Francesco Rulli
Francesco Rulli | |
---|---|
Born | Florence, Italy |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Founder and President of Film Annex; fashion business partner to John Malkovich; Managing Partner at Citadel of New York; Advisory Board Member Global Medical Relief Fund |
Francesco Rulli is an Italian businessman, philanthropist and black belt Judo instructor at the New York Athletic Club.[1] He founded and serves as the president of Film Annex, an online independent film distribution platform and web television network.[2] Rulli also co-founded Mrs. Mudd, a fashion and design consulting firm with American actor, producer and director John Malkovich.[3] Rulli was a featured actor in Malkovich's documentary Flipping Uncle Kimono.[4][5]
Career
In 2001, Rulli met Malkovich in New York through mutual friend and then ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey, and asked Malkovich if he would be interested in doing a men's clothing line.[6] In 2002, they founded Mrs. Mudd,[7] a fashion company selling outfits designed by Malkovich.[8] The company released its John Malkovich menswear collection, "Uncle Kimono", in 2003[9] The line expressed the idiosyncratic tastes of Malkovich, with items such as the "Nervous Breakdown Jacket." [10]
Film Annex
Rulli founded Film Annex, a Web TV Network that allows filmmakers to create free Web TVs to present their work under specific domain names, in 2006. Film Annex helps filmmakers create a brand out of their name, company, or project, in an effort to avoid a "forward-slash mentality".[11] The company's distribution of movies and web television aims to allow artists and filmmakers to fund their projects and promote their works with a shared advertising model. An editorial team approves the content of all films before release to ensure they are made by professionals.[12]
- In May 2010 Film Annex launched www.AbelFerrara.com a new web TV site in partnership with American screenwriter and director Abel Ferrara. Abel Ferrara TV broadcasts Ferrara’s videos, including excerpts from his films, news about his latest projects, and interviews with the filmmaker and other members of his creative team.[13]
- November 2011, Film Annex became the online distributor for METAN Development Group to distribute Hello! Hollywood! to China, US, and Canada. [14][15]
- 0n June 27, 2013, Film Annex partnered with Matthew Modine's production company Cinco Dedos Peliculas [16] to re-release his short film, Jesus Was a Commie, [17] [18] among other projects.
Afghan Citadel Software Company
As another Film Annex project, in 2012, Rulli and Roya Mahboob, founder and CEO of the Afghan Citadel Software Company (ACSC), launched the Afghan Development Project and Women's Annex.[19] The project aims to show the world positive developments in Afghanistan by broadcasting current event videos, interviews, and news clips as well as archival material directly from Afghan Youth Development.[20] Mahboob supplied technology training to students in 40 schools with the help of Rulli, and said it is a chance for girls to broaden their horizons.[21] Women's Annex is an educational and financing initiative that provides women with mentoring and monetizing options for any video content they post on social media, allowing them to find opportunities to begin filmmaking careers.[22]
Judo
Rulli is a member of the New York Athletic Club's Judo Club,[23] chaired by Kevin Earls and Owen Tunney, and he is a Yodan (4th degree black belt) as an active competitor in Judo. He is a coach of and helps run the NYAC’s Saturday morning program,[1] which is organized for NYAC members’ children to receive exposure to and basic training in judo.[24]
Rulli is the Producer of JudoArts.com. Film Annex and Rulli sponsored the 2013 New York Judo Open. Competition directors were Mel Appelbaum, Dr Arthur Canario, and John Walla.[25] Film Annex has filmed the tournament and conducted interviews with the athletes since 2010.[26][27]
As a supporter of Judo, Rulli and Malkovich presented an unconventional fashion show in the documentary "Flipping Uncle Kimono", using 20 Judo fighters as models during a Milan fashion show that looked like a championship Judo match with the fighters wearing men's suits from the Mrs. Mudd fashion line by Malkovich. They did this on a stage in a courtyard in Milan, in front of a live audience, and with Malkovich and Rulli directing the action.[28]
Philanthropy
Rulli is an active member of the Global Medical Relief Fund, an organization working to bring aid to children injured or otherwise adversely affected by war, natural disaster or illness.[29] He also supports the Special Needs Activity Center for Kids (SNACK), which provides after-school and weekend recreational programs for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other similar developmental and behavioral disabilities.[30]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The History of Judo at the New York Athletic Club". www.newyorkopenjudo.com. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ↑ "Film Annex". Crunch Base. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ↑ John, Heather (April 13, 2003). "Fashionable Liaisons: Meet John Malkovich, Tailor of the Cinema". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000518/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2134752/?ref_=tt_cl_t3
- ↑ Brescia, Joe (February 11, 2006). "From Broadway to Runway". New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Meet Mrs. Mudd". New York Observer. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ↑ "Wearing John Malkovich". The Sydney Morning Herald. July 10, 2004. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Let John Malkovich dress you…". April 30, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ "John Malkovich's Nervous Breakdown". Film Annex Capital Partners. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ↑ Park, Jane. "Film Annex". Creative Commons Blog. Creative Commons. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ↑ http://magazine.after-set.com/2013/01/rethinking-the-film-distribution/
- ↑ "Film Annex and Abel Ferrara Create Web TV Channel". Gotcha Movies. Gotcha Movies. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ↑ "Film Annex to Promote and Distribute Content Produced by METAN Development Group". OnlinePRNews.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ "Film Annex to Feature METAN Content". WorldScreen.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cinco Dedos Peliculas". IMDB.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ "Matthew Modine Releases His Short Films on Film Annex's Online Film Distribution Platform". MatthewModine.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ "Matthew Modine Web TV Only on Film Annex". NakedFilmMaking.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ Women's Annex
- ↑ Shah, Angela. "In Afghanistan, Roya Mahboob Connects Girls With Computers". Newsweek's The Daily Beast. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ↑ "Afghan Women Help Drive Resurgent Economy". Voice of America. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ↑ "Op-Ed: Billions of Women on This Planet Have Stories to Tell—So Listen Up". Take Part. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ↑ New York Athletic Club's Judo Club
- ↑ DiPrinzio, Ron (October 2006). "Coaches Return for 111th Season". The Winged Foot 125 (10): 10. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ↑ "New York Open Team Tournament Held at the New York Athletic Club". NYAC.org. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Judo/Features/2010/October/15/Film-Annex-to-Sponsor-Promote-and-Document-the-New-York-Open-Judo-Championship-this-Weekend.aspx
- ↑ http://www.newyorkopenjudo.com/index.php
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445020/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
- ↑ "Board Members". GMRF Children. gmrfchildren.org. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ "Snack 2011 Friendraiser Challenge". FirstGiving. firstgiving.com. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
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