Asude: Welcome Marc, thank you so much for joining us today! We are quite interested in your work and that’s why we wanted to get to know you much better. Let’s start with basics. Could you please tell us when and where you were born and how you got started with videography?
Marc: I was born in 1992 in the beautiful city of Flensburg, all the way up in northern Germany. I didn’t think much about film or videography until I was around 16 years old. That summer, a local TV studio offered a holiday camp in my home village where kids could learn to make films. It was very cool, because smartphones were not a thing then, and I didn’t really have access to a camera. I took part with a few friends and we had so much fun that one of us bought a camera and we continued to make videos in our free time and for school projects afterwards. When I finished school I decided to study media informatics and film. In the beginning, I thought I might become a programmer some day, because of the salary and everything, you know. But, when I decided to buy my first camera, a Canon Rebel t3i, the passion kicked in and I knew that I wanted to make a living in the film industry. From then on, I kept learning through YouTube and online courses up until today.
A: Thank you for explaining your story, Marc! Could you talk about your transition from being an enthusiast to a professional? How did you earn your first money from filmmaking?
M: While I was studying, I started taking client projects along with a friend. The first ones weren’t paid, but, after a few projects, we started getting paid. The first paid project was for a local sports club. The women’s team needed fresh talent and we were hired to make a recruiting video. It was the best film we had shot to that day (although it wasn’t good at all by objective measures) and the client was happy. I remember that great feeling of “Wow, someone just paid me for something I created”.
You learn more from failure than from success.
A: Isn’t it one of the best feelings on earth? Speaking of achieving what you are after, what is the best piece of advice you could give to other filmmakers out there?
M: You learn more from failure than from success.
A: Agreed. As they always say, failure builds a character. What about the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
M: “Don’t compare yourself to others”. I can’t remember where I heard it the first time. Although it’s one of those things that sounds easy, I found that I was comparing myself to others ALL the time. It was (and sometimes still is) really hard to mute that little voice in my head that was constantly asking why others had more money, progressed faster, made better films or whatever. But, developing that skill was one of the best things I’ve ever done. It makes you way happier.
A: Yes, everybody’s story is unique and different, thus not worthy of comparison. So, let’s talk about your videography style a little bit! Could you please tell us about your style, your pre and post production processes?
M: I wouldn’t say that I have a distinct style, yet. I’m still experimenting, learning and trying to find my voice as a filmmaker. Before I begin filming, I typically write a script and a shot-list for narrative stuff. For everything else like e.g. event features, I write an outline or a short summary of what the results should look like. Based on that, I choose what equipment I bring on set.
A: Do you own all your equipment or do you prefer renting?
M: I prefer to own the equipment I use often, because I can be more spontaneous that way. I only rent special equipment that I don’t use often or stuff that is either too expensive to buy or too bulky to store properly. After everything is done, I use Premiere Pro for editing, After Effects for animations and motion graphics, Davinci Resolve for color work and Lightroom + LRTimelapse for timelapses.
A: You work in various productions but, what are the equipment you bring to a set in general?
M: My basic kit consists of my camera, lenses, the edelkrone SliderONE PRO, lighting and audio equipment. Everything else is optional and depends on the job. I like to keep everything light and small so size and weight are my main concerns, when I pack my bag.
A: Then, good job on choosing edelkrone SliderONE PRO since it’s one of our most portable sliders! Speaking of equipment and technology, what do you think about the future of filmmaking with the technology is advancing so fast?
M: It’s getting increasingly hard to keep track of all the new technologies and changes in the filmmaking industry. And, it’s easier and cheaper than ever to get your foot in the door as a filmmaker. That means, the competition is getting tougher. But, it also means that many creative decisions are made from a gear centered point of view (we have tool X, what can we do with it?). I think this is a great chance to go back to a more concept or story driven approach as this is something that nobody can copy with just technology.
A: Good point! Thank you so much for having a little chat with us, dear Marc! Last but not least, you are currently a full time filmmaker and have your own YouTube channel, where you talk about filmmaking. What’s your biggest ambition for the future?
M: I want to learn to tell stories in the most effective and efficient way while maximizing the emotional impact.