A new month, a new Fresh Face! Together with KONKAV we put a spotlight on Brabant film makers. This time we asked Jasper Loos to participate in the Fresh Faces series.
In 2019 Jasper graduated as a filmmaker at the art academy AKV | St.Joost in Breda with his experimental feature film De Operateur. During his gap year he made his first animation Cliffhanger. This academic year he is following the bridging program for the master Film Studies and Visual Culture at the University of Antwerp. His work is surreal and mainly inspired by the work of David Lynch. Jasper works experimentally, regularly from a philosophical or psychological issue. He is also a major cinephile and you can really see that in his work.
Jasper reacts to three quotes of industry greats:
“Making films is a pleasure for me. Many of my friends are directors and it’s very heavy work for them, they suffer a lot. I don’t suffer.”
– François Ozon
I can relate to both Ozon’s statement and the experience of his director-friends. Of course I truly enjoy making films, but it is also a profession that takes a lot of time, effort and energy… It requires a lot of dedication. But if I wouldn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t make films to make money, but because I like doing it and I have a story to tell. On the other hand, it is definitley not the easiest job. The big chunks of time, effort and energy can be exhausting and can lessen your motivation. It is therefore always important to import something in each project that you truly enjoy. Something that challenges you, teaches you new things or that you simply like. In every project, I for example try to do something I have never done before. In my latest project, Cliffhanger, I directed an animation film for the first time in my life. Something I had never thought I would. It helps you discover new things and keeping the joy of making as high as possible!
“Coronavirus will change the content of any story we next tell.”
– Rebecca O’Brien, producer of Ken Loach’s films
The corona virus obviously has made a huge impact on the world. And just like many historical events have had its influence on films (such as the world wars, the moon landing…), this pandemic will surely leave a trace as well. There are already a few films films made, or in the making, that are literally about the virus. Films always reflect the world at the moment the film is made.
Taking this in consideration, every story from now on will be, in one way or another, influenced by corona. There will definitely be film makers that would want to respond to this phenomenon, but probably not all of them. I at least have no intention of making a film handling this theme. But of course I could be influenced unconsciously.
Practically you could ran into anything as you have to take the measurements into consideration. But if (or rather: when) a vaccine will be made available, and we can go back to ‘ordinary’ film making, the stories you tell might change. After World War II all art forms – not just film, but also theater, literature…- were treated differently and a different kind of stories was told. Would that be any different now? Time will tell..
“Research for me is part of the learning process. No one else could do it for me.”
– Charlie Kaufman
My favorite part in film making is the concept phase. Coming up with an idea, writing a story and doing research. I always base my films on an important topic or theme that I can research extensively. To me it’s important to learn everything there is to know about the subject. During my time in art academy I for example researched a neurological condition called prosopagnosie (or face blindness). I discovered that some patients cannot even recognize themselves. A terrifying thought, which became the focus of my project. A project that was all about finding my distinct visual style, which I managed to do! What I am trying to say is that research for a film project can help in two ways (or even more) in your learning process. It can help you find out more about the subject of the film, which in turn helps you narrow down and focus. But it can also contribute to your development as a maker. Your research can lead to new ideas that will – both content wise and visually – add to your craftmanship. And like Charlie Kaufman said: it goes without saying that no one else can do it for you. You as no other know who you are and what interests you. You have to do the research yourself and take out the most exciting elements to import in your project. By doing this you will not only make a more powerful film, but also discover more and more who you are as a maker!
Check out Jasper’s Vimeo to get a glimpse of his diverse work!