“Teaching film directing is quite a schizophrenic process”
Director Jeroen Berkvens about teaching at the Filmacademie and his most recent film, Paradiso
“Teaching film directing is quite a schizophrenic process”
Director Jeroen Berkvens about teaching at the Filmacademie and his most recent film, Paradiso
”Don’t you think there should be a film about Paradiso?” When director Jeroen Berkvens is asked this question he has for some time already been thinking of making a film about the combination of stage fright and yearning for the limelight. When it becomes clear that Paradiso is the perfect setting in which to turn this idea into a film, that marks the beginning of Paradiso, a documentary about Amsterdam’s famous pop music venue, focusing on the artists’ experiences.
Filming the artists’ experience… How do you do that?
“I decided I wanted to film the rituals artists have. What do they do when they have to wait for two or three hours and they can hear people pounding their feet above them? Do they immerse themselves in essential oils? Do they burn candles? I talked to artists about the struggle to concentrate and get warmed up before going on stage and it turns out that very often they go through hell each night before they go out on stage.”
”Don’t you think there should be a film about Paradiso?” When director Jeroen Berkvens is asked this question he has for some time already been thinking of making a film about the combination of stage fright and yearning for the limelight. When it becomes clear that Paradiso is the perfect setting in which to turn this idea into a film, that marks the beginning of Paradiso, a documentary about Amsterdam’s famous pop music venue, focusing on the artists’ experiences.
Filming the artists’ experience… How do you do that?
“I decided I wanted to film the rituals artists have. What do they do when they have to wait for two or three hours and they can hear people pounding their feet above them? Do they immerse themselves in essential oils? Do they burn candles? I talked to artists about the struggle to concentrate and get warmed up before going on stage and it turns out that very often they go through hell each night before they go out on stage.”
Making films about artists isn’t new to Jeroen. He previously directed Let me have it all, A skin too few: The days of Nick Drake, and Jimmy Rosenberg: The Father, the Son & the Talent, all documentaries which focus on coping with artistic talent. His new film features appearances by numerous artists at Paradiso, from Paul Weller to Faithless.
Making films about artists isn’t new to Jeroen. He previously directed Let me have it all, A skin too few: The days of Nick Drake, and Jimmy Rosenberg: The Father, the Son & the Talent, all documentaries which focus on coping with artistic talent. His new film features appearances by numerous artists at Paradiso, from Paul Weller to Faithless.
What unites the experiences of these different artists in Paradiso?
“The film reconstructs one day in the life of Paradiso, seen through the eyes of various artists. Over the years Paradiso has evolved and the film reflects all the different eras and styles it’s been through: hippie, punk, dance… I wanted to show Paradiso’s diversity, through moments of embarrassment, boredom, being touched and ultimate happiness.”
Paradiso uses multiple split-screen effects. To what end?
“You sometimes see a mix of four, five or even six images. This not only makes the film a tribute to Paradiso but also a reference to the old Woodstock film, which showed the Woodstock festival in split screen.”
What unites the experiences of these different artists in Paradiso?
“The film reconstructs one day in the life of Paradiso, seen through the eyes of various artists. Over the years Paradiso has evolved and the film reflects all the different eras and styles it’s been through: hippie, punk, dance… I wanted to show Paradiso’s diversity, through moments of embarrassment, boredom, being touched and ultimate happiness.”
Paradiso uses multiple split-screen effects. To what end?
“You sometimes see a mix of four, five or even six images. This not only makes the film a tribute to Paradiso but also a reference to the old Woodstock film, which showed the Woodstock festival in split screen.”
You emphatically call Paradiso a film and not a documentary. Why’s that?
“I tried to create a cinematic experience and to enhance the audience’s experience, rather than emphasizing content. The vast majority of documentary makers focus on content rather than issues that affect image and sound. I hope that Paradiso is the other way around and that’s why I call it a film.”
Wouldn’t you rather create fiction?
“People often associate documentaries with dusty, ‘bookcase-style’ interviews. I strive to create cinematic content that gives the audience a similar experience to watching a good feature film. But I’m not interested in creating fiction. I’m interested in making films that give the audience an experience, as well as giving them something to think about.”
You emphatically call Paradiso a film and not a documentary. Why’s that?
“I tried to create a cinematic experience and to enhance the audience’s experience, rather than emphasizing content. The vast majority of documentary makers focus on content rather than issues that affect image and sound. I hope that Paradiso is the other way around and that’s why I call it a film.”
Wouldn’t you rather create fiction?
“People often associate documentaries with dusty, ‘bookcase-style’ interviews. I strive to create cinematic content that gives the audience a similar experience to watching a good feature film. But I’m not interested in creating fiction. I’m interested in making films that give the audience an experience, as well as giving them something to think about.”
Directing isn’t all Jeroen does. He combines it with teaching. First at Breda art college, which he attended himself, and, starting last year, at the Filmacademie too. He teaches documentary directing to third- and fourth-year students.Directing and teaching… Do they mix?
“Yes, they mix very well! My students keep me on my toes. I constantly have to justify things I have said and sometimes even work I’ve done. So I don’t do all the talking. Students also voice their opinions and I like that teacher-student dynamic. I have outgrown certain situations, but by teaching I stay informed about things that are topical today, such as new ideas about form.”
What do you want to impart to students?
“Filmmaking and teaching are two sides of the same coin: I want students to master what they’re doing but I also want them to have their own ideas. They need to show a degree of dissention by creating something completely original, or having an idea that makes everybody curious because it’s unique or shows a different side of something. Basically, teaching film directing is quite a schizophrenic process.”
How do you determine whether a student has this ‘schizophrenic’ mix of mastery and originality?
“As far as that’s concerned, I can only consider myself as the recipient. Am I falling asleep when a student tells me something or do I feel stimulated? Does a student have the requisite knowledge, do they talk the talk? I want students to know there are certain rules and I teach them how to apply these rules. Students must become aware of the fact that film is a language.”
Are students allowed to participate in your films once they understand this?
“I don’t involve students in my own projects. I rather enjoy the distance between being a filmmaker and a teacher. After they graduate I do, though. While making Paradiso, for example, I worked with two former students. I prefer to stay in control as much as possible and work with the smallest possible crew.”
Paradiso has opened now. Are you working on a new project?
“Not yet. The past two years have been such hard work, my battery is empty. My mind isn’t, though, because I already have two new ideas…”
More about Paradiso and Jeroen Berkvens: 
www.zeppers.nl/nl/filmnl/paradiso
Paradiso will be in cinemas early 2012.
Text: Marie-Paule Fritschy, www.sterschrift.nl
Image: Jeroen Berkvens: Keke Keukelaar, www.3hoog-achter.nl
Directing isn’t all Jeroen does. He combines it with teaching. First at Breda art college, which he attended himself, and, starting last year, at the Filmacademie too. He teaches documentary directing to third- and fourth-year students.Directing and teaching… Do they mix?
“Yes, they mix very well! My students keep me on my toes. I constantly have to justify things I have said and sometimes even work I’ve done. So I don’t do all the talking. Students also voice their opinions and I like that teacher-student dynamic. I have outgrown certain situations, but by teaching I stay informed about things that are topical today, such as new ideas about form.”
What do you want to impart to students?
“Filmmaking and teaching are two sides of the same coin: I want students to master what they’re doing but I also want them to have their own ideas. They need to show a degree of dissention by creating something completely original, or having an idea that makes everybody curious because it’s unique or shows a different side of something. Basically, teaching film directing is quite a schizophrenic process.”
How do you determine whether a student has this ‘schizophrenic’ mix of mastery and originality?
“As far as that’s concerned, I can only consider myself as the recipient. Am I falling asleep when a student tells me something or do I feel stimulated? Does a student have the requisite knowledge, do they talk the talk? I want students to know there are certain rules and I teach them how to apply these rules. Students must become aware of the fact that film is a language.”
Are students allowed to participate in your films once they understand this?
“I don’t involve students in my own projects. I rather enjoy the distance between being a filmmaker and a teacher. After they graduate I do, though. While making Paradiso, for example, I worked with two former students. I prefer to stay in control as much as possible and work with the smallest possible crew.”
Paradiso has opened now. Are you working on a new project?
“Not yet. The past two years have been such hard work, my battery is empty. My mind isn’t, though, because I already have two new ideas…”
More about Paradiso and Jeroen Berkvens: www.zeppers.nl/nl/filmnl/paradiso
Paradiso will be in cinemas early 2012.
Text: Marie-Paule Fritschy, www.sterschrift.nl
Image: Jeroen Berkvens: Keke Keukelaar, www.3hoog-achter.nl
Regisseren en doceren… gaat dat goed samen?
“Ja, juist! Studenten houden me scherp, ik moet me de hele tijd verantwoorden over uitspraken en soms zelfs over m’n eigen werk. Ik ben dus niet de hele tijd aan het woord, studenten geven zelf ook hun mening en die dynamiek tussen docent en student vind ik prettig. Ik ontgroei bepaalde situaties, maar blijf door les te geven op de hoogte van dingen die nu spelen, zoals nieuwe ideeën over vorm.”
En wat wil je op jouw beurt meegeven aan studenten?
“Film maken en doceren hinkt op twee benen: ik wil dat studenten controle krijgen over wat ze aan het doen zijn, maar ook dat ze eigenwijs zijn. Dat ze een soort dwarsheid over zich hebben door iets te maken dat nog nooit iemand heeft gemaakt of een idee te hebben waar iedereen benieuwd naar wordt, omdat het uniek is of iets van een heel andere kant laat zien. Eigenlijk is doceren hoe je regisseur wordt best een schizofreen proces.”
Hoe bepaal je of een student die ‘schizofrene’ mix van controle en eigenwijsheid heeft?
“Daarbij kan ik alleen mezelf als ontvanger beschouwen. Val ik in slaap als een student iets vertelt of word ik geprikkeld? Heeft een student de juiste kennis, spreekt hij de taal? Ik wil dat studenten weten dat er bepaalde regels zijn en ze leren hoe ze die regels kunnen gebruiken. Studenten moeten zich ervan bewust worden dat film een taal is.”
Als studenten dat eenmaal snappen, mogen ze dan meewerken aan één van jouw films?
“Ik betrek geen studenten in projecten. Ik vind de afstand tussen het makerschap en het doceren eigenlijk wel prettig. Na het afstuderen doe ik dat wel, bij het maken van 'Paradiso' heb ik bijvoorbeeld met twee oud-studenten gewerkt. Verder hou ik graag zoveel mogelijk zelf in hand en werk ik het liefst met een zo kleine mogelijke crew.”
'Paradiso' is inmiddels in première gegaan. Werk je al aan een volgende film?
“Nee, ik heb de afgelopen twee jaar zoveel gewerkt, de accu is leeg. Het hoofd niet, want ik heb wel alweer twee nieuwe plannen…”
Tekst: Marie-Paule Fritschy, www.sterschrift.nl
Beeld Jeroen Berkvens: Keke Keukelaar, www.3hoog-achter.nl
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in dit artikel:
- Meer informatie over:
RegieMeer over Paradiso en Jeroen Berkvens:
www.zeppers.nl/nl/filmnl/paradiso
'Paradiso' draait vanaf begin 2012
in de bioscoop.
