Vincenzo Mollica

Vincenzo Mollica - journalist, writer, author and television and radio host, curator of exhibitions and magazines, designer, painter, reporter "impressionist and emotional" - was born on January 27, 1953, in Formigine (MO). After a few months, and for the first seven years of his life, he lived in Canada, then returned to Italy, to Motticella, in Calabria, his father’s homeland. From an early age he was passionate about comics, cinema, all music and especially about songwriting. His studies and professional career seem to initially move him away from these worlds: he graduated in law at the University of Urbino after spending the four years of his legal course at the Augustinianum College of the Catholic University of Milan. In 1977 he began working at Tele Amiata, a broadcaster in Montepulciano. Is reported to - first, historical - director of TG1 Emilio Rossi, by Nuccio Fava and Albino Longhi. Emilio Rossi summons him for an interview and the enthusiastic youth of Mollica is the one who convinces him to bring him into TG1, which the director wants to project into the future. It’s February 25, 1980. Mollica, initially under the aegis of Enzo Biagi, quickly brought his personal imprint in the first national news, refreshing it in themes and content, while remaining respectful of the style of public service. Since 1981 he has been sent to Sanremo, then to the Oscars in Los Angeles, to the film festivals in Venice and Cannes. He is the first journalist to speak with knowledge, and without scandal, of Comics and songwriters, at the time off the radar of journalism because they are considered not noble. Among his historical TV broadcasts, we remember Prisma, Taratatà, Sviste, To make Midnight and of course the cult column DoReCiakGulp! His collaborations with newspapers and magazines include Linus, Il Messaggero, Il Unità and his satirical insert, Tango. From 1991 to 1995 he directed the magazine "il Grifo", edited together with Mauro Paganelli, where the main masters of comics were launched or discovered. Dozens and dozens of exhibitions are curated by him, on the masters of cinema, music, comics. Over sixty books and essays have seen his care. Obviously countless cultural and entertainment services for Rai, not only on TV, but also for Radio Rai. In his work Mollica has never been a mere chronicler, but has always interacted with artists, often acting as their creative flywheel. This is how the collaborations between Fellini and Manara, the relaunch of Cavazzano’s Disney parodies with Casablanca and La Strada, were born in the world of comics. Again, very strong, his friendships with Hugo Pratt, with Crepax and with Andrea Pazienza. His curiosity and attentive gaze on the languages of communication, led him to be the first Rai journalist to have his own official personal website, since 2001. The experience of the site continued on social media, where Mollica has 90,000 followers for Instagram and 84,000 for Facebook, with whom it interacts outside the rules of marketing. In 2018 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. In 2019, on the occasion of the Venice Film Festival and in conjunction with the Biennale, he received the Pietro Bianchi Prize from the Film Journalists. But the honors that probably make him more proud are his transformation duck in Paperica, for the weekly Mickey Mouse; in animated puppet, for Viva RaiPlay! by Fiorello; and finally also in an emoji for social chat. Retired from Rai since February 2020, after 40 years of super career, he is preparing for new adventures into the unknown, like any self-respecting hero, alongside his trusty life partner, his wife Rosa Maria, "Rosemari".