By Denny Patterson

Gianni Versace may have been one of the world’s most prolific fashion designers, but how many people truly know his compelling story? Thanks to Salvatore “Vincent De Paul” Zannino’s new film, The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive, he is offering audiences a never-before-seen look into the icon’s extraordinary life and career.

Filmed at the Versace mansion in Miami, where every object is a separate work of art, this full-length documentary features archival material and the confessions of friends and former colleagues, celebrating a man who never stopped being inspired by his time to create a strictly personal universe of high aesthetics. As one of the first designers to link fashion to the music world and always treading the line between classic and modern, Versace redefined the way we perceive fashion and clothing.

De Paul is a two-time Emmy Award winning producer and actor, whose career spans three decades. The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive is his debut documentary feature as a director, and he took some time to talk more about the film, which will make its Florida debut at the 38th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) on November 3, 2023, with OutClique. He also touches on what inspired him to create this project, how he initially met Versace, and more. 

Denny Patterson: Vincent, thank you for taking some time to chat with us about your documentary, The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive. What inspired you to create it?

Vincent De Paul: There are many reasons, but I just wanted his story to be told. A story that was authentic and accurate. I felt that he was such an inspiration to many, and he empowered so many musicians, models, actors, and performers. I wanted the world to know his journey, and The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive is really the celebration of an iconic Italian fashion designer, who empowered and embraced all he encountered. From Elton John to Bon Jovi, Tina Turner, and Madonna, he basically allowed them to express themselves, their artistry, and their personal style with his couture Milan designs. Everyone that wore his garments felt empowered, and this movie is truly an intimate story of a man who believed in personal expression. These interviews are more about the people that worked with him and knew him, as opposed to Ryan Murphy’s dramatization of The Assasination of Gianni Versace, which was more about the murder and less about the man and creator. So, that’s the difference between the two, and mine also takes on a different perspective. Mine focuses on the male perspective, with a lot of male models thanking him for what he did for them. A lot of movies don’t really look at the male models. They look at the female models, but here, the male models get to really express what it was like to be a male model. And surprisingly, this is the one business where men are paid less disproportionately than their female counterparts. For example, Cindy Crawford gets paid one million for eight hours of work on a photoshoot, and her male counterpart is paid $10,000. That’s because women consume fashion more than men. 

Denny Patterson: While doing my research, I read that while working at Miami Beach Hospital, you were discovered and began doing fashion shows for Versace. Can you tell us how that all played out?

Vincent De Paul: Certainly. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where I studied epidemiology, biomedical ethics, and biostatistics. So, while at Johns Hopkins, I flew to Miami to work at Mount Sinai. I would work from seven or eight in the morning until four in the evening, and then on the weekends, I would jog the beach. One day, I saw Gianni and Antonio D’Amico, his partner, lying on the beach with these beautiful detailed towels. I was jogging past them and he said, “ciao,” and I said, “ciao, come sta,” and we started to talk. I told him I am at Mount Sinai working in epidemiologia,  biomedica etica, and biostatistica, and he proceeded to correct my Italian (laughs). He was just so engaging and wonderful. Then after that, a modeling agency called and said they would like for me to model for one of the shows at Bal Harbour Shops, and it was the Versace collection. So, it just happened, and it was so refreshing to do fashion shows and model. I also remember doing a regional show in Washington D.C., and it was just so special.

Denny Patterson: Having that personal connection with Gianni is another great aspect of this film. What do you ultimately hope audiences take away from it?

Vincent De Paul: First of all, I just want to thank the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) for programming such an interesting and wide range of films for so many audiences, and hopefully, they will take away from this film an understanding of who Gianni was and how he did contribute to the life in South Florida by his beautiful home, Casa Casuarina, which he restored these dilapidated buildings in South Beach, and how he contributed to the world with his wonderful designs. He designed for La Scala Theater in Milan. He designed for so many, and hopefully, people will take away a better understanding of Versace and a better love of his work. That’s really what it is, but I am so happy that the Florida audiences get to see a story that’s homegrown. 

Denny Patterson: Will the film be making its world debut at FLIFF, or has it played before?

Vincent De Paul: This will be the Florida premiere of the movie. It won the Visconti Award in Milan, and it was the opening night film at the Athens Fashion Film Festival in Greece. So, it has played around the world, and now I’m very happy for it to play in South Florida. 

Denny Patterson: What is something audiences will learn about Gianni from this documentary that is not widely known?

Vincent De Paul: I think that once they watch the film, they will listen to Gianni Versace’s voice and hear interviews that he had with Charlie Rose, and they’re going to hear about his inspiration and process. What he did on a daily schedule in his creative mind. You’re going to listen to his own words about how he creates, and I don’t believe that is shown much in documentaries. There are also several interviews with Floridians, as well as people from all over, who explain how important Gianni was to them. Also, Gianni really celebrated male beauty. So, you’ll see a lot of the models naked or partially naked in the movie, and they talk about how they were selected. The audition process was like, show up, take off all your clothes, and jump up and down because they wanted to see them animated. They explain how they were cast in the Versace campaigns and catalogs, and it could be something as simple as wanting to see the human expression of these male models.

Denny Patterson: What do you think Gianni would be doing today if he were still with us?

Vincent De Paul: One hundred percent, I think Gianni would still be designing. He loved that, of course, and I think he would be doing more in the film and TV world. He was always fascinated with film and TV. He loved Esther Williams and big Hollywood studio movies, so I think he would be a major player in design for feature films and episodics.

Denny Patterson: Do you still believe that his legacy is still being rightfully honored today?

Vincent De Paul: I feel that his legacy is being rightfully honored, but I feel there should be more retrospectives and events in and around Versace because of his great contributions. I think it would be wonderful if we did different things to show his collections through the years and display them. Maybe they can be in one of the museums here in South Florida. 

Denny Patterson: Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?

Vincent De Paul: I am always very thankful to Gregory von Hausch and the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. My first movie that was programmed there was Walk a Mile in My Pradas, and my newest film that I have coming up is a departure from documentaries. It’s called  Christmas Couples Retreat, which is a holiday evergreen film, and it was shot on location in Baltimore, Maryland, my hometown. So, I am very excited about that, and we’re going to see which network will be picking it up. Then I also have a couple other films in the works. 

To stay up-to-date with De Paul and The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive, follow him on Instagram @vincentdepaul12, or visit FiveArtsFilms.com. For more information on FLIFF, showtimes, and to purchase tickets, visit FLIFF.org.