THE WORLD OF WITHOOS, 10min., Netherlands, Experimental
Directed by Hans Withoos, Inge Theunissen
Together with filmmaker Inge Theunissen of Itmoves, I Hans Withoos made a surrealist film about my quest for the amalgamation of the works of our ancestors and our photography.
https://hanswithoos.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hans.withoos
https://www.instagram.com/hanswithoos/
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
Working as an photographic artist with so many filch elements it was a need for me to change my artworks into a film.
Then I was asked by a museum, during preparation of a museum show if i also could deliver a film about me and my work
I did not want a documentary so asked Inge Theunissen to create a short film together to bring my thoughts to life
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
We worked on it for over 2 years,
The museum show was moved due to Covid.
So we got more time to visit the locations which we had in mind with all the models we had in mind
We went 2 times it Rome for over a week of filming
And in Holland we went to Amersfoort, Rotterdam, Kijkduin (Sea) twice and Hoge Veluwe, the last supper
Even most of the sounds are created by musicians, after we finalizes the film Inge Theunissen arranged all the music under the scenes..
Jolanda , my right hand, who lives partly in Rome, found all the beautiful locations i asked her for, even the poppy field And she made a very strong script, especially planned the locations and days So we could do as much as possible
Due to Covid we could work easily in Rome, there were not much tourists, and we even worked on locations where in normal period it is forbidden to enter
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Surrealistic love world
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
We had several especially traveling during covid and all the rules in different countries what made it very difficult and expensive to travel.
But for me the most important was how can i show my artwork in film, And to schedule aa film is totally different than an artwork, cause of necessary different angles etcetera.
And can we succeed to show my love and respect for nature, my background in textiles, i created all fabrics and designs myself ( with help from sewing people)
Can I make a personal film in a surrealistic way.
The young boy in white pants stand for my young alter ego, the white pants for my last name (Withoos) comes from the tight white socks/pants under trousers.
The blond man in the film is the altered for my mom, always dressed well. The girl in the Tiber is my niece, former model , and in the last shot you see my 91 yrs old dad, my 3 yrs old son the 2 mothers of my son and the crockery is a wedding present for my grandparents (1907)
And most important all the paintings and the drawn flowers and birds and insect are 17th century paintings and touches from my ancestors
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I really love the way people looked at my work, and sometimes it made me realize that a way of thinking is so normal for me and then i m happy people see it when look closer the transitions and symbolism. But also, sometimes i realized that people create a kind of own story or view which is important in art.
That’s why we all need art
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Actually I’m an artist i work with my photographic paintings designs, but i also rethink that interaction with other media is important, So for an opening of a big show i asked a choreographer to make a dance piece
https://hanswithoos.com/videos/,
And I worked with inge Theunissen several times before and had seen her private projects And realized that she is the only one who could create this personal film together with me, She understand my work totally.
We already have new projects planned for the future, and are talking with musea to show these works
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
On a nave Va Fellini 1983
My art teacher ended me back and back to see the film in all the cinema’s he told me that film tells a lot bout my work, at that time it was difficult for me but now i totally understand why.
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I’m totally happy iso my films are shown ( on big screens) and people see them, Off course I’m happy with the attention it gives.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
To be honest, Inge Theunissen worked with it before and already won several prices, Jolanda, my righthand did all the organization work for the film freeway, and i rthink she did well.
After filling in all the forms it really is easy to apply to festivals
10. What is your favorite meal?
What an unexpected question
I love to eat what fits the environment i m in, So in Italy in the fields i have a total different need then on a windy day on the beach
11. What is next for you? A new film?
That, of course is top secret, I m working on art projects, and indeed a new film and co-operation with a choreographer.
It is a really exciting project but that will take some years, The main character of that film is Eva Eikhout https://evaeikhout.nl/
The base is the manufacturability of man
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 