Faces of Val: Sales Coordinator, Gio Graziano.
Meet Gio Graziano, our ambitious Adelaide-based Sales Coordinator.
If you’re looking for a team member for a trivia night, Gio is your guy. Nobody is more passionate or knowledgeable about all things movies than this guy right here.
Introducing Gio, one of the many faces of Val…
Alright, spill the tea: How did you find yourself in the advertising industry, and what’s been the best part of your journey at Val Morgan Cinema so far?
I’ve had a fascination with advertising for as long as I can remember. I used to run towards the TV from the other room when I heard the iconic Qantas “I Still Call Australia Home” ad playing. Something about that choir still resonates today! As for how I found myself at Val Morgan, I’ve got my mate to thank for that. I was standing in the aisle of a supermarket, cutting in new lines of chocolate as a merchandiser, when he sent through the job listing. If you know anything about me—it’s that I’m extremely passionate about cinema. I couldn’t believe that a role at Val Morgan existed, here in Adelaide, a city I’m so proud to live in. I dropped everything to manifest the position being mine. The rest is history. Getting to organise and attend movie screenings, and being across all the new upcoming titles has been the best part, while attending the Australian International Movie Convention was a dream come true.
If your career were a movie, which three movie titles would best capture its essence, and why did you choose them?
Forrest Gump, Shawshank Redemption and Whiplash.
My career started as happenstance when I walked into a well-known fast-food chain and walked out with a job. I never applied—I just went in for a sandwich and was offered a job on the spot for being myself. Much like Forrest, who found himself unknowingly a part of history-altering moments, my 7-year tenure at the chain served as good character building. After crawling through the mud like Andy Dufresne and coming out the other side as a man with a new perspective on life, I quickly found myself employed in two additional roles concurrently. While the jobs kept me on my feet (some 20,000 steps a day—"Run, Forrest, run!”), I wasn’t fulfilled. All this led to that fateful day when my friend sent the job listing. The transition to full time work took some adjusting—these days I’m striving for perfection and pushing myself to be the best, much like Miles Teller in Whiplash.
If your problem-solving skills were a superhero, would they be more like Batman, using high-tech gadgets, or Wonder Woman, relying on innate wisdom and strength? Explain why.
As much as it would be cool to compare myself to Batman, sometimes technology gets in the way! I think my problem-solving skills would be more like Wonder Woman, relying on courage, wisdom, and strength, to overcome challenges. Also, shout out to Wonder Woman 2017, which was a great movie.
If your work ethic were a culinary creation, would it be a bold spicy curry, a comforting bowl of soup, or a zesty fruit salad? How does this dish mirror your approach to work?
It would be hot chilli honey drizzled over a pepperoni pizza. Just enough sweetness to cut through the grease and do the heavy lifting while elevating an already delicious foundation and providing that spicy kick and passion. My approach to work is intense, focused but ultimately sweet, ensuring I helped make someone else’s day better.
If your Teams background had a mind of its own, what whimsical scene or surreal landscape would it choose during your next virtual meeting?
It would definitely be Pandora from the world of James Cameron’s Avatar. A luscious, beautiful, and bioluminescent jungle that inspires awe and wonder.
Summarise your typical workday using three emojis, and give us the inside scoop on what each one represents.
😎😵💪
A typical day looks like waking up feeling positive and confident for what’s ahead. That is until I open up my emails and feel overwhelmed, yet excited by the day’s agenda, only to go home feeling accomplished that we got through it all.