MATRIX FILM FEST

Did you study in any film school or private course? Or did you learn to make movies on your own?

During my teenage years, I began crafting short scenes in collaboration with my brother, immersing myself in the practical aspects of filmmaking. Learning primarily through hands-on experience. However, at the age of 25, I chose to further enhance my expertise by enrolling in film school. The combination of self-guided exploration and formal education has truly enriched my journey in the world of filmmaking.

 

How many years have you been making movies and how did you get started in 

movies?

I've been actively involved in the art of filmmaking for approximately 18 years now, with my first significant short film dating back to 2005.

My journey into the world of movies commenced in 1993 when, at the age of 11, I stepped into a cinema for the very first time to witness "Jurassic Park" on the big screen. This cinematic encounter left an unforgettable impression on me, sparking a profound love for the medium. Although I had already held a strong affection for films, that moment solidified my aspiration to eventually create films myself.

 

One of the problems that we filmmakers have is that we are not like the actors or the technical team, who work with many different productions and can learn different ways of doing things. Normally we only attend our own shoots. Have you had the opportunity to assist in the shooting of other people or are you usually only in your own shoots? If yes, is there anything that caught your attention?

Definitely. I studied  first 3 years audiovisual technics- things like how to use cameras, edit videos, create good lighting, and even direct. After that, I spent two more years learning specifically about writing scripts and directing. I've always been interested in both the creative side of movies and the technical side.

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Because of my education, I've been able to do many different things in filmmaking. I often filmed my own short movies and did the editing for them too. Even after school, I kept in touch with my old classmates, and we still work together on small film projects. This has helped me learn from them and improve my skills, not just from my own projects, but from theirs too.

 

What budget did you have for your project?

For this project, we operated on a very tight budget. Overall, it amounted to approximately 950 euros. A portion of this went towards compensating the actors, covering expenses for makeup, food, and props. Interestingly, the crew didn't charge any fees since we have an arrangement – they assist me on my projects, and in return, I support them on theirs, all without payment. This kind of collaboration has been a great way for us to bring our ideas to life without a big budget.

 

Is it self financed?

Yes and I had some helps of my parents and some Friends.

 

Any anecdote that you can tell us about the filming?

I had cast a different actress for the lead role. However, things took an unexpected turn when she unexpectedly cancelled just one day before the scheduled shoot. It was quite a challenging situation to deal with.

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In what felt like a stroke of luck, within just 1 hour of the cancellation, I managed to connect with Maritsa van Iterson, who stepped in as the replacement actress. It was almost as if fate had intervened. Working with Maritsa turned out to be an incredible experience – her performance was truly outstanding and added an unexpected layer of depth to the project. It's a perfect example of how sometimes, the unexpected twists in filmmaking can lead to something even better than what was originally planned. And the same for the other actors in the film. 

 

What are you most proud of about this project?

I'm really happy about how enthusiastic and dedicated the whole team was on this project. Even when we had a really long day of shooting at the beginning, no one complained.

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For me personally, I'm really proud that I handled everything for the project on my own. I found the people for the crew, chose the actors, got all the things we needed like props and equipment, found a good place to shoot, and set everything up. It was a lot of work, but it turned out well. Working together and being able to manage all these different parts of the project makes me feel really accomplished.

 

And what less? What would you change if you could go backwards?

The first shooting day was a bit long. I would plan this one a bit better.

 

Did you comply with the shooting plan or did it take longer than expected?

The first day longer, the second day shorter. Sho yeah, we managed to do everythiing eventually, so that’s cool.

 

Fincher says that if a director can translate into a film 70% of what he had in mind, he can be more than satisfied. What % do you think you have achieved in this project?

I would say around 70% yes

 

If you had unlimited budget. Which actor and actress would you like to work with?

Christian bale and Scarlett Johansson

 

Your favorite movie?

Once upon a time in the west

 

And filmmaker?

Sergio Leone

 

What is the scene that has impacted you the most?

The ending part with three characters in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is what I find super amazing. I think it's the best example of how great movies can be. The way the characters interact, the tense feeling in the air, and how well everything is directed – it all comes together to make a really awesome movie moment. It shows just how strong filmmaking can be.

 

If you could do a remake of a movie, what would it be?

Enter the dragon

 

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Do you think you will continue making movies?

Yes, i hope i can just work full time by making feature films.