A filmmaker's studio · London, the UK & Europe
Every business is better than its website says.
Films about why a business exists: brand films, portraits, case studies and advertising, for businesses across the UK and Europe. acalumaFILMS is the studio of Massimo Amici, and each one is made one at a time, to last.
The films
Every film here is short and built to do one job. One earns the next click on a website. One warms the room before you walk in. One carries a campaign.
Each shows the place, the people and the work behind a name. The part paragraphs of copy can’t.
Brand film
The film at the top of your website: the essence of a business, and why anyone should choose it.
Case study
Your customer says what happened. A written proposal can’t carry that.
Portrait
A place, a story, and the person or people behind it. For the businesses that are their people.
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A short spot built on a single idea, made to feel like film.
No packages, no menus. One standard of craft, whatever shape the film needs to take. Made to last you for years, not to fill a content calendar.
A few films, each made to do one job.
Different shapes, one standard. If one of them feels like yours, say so. That’s the best brief there is.
And for bigger names
The same eye, at a larger scale.
Most of our films are made for businesses you haven’t heard of yet. Some are made for names you have, where Massimo was hired as director of photography, sometimes as editor, by the companies making them.
Where a film starts
You may not know what the film should be yet.
Sometimes you know the shape a film should take from the outset. Often you don’t, and the shape has to come out of the business itself: what it does, who it’s talking to, what’s getting in the way.
Advertising was the job before film, so working the idea out is familiar ground, and we do it with you rather than handing you a brief to fill in.
The cuts are decided there too. One shoot, a film for your site, a short version for social, something for events and meetings, each one tailored.
How it works
Three steps to the finished film.
01
The conversation
A call, an email, a coffee, whatever suits how you work. Together we work out what the film has to do. You don’t commit to the film until you’ve seen the idea. You receive our concept first, and we only move forward if it’s one you want to make.
02
The shoot
A small crew and a light footprint, anywhere in the UK or Europe. Your premises, a location, or straight to the edit if the footage already exists.
03
The film
Edit, grade, sound, music. You receive the finished film, plus the versions you need for web, social and screen. If you want the raw footage too, it’s yours.
The filmmaker behind the studio
Massimo Amici is a filmmaker. His own short films have won at festivals from Rome to New York, and that is the eye he brings to a business film: made like a film, and made to last.
He has also shot and cut work for names you will know, among them Google, LinkedIn and Microsoft, and portraits for businesses you may not know yet. Based in London, filming across the UK and Europe.
He writes and directs his own films at massimoamici.com. One project at a time, by design.
What it’s like to work with us.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Massimo and Acaluma Films on two videos for Danena over the years… Working with Massimo was effortless. He’s incredibly talented, creative, calm and intuitive, making everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera.”Renata Bacci Sed · Danena, Noto, Sicily“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Massimo and Acaluma Films on two videos for Danena over the years and I couldn’t recommend them more highly. Massimo has a rare ability to truly understand the heart of a place and translate it into film. From the very beginning, he took the time to connect with our vision and captured the essence of Danena in such an authentic and beautiful way. The videos weren’t just visually stunning, they described the atmosphere, emotion and soul of our retreats so well.
Working with Massimo was effortless. He’s incredibly talented, creative, calm and intuitive, making everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. His attention to detail and storytelling is exceptional and the final films are something we’re still incredibly proud of.
Thank you so much!”
“He is our first choice for Director of Photography when filming in Europe… We trust him completely to represent us and work directly with our clients, even when we’re not on site. He also has an outstanding network and consistently assembles highly skilled, collaborative crews.”Zoe Shepherd · Wondros, Los Angeles“I have had the pleasure of working with Massimo on numerous projects over the years. I work for a production company in Los Angeles, and he is our first choice for Director of Photography when filming in Europe.
In addition to being an exceptionally talented DP, Massimo is incredibly professional, dependable, and consistently goes above and beyond what is asked of him.
We trust him completely to represent us and work directly with our clients, even when we’re not on site. He also has an outstanding network and consistently assembles highly skilled, collaborative crews.
What sets Massimo apart is that he brings much more than cinematography to a project. He is equally capable as a producer and fixer and his willingness to step in wherever needed and his positive attitude make him an invaluable member of any team.
Massimo is a great person to work with and I would recommend him without hesitation.”
“On the business side, he is professional, responsive, and incredibly generous with his time. He made countless edits to ensure every detail was just right and consistently went above and beyond to make sure I was thrilled with the final result.”Helena Dea Bala · New York“Massimo is a truly exceptional artist. On the business side, he is professional, responsive, and incredibly generous with his time. He made countless edits to ensure every detail was just right and consistently went above and beyond to make sure I was thrilled with the final result.
Artistically, he’s thoughtful, meticulous, and astonishingly talented. He took my vision and exceeded every expectation — I couldn’t be happier with the finished piece.
Even more importantly, Massimo is a kind, genuine person. He’s a joy to work with from start to finish. If you’re considering hiring him, don’t hesitate. I recommend him wholeheartedly.”
Reviews on Google
The brief can be one line.
Tell us which film here felt like yours, and a little about what you make. We’ll take it from there.
London / across the UK & Europe