What is your occupation now?
I’m a director of music videos, TV-commercials and (short) films.
What expertise did you gain at WdKA?
I learned that I really really really can’t draw. I also saw the importance of letting other art forms influence you. Things like graphic design, fashion, copywriting or interior design can influence me and spark ideas just as much as a film could.
Jeroen Houben
Filmmaker
What is the future of your profession in your opinion?
I have a deep love for good old linear cinema. I am sure there is a big future in interactive storytelling, virtual reality etc, but to me, that’s a whole different ball game in which I have no interest. Cinema as we know it will definitely stay around for another while, although I do think it will one day be regarded as an old medium, the same way we now regard theatre.
You never leave your house without..? Besides your laptop or smartphone?
I never leave my house without feeding the cats. Otherwise, they’ll take revenge and mess up the house. Also, I carry around lots of little notepads and my bag is always filled with BIC-pens.
Your own intuition is your greatest tool.
Any words of advice to future students?
When you’re just starting out, be as productive as you can. Don’t think too much about whether your work is any good or original, just go ahead and make it. Being a student gives you a free pass to experiment, fool around, mess things up, make mistakes. Just get your ideas out there. Every once in a while, look back at the stuff you created last year. If you recognize your failures, that means you are growing. It’s a good thing. I made some terrible things at the academy, and I’m really glad I got to do that.
Then again, never take anybody’s advice too seriously as your own intuition is your greatest tool.
Name your favourite recent project
I’m quite keen on the short film Home Suite Home that I made in 2015. It was one of those projects where everything just came together. My ideas for that film were really overambitious and we started out with absolutely nothing. But we just reached for the moon and got everything we wanted.
