Articles


In Memoriam JAN VAN MEERTEN

Amsterdam, 2024-09-27 - Dirk Teenstra / Mick van Rossum

Op 21 september jl. overleed op bijna 90-jarige leeftijd JAN VAN MEERTEN; de eerste studieleider camera aan de filmacademie.


Aziz Al-Dilaimi - Talent, A Curse and a Blessing

Amsterdam, 2024-07-12 - Gerlinda Heywegen

Aziz Al-Dilaimi. His work is often flamboyant, while he himself is reserved. He speaks softly and carefully. He visualizes everything, long before even a second has been shot, and then, in the preparation, it all has to be condensed into words. And that’s not always easy. In his opinion, it’s a curse and a blessing. And that is not just a flippant remark. It is not a question of values either, ‘non-judgemental’ is who he is. It’s almost a matter of life and death, in fact, as becomes apparent in a good, long interview in Amsterdam one morning in spring.


Evelin van Rei - shooting Passenger

London, 2024-06-12 - Evelin van Rei

Evelin shot episodes 4-6 with director Nicole Charles for the new Sister Pictures (The Power, Landscapers, Chernobyl) series called ‘Passenger’. They shot the fictional village of Chadder Vale in different locations across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, on the ARRI Alexa Mini LF paired with the Zeiss Supreme Prime Radiance Lenses.


Lola Mooij - Finding Magic in Real Life

Amsterdam, 2024-01-23 - Judith Boeschoten and Nina da Costa

It’s a cold winter day when we arrive at Lola Mooij’s front door. She invites us in, pours us hot tea, and lights a few candles to make her already warm apartment extra cozy for us. She was reading The Secret Garden, a children's book written in 1911, about finding magic in the mundane. For the next two hours, Lola describes how she brings her own projects to life, inspiring her crew to pour in that extra touch of magic, whatever genre they’re working in.


GHOST TROPIC

Amsterdam, 2024-01-17 - NSC

The winner of the fifth Robby Müller Award is the Belgian DOP GRIMM VANDEKERCKHOVE. He is known for the subtler way in which he captures the inner world of characters, such as that of a cleaning lady on a nighttime journey home in GHOST TROPIC (2019)


2024 ROBBY MÜLLER AWARD goes to GRIMM VANDEKERCKHOVE

Amsterdam, 2023-12-12 - NSC / IFFR

The recipient of our fifth annual Robby Müller Award is Belgian cinematographer Grimm Vandekerckhove, renowned for his delicate, humanist work with filmmaker Bas Devos, amongst others.


Goert Giltay - Zen and the Art of Tightrope Walking

Amsterdam, 2023-11-29 - Gerlinda Heywegen

Goert Giltay, recently retired director of photography with a huge track record, likes to leave things up to others when his style is concerned. Every film was a new search. Sometimes his work had to be zen and a few times he got angry. But friendship was the core of his work, with ‘his’ heroes of cinema, the directors.


EURO CINE EXPO 2023 - MOTORWORLD, MUNICH

Amsterdam, 2023-07-05 - Miga Bär

Last year Munich and the German film industry were introduced to a new event called Euro Cine Expo. On June 30 and July 1 of this year the sophomore edition took place at Motorworld in Munich.


HBO CAS 2023

Amsterdam, 2023-06-21 - Ties Versteegh NSC

On Wednesday, June 14th, the NSC presented the exclusive HBO CAS 2023 showcased by Director of Photography:Suny Behar.


Lennert Hillege - Making Movies at Full Steam!

Amsterdam, 2023-06-08 - Gerlinda Heywegen

Director of Photography Lennert Hillege claims he does not have his own style. He is just as good or bad as the project he works on. He says he is always looking for the right wavelength to attune to in collaborations, whether that is with directors he has worked with for years or whether he works with new ones, such as Steve McQueen with whom he worked recently.


P I N A

Amsterdam, 2023-01-13 - Nina da Costa

In the run-up to the ceremony of the 4th edition of the Robby Müller Award, the NSC takes you on a journey along the films of winner cinematographer Hélène Louvart AFC.


Piotr Kukla - No plans on retiring any time soon!

Den Haag, 2023-01-06 - Gerlinda Heywegen

Piotr Kukla will often use that word in this interview when he is talking about something or someone. A little afraid that he won’t be able to work in the Netherlands anymore because of his age, enthusiastic about his students at the Łódź Film School in Poland. Full of love for the directors he has worked with for years, and where storyboarding is sacred.


Sander Snoep - Never in charge, always a guest

Amsterdam, 2022-09-02 - Gerlinda Heywegen

Sander Snoep has been a well-known player in the Dutch documentary scene for years and would never have expected to still be so passionate about his profession. He is still curious every single time he’s starting a project. How his films get made, in rain or shine, does not matter to him. As long as they come about.


2021 ROBBY MÜLLER AWARD goes to Kelly Reichardt

Rotterdam, 2020-12-22 - Bianca van Riemsdijk

Kelly Reichardt will receive the second annual Robby Müller Award. As part of the award, she will also receive a gallery print of one of Robby Müller’s Polaroids.


Paul Özgür - In a hurry to make that one masterpiece

Amsterdam, 2022-02-25 - Gerlinda Heywegen

He’s aiming for a large audience. His work has to be seen by as many people as possible. He talks about balance, Dutch DP Paul Özgür. In style and story and also in his own portfolio. And then there are the rules.


Myrthe Mosterman - Finding Synergy

Amsterdam, 2021-11-15 - Gerlinda Heywegen

A Gouden Kalf Award (Dutch film award) for her first feature film; that is what happened to DP Myrthe Mosterman in October 2020. In a Zoom interview, she talks about her style and how she prefers to work. NSC manifest New Deal pops up once again in this interviews series and it seems inevitable to address ‘being a woman’ within this ‘male profession’. But so far, she does not yet have to use a nom de plume.


Jean Counet - A jazz musician’s travels

Amsterdam, 2021-06-01 - Gerlinda Heywegen

There were five films on the shortlist for discussion with DP Jean Counet. Two feature films and three documentaries. Although Counet studied Directing at St Lukas, Brussels, he prefers to be a cameraman. But the conversation via Zoom kicked off with his own work, due to the March 2020 lockdown.


Martijn van Broekhuizen - Gangs of London

Amsterdam, 2021-04-23 - Aart Verschuur

Martijn van Broekhuizen worked on the first season of Gangs of London and is currently shooting the second season. 


Richard van Oosterhout - Insight and Wonder

The Netherlands, 2021-02-10 - Gerlinda Heywegen

Netherlands Society of Cinematographers initiates a series of interviews. NSC chair Richard van Oosterhout starts. He talks about his work, a Dutch New Deal, creativity on set and about breaking with what you know.


Sidik and The Panther

Amsterdam, 2020-11-17 - Freek Zonderland

SIDIK AND THE PANTHER is a film about a man called Sidik, wandering around in the mountains of Kurdistan looking for a sign of the Persian leopard. Directed by Reber Dosky and shot by Roy van Egmond. Selected for IDFA 2019 and Camerimage 2020, mominated for an IMAGE award.


Sisters

Amsterdam, 2020-05-05 - Freek Zonderland

ZUSSEN (SISTERS) is a short dance film by director Daphne Lucker and cinematographer Casper van Oort. It has screened and has won prices at festivals all over the world. In November it screened in the student competition at Camerimage and it won the IMAGO Student Award 2020. 


Onderhuids

Amsterdam, 2020-04-27 - Freek Zonderland

ONDERHUIDS (UNDER THE SKIN) from director Emma Branderhorst and cinematographer Michel Rosendaal screened at the Berlinale earlier this year. We spoke with Michel about this poetically shot twenty-minute short film. 


First ROBBY MÜLLER AWARD goes to Diego García

Rotterdam, 2019-10-30 - IFFR / NSC

The Robby Müller Award honours an ‘image maker’ who, in the spirit of the late Robby Müller, has created an authentic, credible and emotionally striking visual language throughout their oeuvre. The first award goes to Diego García and will be presented at the 49th International Film Festival Rotterdam.


The Circle of Film

Amsterdam, 2019-10-02 - Jean van de Velde

"Wil de Nederlandse filmcultuur overleven, dan zal de filmketen een filmketting moeten worden! Dan moet het einde van die keten (de filmexploitatie) aan het begin (de filmproductie) geklonken worden. Dan moeten de baten aan het einde de 'boost' voor een nieuw begin zijn."


Regisseurs naar de achterbank

Amsterdam, 2019-08-24 - Jos van der Burg & Karin Wolfs

“Doreen krijgt heel veel power.” Aldus waarnemend Filmfonds-directeur Ger Bouma tien jaar geleden over de benoeming van Doreen Boonekamp tot directeur. Anders dan haar voorgangers kreeg Boonekamp bij haar aantreden twee petten: ze werd zowel directeur als bestuurder van het Filmfonds.


NSC Investigates Film Making Process in The Netherlands

Amsterdam, 2019-05-01 - NSC

The Netherlands Society of Cinematographers (NSC) conducted a survey among its members as a response to the Netherlands Film Production Incentive 2014-2017 evaluation.


The Cinematographer as Co-Author

Amsterdam, 2019-05-09 - Hans Beerekamp

While cleaning up his archive, film journalist Hans Beerekamp found several editions of the (small-scale published) Dutch film magazine Cineécri.


New Deal NSC

Amsterdam, 2019-04-17 - NSC

Uit een NSC-enquête die in mei 2018 onder de leden is gehouden, was de belangrijkste conclusie dat het de DP’s frustreert dat ze hun werk niet optimaal kunnen uitvoeren. Daarom dit manifest met suggesties om het werkproces te veranderen.


Emotional Shapes and Textures - Daniël Bouquet

Amsterdam, 2018-07-15 - Vincent Visser

Immediately after his graduation from the Dutch Film Academy in 2006, Daniël Bouquet made a flying start as Director of Photography. For his second feature length production “Nothing Personal” (2008) he won the Golden Calf award for best Cinematography during the Netherlands Film Festival in 2009. Nowadays he works mainly on a variety of international projects, amongst commercials for major brands like Adidas, Gillette and Vogue. The NSC talked with him about his career, interests and more.  


Frank van den Eeden about Waldstille

Amsterdam, - Vincent Visser

Dutch cinematographer Frank van den Eeden (May 14, 1971), resident of Antwerp is best known for his work with directors such as Fien Troch, Nanouk Leopold and Jan Verheyen. Besides many nominations he has won several awards for his work as cinematographer.  One of his later productions is ‘Waldstille’ from writer and director Martijn Maria Smits, a feature film that got its world-premiere during the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2016. The NSC talked with Frank about this film.


Living the Light, at 75th Venice International Film Festival

Amsterdam, 2018-11-18 - Vincent Visser

Living the Light – Robby Müller, made by Claire Pijman NSC, will have its world premiere at the 75th Venice International Film Festival and is selected for the Venice Classics competition


Time Layers Come Together

Amsterdam, 2018-11-17 - Vincent Visser

'Paolo Ventura, Vanishing Man,’ shows how an Italian artist creates his own timeless melancholic world in a barn on an abandoned mountaintop in Italy. With paint, cardboard, and relics of a human life, he resonates his childhood’s memories and isolation by giving himself and found objects a new magical life.   


Beerified Scope

Amsterdam, 2018-11-16 - Vincent Visser

Joris Kerbosch (Culemborg, 1980) is best known for his work as cinematographer for directing duo Steffen Haars and Flip van der Kuil, for whom he shot the movies ‘New Kids Turbo’ (2010), ‘New Kids Nitro’ (2011) and ‘BROs BEFORE HOs’ (2013). ‘Ron Goossens, Low-Budget Stuntman,’ is their fourth feature film collaboration. Together those comedies where amongst the highest grossing films in The Netherlands and acclaimed international recognition. NSC spoke with cinematographer Joris Kerbosch about the film.

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Frank van den Eeden about Waldstille


Amsterdam, - Vincent Visser

Dutch cinematographer Frank van den Eeden (May 14, 1971), resident of Antwerp is best known for his work with directors such as Fien Troch, Nanouk Leopold and Jan Verheyen. Besides many nominations he has won several awards for his work as cinematographer. Most recent he won the Golden Calf for best cinematography for ‘Full Contact’ from director David Verbeek at the Dutch Film Festival in 2016. With this film, he also won the Silver Plaque at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival in 2015. In 2014, he won the Ensor for best cinematography for ‘Het Vonnis’ (The Verdict) from director Jan Verheyen at the Ostend Film Festival. Frank won the same award in 2012 for ‘The Invader’ by Nicolas Provost. One of his later productions is ‘Waldstille’ from writer and director Martijn Maria Smits, a feature film that got its world-premiere during the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2016. The NSC talked with Frank about this film.

Lees de Nederlandse versie hier

‘Waldstille’ is a contemplative filmed drama that leaves you with space for own interpretation. After serving his jail sentence for drunk driving and causing a car accident that kills his girlfriend, Ben (Thomas Ryckewaert) returns to his hometown Waldstille. Here he faces his embittered family in law who got custody over his daughter Cindy (Zinsy de Boer) and prohibit any contact with her. But Ben is determined to make up for the lost time with his daughter.

Waldstille 1

How did you get involved in this project?

Stiennette Bosklopper of Circe Films had already announced ‘Waldstille’ in 2013. Later, Martijn sent me the script with his written director’s vision on it. Weeks later we met in Antwerp. It clicked and from there on our collaboration started.

What appealed you in the story?

The script of 'Waldstille' had this uncomfortable and claustrophobic touch. This is due the strong focus on its main character and the growing tension between him and the arena of the village. The visual translation of this interested me. Also, the attention to small moments in daily life, which allow scenes to have a documentary feeling, appealed to me. But nature also received a lot of attention from Martijn and became almost a character on its own in 'Waldstille'.

Waldstille 6

If I am not mistaken, was this your first collaboration with director Martijn Maria Smits? In what way have you come to terms concerning filming style and was this settled before principal photography started?

From the start Martijn had a clear vision for the look of ‘Waldstille’. The work of painter Andrew Wyeth was an important reference for him. Wyeth often shows lonely figures in a vast landscape. Martijn wanted to have the same ‘unheimlich’ (spooky) feeling and color palette as Wyeth’s work for ‘Waldstille’. Within 20 days we read the script and made the decoupage together. We have watched fragments from films, documentaries and music videos. Talked about framing camera positions, movement, light and the rhythm of the scenes. In the same period location scouting started. Finally, there was for each scene a shot list and given preference for the time of day we wanted to film a particular scene.

Andrew Wyeth

After his release, Ben has dinner with his parents, composition and light wise this scene has a strong resemblance to Van Gogh’s painting ‘The Potato Eaters’. Was this a deliberate reference?

Ben’s isolation was important in this scene; therefore, he sits in a strong back-light with his back towards the camera. Besides this wide shot there was only one close on Ben within this scene. Combined, those two shots serve to place Ben outside the group. During preparation of the scene we also saw this painting arise, but it was not a reference for us. So pure coincidence.  

What was your lighting strategy for this film and which equipment did you use?

The use of natural light was very important for ‘Waldstille’, we were looking for mix of realistic and cinematic universe. We shot in February and March around the countryside of Breda. This region has many open spaces with little urban development, which allowed us to follow the sun from early in the morning until late in the evening. The main strategy was just to be at the right place, at the right time and use available light as much as possible. There was often an early or late call to catch the first sunrays of the day, or to film a scene in twilight.

Waldstille 1

We had a limited lighting package. Most of the time we eliminated or softened the existing light situation and worked with practicals. We often added an ARRI L7 which brightness and color temperature controls are easy to adjust to the existing situation. Further, there was a small set of (1.2K and 1.8K) HMI lighting figures, some (sodium) streetlights and a set of tungsten Fresnel lamps. 

Did you work with a large lighting department? How was the collaboration?

Waldstille is made with a small crew. My gaffer was Uwe Kuijpers and Joop Deden was our Key Grip. It was a smooth collaboration, wherein the various departments complemented each other where needed.

It’s an observative film, shot with a minimum amount of set-ups. Can you tell how the style of camerawork arose?

Martijn wanted a sense of reality without dramatizing with camera movement and lighting.
With focus on small things or silent moments we allowed tranquillity in the film. Take our portraits of character associated objects for example, or nature morte of rooms without characters. ‘Waldstille’ interweaves fiction and documentary by embracing a minimum amount of setups and long takes. This allows the audience to discover a character as a real individual with all its uncertainties and habits. 

Waldstille 4

Which camera and lenses did you use?

We filmed Waldstille on a 4:3 Alexa with ARRI Master Anamorphics. Almost all Martijn’s references were in Cinemascope, so the choice for this format was easy.

Waldstille 8

You shot some scenes handheld, which is quite uncommon for anamorphic shooting concepts. Did the chosen lenses offer enough comfort for this?

That went fine, they are not extravagant large lenses and combined with an Easyrig it was not a problem at all. Although I must admit that the arrival of the Alexa Mini is a major relief.

What focal lengths did you prefer on this production? How did the choose arise and did you try to maintain a specific aperture?

I believe our workhorses were the 40 and 100mm on this film. We searched for a lens that allowed us to come close to a character without the wide angle feeling. Such a preference for one or two focal lengths occurs during the first days of principal photography. We filmed almost everything on a wide-open aperture to enhance Ben's isolation.

Waldstille 10

It must have been a challenging production for your focus puller. Did he use any special tools?

He equipped the camera with a Cine Tape Measure, which is quite a handy tool for certain scenes. Just like allowing imperfect framing was it tolerated to be more intuitive with the focus. This sometimes creates a tension within the frame that's more interesting than just mechanical following the focus on the actors. I work with Bart Bleuzé as my focus puller for a long time now. He observes the scene and understands why I sometimes need a different focus timing or execution.

Especially in the handheld situations the actors seem to have a lot of freedom of movement. How did this influence the camera-style? Was the mise-en-scene for example set upfront?

I dislike to pinpoint actors between lighting stands. Total freedom of movement also formed an important starting point for some scenes in ‘Waldstille’. We filmed the scene in the classroom or the confrontation between Ben and his father-in-law in long takes in which we captured the whole performance in one run. We discussed in advance what the scene was about. With whom we enter the scene. What the dynamics are, but the final mise-en-scene often arose during the first few takes. We filmed a lot with no rehearsal.

Waldstille 9

What was the most complicated scene for you to film and how did you handle it?

The most unpredictable scene was Ben's fight we filmed during an existing carnival party. Communication was difficult due to the loud music. We had little control over the large group of drinking partygoers, from which not everyone realized that it was a staged fight. To film everything we kept ourselves low profile in the crowd. We only had a small LED-panel for fill and shot the whole sequence handheld.

Where did you film and how did the schedule look like?

We had 28 days for principal photography. Most locations were in Noord-Brabant, near Breda.

How did you determine the exposure of the digital negative on set?

I used the viewfinder and sometimes looked at Log-C on a monitor. In rare occasions, I evaluate the image via a waveform and never use false color.

Did you use a special LUT on set?

I used the default in-camera REC709.


Did the film need a lot of attention during color grading? How was the collaboration with your colorist and post-production?

We did the grading in 10 days at Filmmore Amsterdam. It was my first collaboration with Fernando Rodrigues. Everything went well.

Interview by Vincent Visser
English Translation by Herman Verschuur & Vincent Visser