TV Man (1997): A Quirky Relic of 90s Independent Cinema That Still Resonates
In a film landscape dominated by big budgets and digital wizardry, it feels almost revelatory to rediscover works like TV Man, an Italian short made in 1997 by a young Leonardo Valenti with his friends Fabio and Marco. Modest in scale yet brimming with creative energy, this absurdist comedy has retained its freshness and charm nearly three decades after its creation.
A playful premise with surreal flair
The story follows Marco, a young man nervously preparing for a date, when he’s suddenly confronted by an intruder of the strangest kind: a man who begins talking to him from inside his television set. Is it a glitch, a hallucination, or something deeper? From this outlandish setup springs a fast-paced comedy filled with slapstick touches, rapid-fire dialogue, and a surreal tone that never overstays its welcome.
What might have been dismissed as a student experiment instead emerges as a compact, engaging piece of filmmaking—precisely the kind of inventive storytelling that short films are celebrated for.
Leonardo Valenti’s early spark
Beyond its entertainment value, TV Man is also an early showcase of Leonardo Valenti’s talent. Born in 1975, Valenti would later become a respected screenwriter and script editor, working on successful projects like Il Silenzio dell’Acqua, La Voce Che Hai Dentro, and Buongiorno, Mamma!. Winner of the COCO-I Award in 2021 for Versus, he now teaches at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics in Rome.
Back in 1997, however, he was a passionate cinephile inspired by indie trailblazers such as Kevin Smith. Watching Clerks convinced him that low-budget cinema could still deliver big ideas, and so Te L(e)o Comando—later known as TV Man—was born. Shot on S-VHS with two VCRs and a basic audio mixer, the film stands as a loving tribute to DIY cinema and the spirit of the 90s independent scene.
Limitations that turn into strengths
What makes TV Man remarkable is how it turns its technical limitations into stylistic assets. The grainy texture of S-VHS, the makeshift lighting, and the use of natural locations all contribute to a sense of authenticity. Instead of detracting, these choices enhance the comedy’s oddball atmosphere and give it a nostalgic glow that feels perfectly in tune with its story.
With just four locations and a handful of tools, the film manages to balance pacing, editing, and visual rhythm in a way that reveals a clear artistic vision—even at such an early stage in Valenti’s career.
The sound of absurdity
Equally memorable is the soundtrack. The use of upbeat electronic pop infuses the film with energy, underlining the absurdity of its scenarios and keeping the narrative buoyant. Dialogue brimming with wit and TV-inspired references completes the package, making the humor both physical and intellectual—silly on the surface yet layered with subtle commentary on our relationship with screens and reality.
A festival-worthy rediscovery
It is with this spirit that TV Man has been officially selected for the Love & Hope International Film Festival in Barcelona (October 1–4, 2025). Hosting Valenti’s early work is a true honor, as the film embodies everything festivals aim to celebrate: originality, creativity, and the enduring power of cinema to connect across time.
More than just a cult short born from youthful passion, TV Man is a reminder that good filmmaking doesn’t need vast resources—only vision, ingenuity, and a willingness to take risks. Decades later, it still entertains, surprises, and inspires.
Director Biography — Leonardo Valenti
Born in 1975, Leonardo Valenti is a story editor and screenwriter for television, cinema, and comics.
For television, he has edited, co-created, and written numerous series, many of which achieved record viewership, including “Distretto di Polizia,” “RIS — Delitti Imperfetti,” and “Romanzo Criminale — La Serie,” as well as miniseries such as “Il Mostro di Firenze” and “Il Clan dei Camorristi.”
His recent works include “Il Silenzio dell’Acqua,” which aired for two seasons on Canale 5 in 2019–2020 and on France 3 from 2020–2022; “La Voce Che Hai Dentro,” marking Massimo Ranieri’s return to television in 2023; and “Buongiorno, Mamma!,” a major audience success on Canale 5 in 2021 and 2023. Upcoming on Canale 5 is a procedural crime comedy titled “Alex Bravo, poliziotto a modo suo.”
In cinema, he co-wrote “Mozzarella Stories,” Edoardo De Angelis’s directorial debut, and “A.C.A.B — All Cops Are Bastard,” directed by Stefano Sollima.
In 2011, he won the best screenwriter award at the Roma Fiction Fest for “Romanzo Criminale — La Serie.” More recently, in 2021, he won the COCO-I prize from the Centre National de Cinématographie with “Versus,” recognized as the best co-production project, a success confirmed in 2023 with an award for best pilot script.
Valenti is also active in publishing. He co-authored the plot for a spin-off novel based on “Il Silenzio dell’Acqua,” published by Mondadori (“Il Silenzio dell’Acqua: il prezzo da pagare”). He has written several graphic novels, including “Il Massacro del Circeo” for Edizioni BeccoGiallo, “Zero — Troppo Giovane per Morire” for Editoriale Aurea, and “Cassandra,” a comic adaptation of a story by Giancarlo De Cataldo, published by Tunué in 2012 and in France in 2015.
Alongside his writing, Valenti works as a teacher and consultant. Since 2012, he has lived in Brittany, France.
He served as a consultant and trainer at Le Groupe Ouest, where he created and led the first sessions of an annual serial development workshop titled “Bâtir un concept de série.”
He was a writing consultant and story editor for the Swiss series “Helvetica,” broadcast on RTS in 2019 and awarded Best Foreign Francophone Series at the Festival de la Fiction in La Rochelle.
Since 2020, he has been teaching screenwriting at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics in Rome, conducting a course dedicated to adaptations.
Connect with Leonardo Valenti:
📽️ IMDb: Leonardo Valenti
📸 Instagram: @leonardovalentiwriteshits
Disclaimer: This review is a personal commentary written by Rodartin S.L. for Medium.com. All rights, images, and intellectual property related to TV Man (Te L(e)o Comando) belong fully to its director Leonardo Valenti and the respective production team.
Film Review: TV Man By Débora Artieda
Spread the Word About TV MAN!
Share!