Federico Zampaglione is one of Italy's biggest stars. His band Tiromancino is one of the country's best-selling bands and his debut horror movie, the incredibly stylish shocker Shadow was one of the big hits of FrightFest 2009.

On April 26th he's introducing three of his favourite movies in another of our Director's Night series. Here Federico discusses his career so far, his latest movie Tulpa and the movies he choose for his Director's Night.

HC: You come from a talented family, did they encourage you to carve out a career in the music industry?

FZ: Yes when I was really young, my dad made me listen to Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton instead of sad and boring Italian songs. He also gave me and my brother Francesco huge support to keep playing music for living. Now me and dad write songs together, which is a fortunate and a crazy thing at the same time.

HC: What do your fellow band members think now you're building quite a name for yourself as a director?

FZ: Initially they have been very surprised and they feared I was about to quit music. But little by little they are getting used to it, because they all know how much I love horror films. By the way, my brother Francesco who is the band's composer, also arranges the soundtracks of my movies. His music style is just amazing.

HC: We first got our first taste of your directing powers with Shadow, a stunning piece of cinema with some gruesome set-pieces in it, would you be tempted to do a follow-up to it?

FZ: Not so much. I like to change direction when I can. I'm the same with my band.

HC: Let's chat about your next feature, Tulpa, which has just finished shooting in Rome. How did the project come together?

FZ: I wanted to make a Giallo, with a lot of murders, black gloves and blood. Tulpa is the perfect flick to put myself in that specific kind of atmosphere I loved so much in the past. Italian Giallo is about to come back and kick some ass!

HC: What is it like working with the legendary Dardano Saccetti?

FZ: The Beyond man? Dardano looks like a sweet and gentle person, but inside is a real monster. I never ever saw someone able to create such bloody, twisted and cruel scenes. I love him so much.

HC: Was it a hard movie to cast as it has very strong themes in it?

FZ: Yes, shooting Tulpa for an actor takes balls. I just can tell you my wife did incredible things in the film. That's why I love her.

HC: Are you a fan of the Giallo genre?

FZ: I'm just crazy for that, miss it so much. Don't you ?

HC: Has any Giallo director inspired the way in which you've directed this movie?

FZ: Italian Giallo is what I grew up with. People like Dario Argento, Sergio Martino, Lucio Fulci are part of my life and it's impossible for me not to consider such masters when I'm shooting. But in the end, I really want to make my own mark.

HC: Was it a difficult shoot?

FZ: Crazy, just 5 weeks for shooting a huge amount of things. It was a combat set.

HC: You're introducing three movies for your Director's Night on the Horror Channel; An American Werewolf In London, The Beyond and Deep Red. Why did you choose these movies?

FZ: I love them all. And each of those films inspired me so deeply.

HC: Would you consider remaking any of them?

FZ: Absolutely not. Remaking a movie put you always in a no-win position. If it's too similar it doesn't make sense because you're better off watching the original. If it's too different people is going to say "How dare you change it so much?" so let the classics be just the classics.

HC: So what's next for you?

FZ: Maybe another son?

HC: Federico Zampaglione, thank you very much.

FZ: My pleasure.

Federico Zampaglione's Director's Night can be seen on the Horror Channel on April 26th from 9pm.