Meet Lucia Bellini | Film & Theater Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucia Bellini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucia, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I’m inspired by the countless perspectives that exist about nearly everything — and the countless interpretations within those. I’m inspired by how people change over time, the many selves we become in a lifetime, and how the circles of influence around us — and the ones we create — shape our lives in often imperceptible ways. I’m fascinated by what triggers what in whom. Where do others find inspiration? What do their creations mean to them?

Of course, I’m inspired by books, music, film, theater, dance, comedy, visual art, fashion, and architecture — and how these forms can blend and intersect to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

And I’m inspired by my own darker side — because I have to be. It tends to surface at the most inconvenient times, and I’ve come to understand there’s little point in hiding it or wishing it away. Maybe if I let it speak, it’ll calm down. Stay tuned.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m originally from a tiny seaside town in Italy, but I’ve lived in Brooklyn, NY for almost 20 years. I bring a mix of old-world and new to both my work and my life. My artistic voice leans dark yet humorous—it’s how I’ve always made sense of things.
I started out as a (terrible) ballet dancer. Ballet taught me the outdated art of smiling while bleeding and forced me accept myself as the one who was gracefully goofy in a sea of perfect tutus. I couldn’t wait to become an actress—finally, a place where it was okay – even celebrated – if people laughed at my moves. And so, it began. Despite my teachers’ best efforts, I just couldn’t stop chasing the laugh, no matter the role. After ruining a well-intentioned high school production of Romeo & Juliet by turning Juliet into a loud-mouthed teen with boobs accidentally falling out of her dress, my mother let me move to New York.
I come from a theater background but have a filmmaker’s mind, which often pushes me to blend the two worlds when developing projects. An exciting cocktail of those disciplines is currently being workshopped in a small NYC festival. Spending my days in a rehearsal room with actors, then coming home to review what our video artist—my former-theater-kid-turned-superb-filmmaker husband—has created for the day, has been a dream come true. Watching all the pieces leave my head and come to life is like a weight being lifted and a deeper truth about the power of imagination unveiled.
But getting there isn’t easy. So many pieces have to fall into place at just the right time. I’ve been lucky to have found a few close, wonderful collaborators along the way. Even the shorter-lived creative partnerships were valuable—indispensable to the learning process. None of the creativity I tap into now would exist without all of that.
Keeping up momentum is easy. Getting it started is the hard part. COVID was a major momentum killer. I overcame that lull by going back to school. I received a scholarship to Hunter College, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Film with a minor in Theater. I had spent a decade directing with reckless passion and a handbook under my arm but had always craved formal training.
At first, college felt like a dream come true. All I had were books, time, and my cats. Then the world reopened—and I got married. Balancing full-time school, two to three jobs at any given time, and newlywed life really tested me. But I came out on top: I graduated summa cum laude, was named salutatorian, avoided divorce, and still have one of the cats in tow.
Something I’ve learned—through both the good times and the hard ones—is this: trust that the answers will come when they’re needed. Sitting just a little longer with the discomfort of not knowing how something will turn out can lead to much better results. I have my husband—and John Cleese—to thank for that lesson. Not an easy one to learn for someone naturally anxious and impatient, but worth it.
I’m a workhorse. I feel most alive around a stage or behind a keyboard. I get restless intellectualizing—I’m a practical dreamer. And always in black.
Writing is the newest love of my creative life, and it completely swept me off my feet. I’m most energized when creating comedies, and most frustrated by long-winded, self-indulgent writing—so I’ll stop myself here.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would probably be the worst chaperone in the history of New York. I have been ridiculed before by some friends for how little I know about the “hot spots” – but that’s only helped me stay even further away from them (spots and friends). Still, there are a few staples I’d include in an itinerary, keeping a mindful eye on budget and avoiding the really touristy stuff that you’ll probably stumble into anyway (New York is smaller than you think).
In no particular order:
• Syndicated in Brooklyn for an old movie and a cocktail + semi-fancy dinner.
• Any of the big famous museums, any.
• Brooklyn-style pizza, almost any.
• Domino Park with a view on the bridges – bonus points for a margarita and a perfectly legal joint.
• A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or up and down the Highline.
• A bagel with lox and cream cheese picnic in Prospect Park ideally on a day when it is sunny but not too crowded and it feels like you are sitting in the old Windows 95 screensaver – bonus point for washing that down with overly sweetened, absolutely perfect bodega coffee.
• Ride the Q train all the way down to Coney Island’s Luna Park and make your way up the boardwalk to Brighton Beach for piroshki and a shot of vodka.
• Visit the Oculus and pretend we are boarding a spaceship.
• See Shakespeare in the Park after literally reading the play in the park that afternoon (at least, I have to. My brain registers most Shakespearean dialogue only if I have seen it on the written page first. ESL, baby).
• Vintage and second-hand shopping at Beacon’s Closet or at other more hidden gems I will never remember the names of.
• Window shopping in Soho, 5th Avenue, or the Meatpacking District – bonus points for stumbling on a random jazz band playing on the sidewalk.
• Got real money to spend? Broadway! Steakhouse! SoJo Spa Club! Oyster Bar! Comedy show! Art gallery crawl + art shopping! Feast at Red Rooster! Ditch the subway and take a cab everywhere!
• Ultimately, save space, time and money for Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery and indulge in people watching anywhere you go – that’s the best part.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve worked in comedy clubs on and off since 2020, and during that time I’ve witnessed incredibly funny people that I thought couldn’t possibly get funnier—get funnier. They show up consistently (though not consistently on time—cough cough), and they consistently reshape and refine their material, adapting to whatever’s in front of them. I’ve seen them perform in parks during lockdown, in front of small drunk crowds at late-night shows, and to sold-out, sober houses. Even though the jokes are technically the same… they never are.
My shout-out is dedicated to their fluidity and constant adaptation—their seemingly effortless attention to detail. A slightly longer pause here, a better synonym there, and suddenly a joke that once fell a bit flat becomes their strongest. They are a master class in “practice makes perfect.” Their listening skills are enviable, and the speed on their feet, commendable. They are writers, performers, crowd-workers, risk-takers, hosts and timekeepers—all at once.
Finding humor requires them to be both brave and gentle, both receptive and detached. They live in incongruity—but don’t we all, after all? They just got up and did something about it. Laughter has helped me many times, and the closer I get to it, the more I respect it, seek it, support it, and strive to spread it.

Website: https://www.luciabellini.com

Instagram: @lu__bellini

Image Credits
James O’Connor.
Jules Slutsky.