CIAO, I’M CELENE
A proud Neapolitan with a touch of Dutch and Guatemalan roots, now based in Los Angeles as an International Executive Producer, Creative Director, and Filmmaker. Basically, I turn wild ideas into chef’s-kiss visual stories that make people feel, think, and experience those unforgettable aha! moments that linger long after the credits roll.
🎬🎥🎞️ Lights, Camera… Adventure! 🌍
Born under the fiery skies of Napoli, raised on Vesuvius energy in a city where the espresso is strong, the gestures are louder than the words, and storytelling is in the water (along with a few volcanic particles, probably). I picked up a camera at 14 and started filming anything that moved—birds, dogs, sailing boats, family members, and the street performances that happened every day—also known as daily life in Naples. Stories were sacred and passed down like family recipes.
My creative career kicked off at Cinecittà Studios—Italy’s legendary Hollywood playground—on a dream partnership with Paramount Pictures and Miramax. One of my first gigs? The Talented Mr. Ripley. Yep, that one—with Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Cate Blanchett. I was the wide-eyed twenty-something darting around set, translating for the director, cast, and crew, trying to stay composed while buzzing with excitement inside. That was it—I was hooked. That was it—I was hooked. Lights, camera, lifetime obsession.
Driven by passion, curiosity, and my very Mediterranean hustle, I traveled across Italy, Spain, the UK, and Africa, before finally hopping across the Atlantic to Washington, D.C. There, I joined the National Geographic Society HQ, diving into storytelling for Shark Week, globe-trotting Travel Series, and archaeological documentaries for NatGeo’s U.S., Italian, and Latin American TV Channels. Being trilingual—Italian, English, and Spanish—made me the go-to translator, interpreter, cultural decoder, and post-production wingwoman. I helped shape stories that crossed borders and connected people, not just through language, but through emotion. Not just subtitles—stories with heart.
In 2014, I co-founded my first company: Digital Creative Visionaries (DCV), now known as CineSalon—a boutique agency that gave voice to bold ideas for clients like the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, World Bank Group, National Restaurant Association, Park Hyatt, The Nature Conservancy, and even the U.S. Presidential Communications Office. I wore all the hats—Creative Director, Strategist, Executive Producer, and DP. Basically, I was the whole film deal. No pressure, right?
By 2022, I was craving palm trees and bigger sound stages—so off I went to Los Angeles, where I produced a show for HBO (it premiered in 2024!). I re-launched my new company, XantoCreatives, continuing my mission of impactful storytelling for clients in biotech, aerospace, and luxury sectors. Specializing in beautiful and strategic video content that turns complexity into clarity—and makes people feel something.
My superpowers? Bridging cultures, building dream teams, and keeping productions on track—even when a drone crashes, a location floods, or someone forgets the dolly. (Yes, those all happened. Yes, we still made the day.)
My work is global, my teams are diverse, and my brain is always plotting the next compelling story. I’m fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish, and yes—I’m also a tech co-founder. I helped build ShortKlips, a SaaS platform that connects clients with high-end creatives worldwide. Think of it as a matchmaker for brilliant visual minds.
When I’m not running the show, I’m usually:
- Sailing across oceans with no cell signal (bliss).
- Cooking Italian meals that may bring tears of joy.
- Roller-skating like it’s 1989.
- Or passionately arguing that pineapple has no business on pizza (sorry, not sorry).
I hold a degree in Foreign Languages and Film & Media, have spoken on national & international stages, and have spent over a decade filming, directing, producing, photographing, translating, pitching, and delivering brand stories that resonate across borders.
So, if you need someone who’s equal parts producer, creative strategist, translator, filmmaker and espresso-fueled optimist—ciao bella, I’m your girl.
Let’s tell stories that move people—and maybe have a little fun along the way.
MADE WITH ITALIAN AMORE.
