Michele Soavi

Michele Soavi is an Italian director, screenwriter, and actor who, after studying acting at Fersen Studios in Milan, began his screen career as an extra in Bambulè (1979). Marco Modugno hired him as an assistant director during that production, and Soavi later took small parts in Il giorno del Cobra (1980) and City of the Living Dead (1980). Aristide Massaccesi, also known as Joe D'Amato, then employed him on several films as an assistant director, bit player, and screenwriter. Under Dario Argento, Soavi was second assistant director on Tenebre (1982); Lamberto Bava gave him assistant director duties and a supporting role on A Blade in the Dark (1983), and Argento used him again on Phenomena (1985). He also directed a music video and a documentary for Argento. Soavi's first feature as director was StageFright (1987), followed by The Church (1989), La setta (1991), and the horror comedy Cemetery Man (1994).