How did you decide to pursue a career in the film industry?
I have always known I wanted a career in the entertainment industry. In my early teens I wanted to be a singer/songwriter for a while until I realized I was missing a bit of talent in that area!
Then for my best friend’s 17th Birthday I wrote and directed a short satire film about her life and I enjoyed the whole process so much and it was so well received that I realized this was something I wanted to continue on doing.
Is there any particular way that you gather inspiration for your scripts?
I have found that inspiration tends to just come to you in the most random moments. I often get inspired when traveling, sometimes while sitting in an airport waiting for my flight.
It’s a great time to reflect and take in new impressions, so for me it’s a great way to come up with ideas. I came up with the idea for my musical “College Romance” while backpacking through the Negev Desert!
It was slightly different with ‘Mannequins’ as it is quite personal. I have been wanting to make a film about the modelling industry for years but had never really thought of a great concept.
When I met Nadine Ponce last year, the ideas started flowing and the thought of creating a very visual and slightly abstract story really appealed to me.
What is the best part about being a film maker?
Getting to spend your time doing something you love! It’s a tough business, the working hours are crazy and the pay often not very good.
But the adrenaline rush I get from being on set and bringing my vision to life with a gifted cast and crew is more valuable than any salary an office job could give me.
What parts of the film ‘Mannequins’ are inspired by your personal experience?
It’s a psychological thriller with horror elements, so the story itself couldn’t be any further from my truth, obviously. But the feel and the mood of it is 100% inspired by my own experiences.
While I genuinely loved being part of the industry and enjoyed every job I did, it was the going to castings part that was absolutely terrifying to me.
I was very young and being judged solely by my looks on a day to day basis and always being compared to the most beautiful girls in the country was difficult and confusing for me.
I suddenly saw flaws everywhere and the thought of people not even caring about my personality, as long as I looked a certain way, was quite disheartening.
It’s a fascinating industry and it makes many dreams come true, but it’s not for everyone and it wasn’t for me.
Having said that, I am incredibly grateful for the experience and it made me understand the importance of character and confidence and that’s one of the key messages of this film.
What are your own film favorites?
I have so many but I think my all time favorite film would have to be “Singing In The Rain”. Some of the song sequences are all in one take and yet they are perfect from beginning to end. The songs are so iconic as well, it’s truly a masterpiece.
What were some of the challenges you faced throughout the production phase?
Scheduling mainly. When you work with talent and crew who are on such a high level of professionalism, it’s not easy to get them all to be free at the same time!
Especially since this is low-budget and no one is getting paid, obviously if they are offered feature films or a big fashion campaign that clashes with our shooting dates, we have to work around their schedule.
What is Mannequins about, and what can our audience & readers expect?
‘Mannequins’ is about what happens when you put your own success first and become so obsessed with it that you end up losing yourself. It’s a classic story that we have put in an interesting and current setting: the modelling industry.
It’s set around two top models, played by Nadine Ponce and Natasha Loring, and their relationship as the pressures of the industry begin to take their toll on them.
The audience can expect a fast paced, very visual film that is based on a typical beauty/fashion look but with a dark twist to it and some horror elements.
But more than anything they can expect great performances from Nadine Ponce and Natasha Loring. They are both incredible!
What was one of Mannequins major influences when coming up with the plot?
There wasn’t one major influence really to be honest, the bits and pieces came together from all kinds of places. The story of jealousy, paranoia and obsession with success is universal and as old as time. The idea of using that as an abstract way to create a mood and tone that’s inspired by my own truth and experiences in the industry really appealed to me. Other influences were Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty collection and the movie Black Swan.
What do you believe distinguishes Mannequins from other projects out there and why should people help fund and support it?
‘Mannequins’ is unique in its way of combining beauty and couture fashion with darkness and horror elements. It’s an exciting mix and I have no doubt that the film will be like nothing you’ve ever seen before.Of course Nadine and Natasha are major selling points. Nadine has a big fan base in the fashion world, as does Natasha in film and television. I wrote the lead characters with the two of them in mind and so they were the only actresses I wanted, the only ones I offered the parts to. I have no doubt that they will deliver brilliant performances and that their fans are in for a treat!And lastly, we have an award-winning crew of talented people who really love and believe in the project and I really think together we are going to create something quite special!
What words of wisdom could you give to other aspiring film makers?
I am still aspiring myself so maybe Steven Spielberg will have more to say about this but I think the best thing you can do is follow your instincts. There isn’t one right way of becoming a filmmaker, you just have to figure out what makes you unique and then build on that.
I was offered a spot in a good film school in my home country, Germany, five years ago but in my heart I just knew I wasn’t ready and I wanted to travel and explore first. So I moved to South Africa instead and did modelling and some freelance directing work over there. For me that was the exact right thing to do, although it wasn’t the obvious and most logical choice.
And of course you have to be willing to put in the work. Talent and luck can only get you so far.
But you should definitely ask Steven about this…
Here are More Pics from the film Mannequins
