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Eight days, over 2,000 kilometres traversed across regional Italy, a six-person crew, and a single host paired with an opinionated drone. On paper, Italy Is a Mitch! sounds like a recipe for absolute production chaos. In reality, the pilot – shot across the breathtaking terrain of Abruzzo – has emerged as a striking exercise in hybrid filmmaking, blending the raw, unscripted spontaneity of a comedy travel show with the polished visual language of high-end cinema.
Brought to life by Italian-born director Nicolò Novek and Man of Many’s own cinematographer Jordan Yankov, the project set out to capture Italy not through the polished lens of a traditional travel documentary, but through the unpredictable encounters of an everyday outsider.
Behind the scenes on Italy is a Mitch! | Image: 9K Films / Wandrian
Making the Camera a Character
When preparing for production under tight budgetary and schedule constraints, the typical approach for travel television is to rely on static setups, scenic vistas, and predictable piece-to-camera segments. But Yankov and Novek wanted to avoid the repetitive nature of standard travelogues.
“This whole project was a puzzle of its own,” Yankov explains. “We were not convinced we knew what this endeavor will ultimately feel or look like. We knew we were doing a travel show, but with a director such as Nicolò… I knew that we would ultimately find a certain angle on it.”
The breakthrough came when Yankov and Novek decided to treat the lens as an active participant rather than a passive observer.
“Who would want to watch a static travel show of beautiful scenery after beautiful scenery? I mean, it’s fantastic, but it can become a bit repetitive and that is when I thought: why not make the camera a character in its own way? Make it as if the camera or camera operator intentionally rolls before the take to try and capture the host off guard, or lingers on after a bad joke and doesn’t cut, revealing his intrusive thoughts. I thought of it more like mixing sitcom camera behavior with a beautiful travel show.”
This stylistic choice allowed host Mitch’s unpredictable reactions to puncture the pristine beauty of the Italian landscape, creating a dynamic rhythm that kept every scene unpredictable.
Behind the scenes on Italy is a Mitch! | Image: 9K Films / Wandrian
Scrappy, Lean, and Chasing the Sun
With a lean crew of six navigating Abruzzo’s rugged terrain, every team member had to pull double duty. Without heavy lighting packages or large support teams, natural light became the production’s primary visual driver.
“We had a few lights with us, nothing major, and we knew we needed to be able to make natural light work in our favor,” Yankov notes. “We were constantly stopping at random locations that myself or Nico would find beautiful, and a big part of that was that we were constantly chasing the sun.”
To balance narrative storytelling with sweeping environmental imagery, the crew split into two tactical units:
Main Narrative Unit: Jordan Yankov and director Nicolò Novek focused on tracking Mitch’s main storyline and interactions with locals.
B-Roll & Aerial Unit: Camera operator Adel and camera assistant Maria operated as a second unit, capturing landscape cutaways, detail shots, and aerial drone sequences.
“Having two crews is difficult, even more when you cannot see what they are actually capturing, so the only time you will be able to review it will be at night,” Yankov recalls. “Thanks to both my teammates, all the footage they captured was brilliant. Without us splitting into those two teams, completing this pilot episode in the given time would’ve been close to impossible.”
Image: 9K Films / Wandrian
Throwing Away the Shot List & Telepathic Trust
While meticulous pre-production planning provided a framework, the unpredictable nature of regional filming required the team to remain nimble on their feet. Rigid shot lists quickly gave way to spontaneous, on-the-ground opportunities.
“Me and Nicolò had a plan and a shot list for every location, but it was more of a wish/shopping list,” says Yankov. “We knew that for sure we wouldn’t be able to capture everything or to intricately light it, so every time we would arrive at a location, we would quickly glance over what we said we would do, throw it away, rework it with Mitch, and shoot. This really made the whole process feel alive.”
Key to this agility was a strict pre-scene ritual: a quick five-minute huddle between Yankov, Novek, and Mitch. They would map out the core objectives of a location before rolling immediately. Yankov deliberately kept Mitch in the dark regarding camera movements, allowing for genuine off-guard reactions that heightened the show’s comedic timing.
“I never told Mitch what the camera would do or when to notice it—nothing,” Yankov says. “There were times that it was as if we were speaking telepathically. A big reason why we were able to approach shooting this way was thanks to him.”
Image: 9K Films / Wandrian
Respecting the Land, Craft, and Table
At its core, Italy Is a Mitch! balances comedic mishaps with genuine reverence for local culture. By structuring each episode around three foundational pillars – the land, the craft, and the table – the series highlights regional artisans, local food traditions, and authentic community life.
Despite facing extreme weather – ranging from scorching afternoons to freezing mountain winds – the collaborative spirit between cast, crew, and locals carried the project through.
“I feel that because we were respectful and in awe of Abruzzo’s beauty, it in return rewarded us with great light, beautiful landscapes, and memories that will last us a lifetime,” Yankov reflects. “This would have never happened if it wasn’t for the whole crew and cast, which battled long days, scorching heat, and freezing winds.”
What’s Next for Italy Is a Mitch!
Produced by 9K Films alongside co-producer Wandrian, Italy Is a Mitch! delivers a fresh, fast-paced format that reimagines global travel television through an unconventional lens. Following its initial preview, the team is bringing the pilot episode to MIPCOM in Cannes (October 12–15) to present the series to international distributors, broadcasters, and streaming platforms.
To follow Mitch’s journey across Italy and see upcoming regional episodes, follow @italy_is_a_mitch on Instagram and subscribe on YouTube.
Rob Stott is the Editor in Chief at Man of Many, leading the editorial direction and content strategy for Australia’s largest independent men’s lifestyle publication. With over 16 years of experience in digital publishing, Rob has spent his career at ...
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