Lady Filmmakers Festival - Silence
Esther has got what it takes to be really successful in the business district where she applies for a job. Of course she will fit in there! She has the killer instinct and the ambitions of a winner. But she hasn’t anticipated a meeting with a stranger who can see behind her mask.
Interview with Director Ruud Satijn
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Liesbeth Wieggers, the writer of Silence is someone with whom I already wanted work for a long time when she offered me to read the script. Next to that I’d done several shorts with very little dialogue and I wanted to do the opposite for a change. But of course, the most important reason was the script itself. One of the themes I like making films about is 'lost and wandering souls in the big city’. And Silence most definitely has that theme. Main character Esther is wandering in search of something, somewhere or someone to belong to. She wants to belong to success, to climb on the social scale and be successful but does she know what success is? And does anyone know? And what is success based on? This was all packed into this 10 page script. I couldn’t resist trying to get everything done to get it made.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because of the themes I mentioned above and because of the acting performances. We had great actors.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The themes I already mentioned are themes I live by. The combination of wandering and wondering are essential in that. I've also made a few films with coming of age themes. My date of birth is ‘of age’ but I like the insecurity of teenagers and combination with their ‘the future is wide open’ attitude. Ideal for wandering about.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The first few drafts Liesbeth wrote had a different setting. It played in a mental home. This was based on a personal experience she had a long time ago when she was there for a film shoot. When talking about the script all of a sudden she came up with the idea to change that into an office. I supported that idea right away. It is more in the middle of society.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People like the acting especially. As a director, that is always a good thing to hear. And positive feedback about the story itself. Strong dialogue. What we did hear is that not everyone knows what a make-work program is. A program we have in the Netherlands in which people who have difficulty finding a job in ‘regular society’ are helped by giving them jobs in companies in, for instance, the mailroom. These can be people with mental challenges but it has nothing to with ‘work for lunatics’ or something derogatory like that. I guess not every country has a program like that.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
No not really. Some technical stuff from colleagues that I’ve learned from, but my point of view on what we wanted to get across hasn’t changed.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
That’s an easy one: I want the film to be seen by as many people as possible. So festival directors and selection committees; pay attention!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above except producers. With Liesbeth as writer/producer and Germen Boelens from Corrino Drama we have a good team I am proud of. They can get in touch through germen@corrino.com.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Next to that I just hope they plain out like it, I hope they give the film’s themes (see question 1) another thought. Maybe not right away, but the next day is soon enough.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I don’t think I have the answer to that. People can derive their own questions from the film. I like that better anyway and there is enough to choose from.
Would you like to add anything else?
This film was made on half a shoestring budget. We had money for craft services and some equipment but other than that, we owe it all to the great crew and cast that we managed to pull it off.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Liesbeth is writing and co writing two features. She and I are planning future projects together also, but nothing specific at this time. Germen, producer for Corrino Drama, is working on the development of very many films at the same time, as he always is.
The actors are everywhere. Theater, film, TV, you name it. DP Martijn de Vré is working on documentaries and TV mostly. I am trying to push him towards more fiction, he’s good at it!
I am working on several projects but the most important one is a feature I am currently writing myself. It is a coming of age drama about a young Dutchman who visits his American friend in a small town in the New Mexico desert. He gets caught up in a mixture of cultural problems and xenophobia when he falls in love with a Mexican girl. Together with Corrino and American producer Peter Kershaw (Duchy Parade Films) we are developing this story. This summer we shot a moodfilm in both Amsterdam and New Mexico, the story is set in these two countries, and with that and the script we are now working on the funding.
Interview: September 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Silence
Esther has got what it takes to be really successful in the business district where she applies for a job. Of course she will fit in there! She has the killer instinct and the ambitions of a winner. But she hasn’t anticipated a meeting with a stranger who can see behind her mask.
Length: 10 minutes
Director: Ruud Satijn
Producer: Liesbeth Wieggers, Germen Boelens,
Writer: Liesbeth Wieggers
About the writer, director and producer:
Germen Boelens is a Dutch film producer and head of Corrino Drama. Boelens produced the Emmy-Kids nominated Dede: Mehmet with the Yellow Boots (2015)
Ruud Satijn studied at the Sint Lucas School of the Arts in Brussels and the Film Academy in Amsterdam. His film The Palace screened in more than 30 countries worldwide and won several awards.
After a successful career as a filmeditor, Liesbeth Wieggers switched her focus to screenwriting and producing. She wrote and produced several short films and is currently working on two features
Key cast: Judith Edixhoven, Ian Bok, Oren Schrijver, Claire Schuyffel
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Looking for sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Silenceshortfilm2016/
Made in association with: Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK)
Where can I see it in the next month?
Malta Short Film Festival. Several dates in October
Heart of Gold Film Festival Gympie, Queensland, Australia 5-8 October
Lady Filmmakers Festival Beverly Hills. End of September