Cinequest 2020 – The Memory Shop
An elderly lady enters The Memory Shop in 2036 to relive a memory of her now demented husband through advanced technology.
Interview with Director Christiaan Neu
Watch The Memory Shop here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made The Memory Shop because I want to emphasize how important memories are. This story is about an elderly lady going to the Memory Shop to re-experience a memory of her now demented husband. She wants to surprise him with some images (from that memory) on their wedding anniversary day. It's in one way a subtle love story where also the theme of dementia plays a role.
What if The Memory Shop would become reality? What if we could go to that kind of shop and re-experience moments of our past? Myself, quite a nostalgia oriented kind of person, have always been thinking about my past and how it would be to really experience moments from your childhood for instance, in a real conscious way of experiencing. According to me, everything in life is based upon memories: Who we are, how we act, what we do and so on. Memories matter and will always matter. That was the core of this film idea.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because hopefully, this film can have someone thinking of how our not so distant future could look like... that there would be a manner of going back to your past and re-experience beloved moments. Probably everyone would take that opportunity if it would already be possible in our time frame.
But also, because this movie is about someone with a great love for her husband, about a strong woman who never gives up.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film deals with quite some themes: love, dementia, future...
They all come together flawlessly in this future setting because even in 2036 love is and will always be the greatest survivor of humankind.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I started out some years ago with my main idea of The Memory Shop: a place where someone could go to, to re-experience memories in a full-conscious way. In the beginning, I had a more complexed story attached to my idea. I thinned that one out. But not much later writer Jean Ryckebosch joined me and my production company Vivi Film. And we rather quickly came up with the fact that a love theme would do great justice to the idea. So writer Jean Ryckebosch came up with some great inputs and together we created this little, subtle story where after writer Jean Ryckebosch then wrote a great character-based scenario.
That scenario was a real gift to direct. It had everything to please: great characters, smart dialogues, cinematic locations. But above all: it still had quite a simple premise, but with lots of profound thoughts attached to it. Especially for making a short, having a clear and rather simple story is always a good thing I think. I can then play around to make it as subtle or still even as complex as possible on all kind of aspects: from changing the story structure, adding or leaving dialogue, setting the characters, choosing the type of locations to also set up the final genre of the film. Seriously, it was a real joy making this film!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
As for now, I received foremost some really great feedback, paired with also some mixed reactions.
I had people telling me they were really touched by seeing the film: They found it very beautiful in many ways and that hours after having watched the film, they were still thinking about it. For me, that is the best sign possible. Also getting quite some reactions to how well made this film is for being a short film production.
But also received reactions from people for whom this film was apparently not their cup of tea. It is, therefore, a bit of a genre film... But still, they were surprised by the "concept" of the Memory Shop.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I like getting feedback, "good" and "bad". I learn a lot from it. And will always take it with me on my further path... to a certain extent though, without limiting myself. I will always keep in mind that filmmaking is an artistic craft, such as painting, music-making etc.. and that it is part of a very subjective world of approaching.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Having done some research on "We are moving stories", I am convinced that is a very strong and valuable platform. Therefore our film is in the right place here, because our film also deals with a strong woman and her adventure.
I am foremost seeking to give the film some genuine good exposure because I think this project in one certain way deserves it to be exposed. Because our cast and crew worked very hard and passionately on this film and above all the film has got a great human and contemporary message attached to it. By people reading about it on "We are moving stories", I do hope people come to see at upcoming film festivals and that potential film festival directors and/or sales agents get in touch.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All strengthening is welcome! If someone likes the idea and the film and wants to give it some extra exposure, that would be just awesome. It's not just to be exposed, but it's about exposing the message of the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Naturally, I would love to have a good reception anytime anywhere... But foremost I would love to have that viewers think about the importance of memories and the fact of still having memories.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What if The Memory Shop, a place where you can re-experience memories, would exist in our current time frame?
What if you can't remember anything anymore?
Would you like to add anything else?
I would especially like to thank "We are moving stories" and founder Dr Carmela Baranowska to get in touch with me.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
- Director Christiaan Neu is developing a feature idea. And also working on several commercials.
- Producer Veerle Appelmans is working on some upcoming short and feature animated projects.
- Writer Jean Ryckebosch just finished a new short film as being the writer.
Interview: March 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
The Memory Shop
An elderly lady enters The Memory Shop in 2036 to relive a memory of her now demented husband through advanced technology.
Length: 17:08
Director: Christiaan Neu
Producer: Veerle Appelmans
Writer: Jean Ryckebosch (scenario) / Christiaan Neu (based on idea of)
About the writer, director and producer:
CHRISTIAAN NEU (30) is a Belgian director. He studied film at the London Film Academy and the Westminster Film School, where he was taught by very acclaimed filmmakers. During his studies, he made various student shorts for which he got several festival recognitions. In 2020 he comes up with The Memory Shop: a future-set story about a woman who re-experiences an early memory of her demented husband through an upcoming technology.
JEAN RYCKEBOSCH (41) is a Belgian screenwriter and a computer scientist. His portfolio includes several shorts such as This No Land, Een Jong Meisje and The Memory Shop.
VEERLE APPELMANS (39) is a Belgian producer for the Brussels production company Vivi Film. Her portfolio includes several shorts such as Übertijd, This No Land, The Memory Shop and feature films such as Weekend aan Zee, Quixote's Island.
Key cast: Katelijne Damen (Lima), Lucas Van Den Eynde (Andy), Herman Gilis (Paul), Lena Suijkerbuijk (young Lima), Spencer Bogaert (young Paul)
Looking for: sales agents, journalists, distributors, film festival directors, producers, buyers
Facebook: Christiaan Neu
Instagram: @christiaanneu
Hashtags used: #thememoryshop #vivifilm #demensen #vlaamsaudiovisueelfonds #christiaanneu
Website: www.vivifilm.be/#/the-memory-shop/
Other: IMDb
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival/San Jose, USA - 3-15 March 2020