(30 Nov 2008)
1. Wide of people walking down San Gregorio Armeno, with stalls selling nativity scene figurines
2. Women choosing nativity figures
3. Wide of people browsing artisan's shop
4. Customers pointing out modern figurines on sale
5. Close of US President-elect Barack Obama and wife Michelle nativity figures
6. Close up of Obama nativity figure
7. Wide of artisan Genny De Virgilio working on Obama figure inside shop
8. Mid of De Virgilio pushing down plaster cast, with Obama figurines on table
9. Close of De Virgilio opening cast and picking up Obama clay figure
10. Zoom out from close of Barack and Michelle Obama figures to Di Virgilio working
11. Close up of De Virgilio modelling head
12. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Genny Di Virgilio, nativity scene artisan:
"Last year I did the US primary nativity scene, with Hillary Clinton, Giuliani, McCain and Obama. This year the two competitors were Obama and McCain, but Obama's statue is becoming a great success, I keep on receiving so many requests."
13. Mid of tourist looking at figures on display
14. Close of Michelle Obama figurine
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Giovanni Ferraro, Australian tourist:
"I don't really like it, I'd more prefer just separate from the nativity scene, more traditional scenes."
16. Close up of Santa Claus figures
17. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Pina, Italian tourist from Chieti:
"I come here every year, just to see the new characters they invent, but I would not put them in my nativity scene. I prefer the traditional ones."
18. Wide of artisan's shop
19. Mid of artisan Fulvio Forte at work
20. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Fulvio Forte, nativity scene artisan:
"This is something that doesn't belong to the tradition, I am against putting this kind of characters into the nativity scene, I'd rather prefer to have them used as ornaments but not in a nativity scene. We only use classical figures."
21. Wide of people walking past various stalls in narrow street
STORYLINE:
Miniature statues of US President-elect Barack Obama have gone on sale in Naples, unusually created for the traditional Christmas nativity scenes.
Handmade figures of Obama and his wife Michelle were on display in Genny De Virgilio's shop, attracting interest from passers by.
Every year leading up to Christmas, Naples draws thousands of Italians and tourists to its crowded streets, many looking to buy figurines for the traditional nativity scene, the "presepe" that grace almost every Italian home.
And it is in Naples' back streets, in the district known as San Gregorio Armeno, where some of the most celebrated artisans work.
De Virgilio, a descendant from a family of Neapolitan Nativity artisans, explained his idea originated last year during the US primaries, when he decided to create a primary nativity scene, modelling clay miniatures of then presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Rudolph Giuliani, John McCain, and Obama.
Focusing solely this year on the winner, he said the Obama figures were becoming very popular with customers.
Di Virgilio said he was receiving dozens of orders from Americans living in Italy, and from Italians who work in the United States.
The smallest version of the Obama miniature costs around 38 US dollars.
Di Virgilio claims that putting modern characters in the nativity scene started as common practice in Italy in the 18th century, when miniatures of street sellers or famous singers of the time started appearing nearby the manger.
Artisan Fulvio Forte said he was against the concept, saying that figures such as Obama did not "belong to the tradition."
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