navia Robinson, best known for her on‑screen roles in Gotham Knights and Raven’s Home, who oversaw the casting process and worked with him to find talent that could carry the story’s emotional weight. On Restrung, he collaborated with actor Steve Crawford, familiar to audiences from the HBO series Legion of Exorcists and the comedy channel Almost Friday TV, to explore themes of ambition and sacrifice. His most recent film, The Method, pushes those skills further. Shot largely in downtown Los Angeles, it features a monster‑transformation chase through Hollywood Boulevard that required his cinematographer to don a heavy head‑rig. Just days before the shoot, forecasts predicted a downpour. With no possibility of rescheduling due to crew availability, Cerrino gambled on a brief break in the rain. He and his team filmed the entire sequence in under two hours, finishing minutes before the sky opened again, a testament to his adaptability and calm under pressure.

Collaborations and Cross‑Disciplinary Craft

Paolo’s reputation rests not only on creative ideas but also on how he works with others. He leads his crews with a combination of precision and openness, always ready to adjust plans when budgets shift or unexpected obstacles arise. As a director he has guided performances from Merle Shane O’Neal, a YouTube influencer connected with Buzzfeed, and David Alan Graf, known for his work with horror filmmaker Ari Aster. On Spin the Bottle, his partnership with Navia Robinson as casting director underscored his belief that the right collaborators can elevate a project beyond its resources. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to never fear change,” he said. When curveballs arrive, whether a location falls through or a prop breaks, he stays flexible and encourages his team to propose alternatives. He also trusts his department heads to handle their responsibilities without micromanagement, providing clear materials and making himself available for questions. This respect fosters a positive environment where creativity can flourish.

Innovative Art Direction and Production Design

In parallel with directing, Cerrino has developed a strong portfolio as an art director. Projects like The Interview, Live Crickets and Rinse and Repeat demonstrate his eye for detail and resourcefulness. On The Interview, he was hired to deliver a key set piece, a fully functional elevator with a panel of over 40 buttons, after the previous art director failed to meet the budget. It took two weeks to source flats and apply metallic wallpaper for the elevator walls. For the panel, he discovered a real elevator control at NBC Universal’s prop house but had to fabricate additional buttons to match the director’s vision. The result was so convincing that the producer not only approved his design but insisted on paying him beyond the agreed compensation. On Live Crickets and Rinse and Repeat, he used similar ingenuity to craft immersive environments that support the storytelling, from creating practical insect habitats to designing rooms that could be transformed between scenes. These experiences at the intersection of design and narrative feed back into his directing, giving him a holistic understanding of how sets influence performance and mood.

Looking Ahead

Cerrino plans to continue balancing directing and art direction to broaden his portfolio and deepen his network of collaborators. He has several feature‑length scripts in development and hopes to shoot them with studios like Neon and A24 once the right opportunities arise. Festivals, such as Sundance and TIFF sit at the top of his aspirational list. He is also eager to join union sets in art department roles, whether as a set dresser or art assistant, to gain experience on larger productions and further establish himself within Hollywood’s professional circles. Whatever the project, he brings the same philosophy: professionalism, passion, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to serve the story. More importantly, it offers a window into the collaborative heart of independent filmmaking, where talent, adaptability, and community are as essential as the marquee names on a movie poster.

Paolo Cerrino is active on Instagram (@cerr_the_man), and details of his work are listed on IMDb.