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Rutger Hauer
Film Factory |
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2008 Rutger Hauer FilmFactory Masterclass
Rotterdam
Filmfactory's YouTube Section
http://www.youtube.com/filmfactoryshorts
January 21-31, 2008
Introduction - On the set, looking for chance.
This is what the the Rutger Hauer Filmfactory Masterclass is about: for ten days Rutger Hauer is sharing his artistic experience with young and ambitious filmmakers.
Rutger: ‘Obviously there is a tight production schedule and a neat script, but mainly this is the art of looking for chance. That’s when something really happens’.
Rutger's Blog
| Tue., Jan. 22 |
An old jazz musician is playing some tunes on a modern piano in the corner of the café, while I am having my dinner- potato croquettes with a Schnitzel and some salad. What started as relaxing background music is rapidly transforming into a fierce jazz medley. This world is insane!
This morning I woke up at six. I planned to finish my daily workout and email check before breakfast started at 7:45 a.m. The participants started the day easygoing. For inspiration we’ve watched some short films which I had taken with me, and explained them their first assignment: ´make a short film clip of 60 seconds´. NBC’s Channel 13 (also available in Holland) has put together a little budget for this first task. Sure that it will evolve into something useful. I praise the participants for their guts. It is an opportunity to connect with the world. This is not an easy task though; they have to catch the viewers´ attention within 60 seconds. Decorating a small house is always more difficult than decorating a big one. Driven by enthusiasm the participants started with their work: putting together a narrative, a setting and trying to arrange the needed props.
I´ve temporarily resided in a bar called 'Verhip'. There I went through the last scripts, made an arrangement for the different actors who are playing parts in the short films and then I had an interview for the Masterclass 'making of'. The location for this interview was absolutely beautiful: a raw and industrial construction shed. The lighting equipment the director used to illuminate my face was so bright that I probably looked white and pale as a corpse and all my sixty-four wrinkles showed.
On the Hotel Boat I went through the last agreements with a representative of NBC. The man brought me a Scottish Whiskey, isn’t that nice? Together we enjoyed a little glass. Afterwards I called my wife, now I am dining. The participants are already on the set. I explained to them that the power of talent emerges from energy. If they can set their energy free then good things will happen. Later on I will have a look on the set as well, to see how the participants operate. Again an early night is not an option. The program is very tough, just like my Schnitzel….
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| Mon., Jan. 21 |
This year the Masterclass has a comfortable office: a 15.5 meter long, black trailer soberly decorated on the back with a big curly red Aids ribbon. I have been owning it for the last twenty-five years and it is the nicest thing I have ever built with my own hands. Kept together by 10,000 Philips crosshead screws. You could hardly find them on the market, but the result is nice: a kitchen, complete with a dinner table, a mini bathroom and a small space to relax. The only problem is the parking. Where do you park such a huge vehicle?
The first weblog starts of course with who would yet could not take part in this years Masterclass. I was hoping that the strike in Hollywood would have been of some help, but it’s just the other way around: everyone is busier than ever. And it’s great, to be busy. Practically everyone I had contacted would have been glad to work with me on this, but unfortunately they did not have enough time because of the screenwriters strike. My wish-list was extensive. People like Robert Rodriguez, Ridley Scott and Paul Verhoeven. But the people who are coming, such as John Putch, Anton Corbijn, Derek de Lint and Thom Hoffman, to name a few, will turn this year into a party. And of course the participants.
Twenty-one foreign promising filmmakers and nine Dutch. Soon they will arrive and all stay in a cosy boat hotel. This evening we will say little and see a lot; amongst other things, also the documentary of last year’s Masterclass. For the next few days I want them to work like crazy. To think little and act immediately – there! – shoot! Contemplating too long, gets more complicated. I want loose treatment. I trust intuition. It makes you come up with really surprising things. That's the first excersize and the art. In my fantasy, I let the moorings go for a little sail. It’s nice to relax under the Rotterdam bridges before we start our engines and look for the power. Not an early night today...of course. |
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More info and details at www.filmfactoryrotterdam.com
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2007 Rutger Hauer Film Factory
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