PostPanic Talk Taking Risks on Sci-Fi Film Sundays

PostPanic may be best known for their work in the realm of commercials, but over the last few years they’ve been spreading their creative wings with a self-generated sci-fi film, Sundays. Jules Tervoort and Mischa Rozema spoke about making the film and the wider world of digital craftsmanship at last week’s Dutch Digital Design event. LBB’s Laura Swinton caught up with them to find out more.

LBB> You were talking about your Sundays film at the Dutch Digital Design event – what were the main challenges you faced in terms of the craft? 

JT & MR> Sundays is the most intense labour of love for us (and the culmination of a passion for long format filmmaking which started 17 years ago when PostPanic was formed). The hardest thing for us on Sundays is probably the amount of work we’ve created for ourselves! 

The amount of post is epic but then hopefully the results will speak for themselves. It’s a philosophical sci-fi film so the majority of the post is not about some Hollywood shoot ‘em up battle scenes (which are definitely not in this storyline!) but rather creating the carefully specific environments and situations imagined and designed by Mischa. It’s also knowing when to stop on a scene. Our drive and desire to perfect our craft can be both amazing and frustrating as it is difficult to take a step back and say, this will do’ because we have so much more to get finished. We’re perfectionists and we’ve been waiting for so many years to make this film, that having to not be able to immerse ourselves completely and utterly in every minute detail can sometimes hurt. 

But saying that, we’re well trained in commercials - you have to be a perfectionist within the perimeters of a production - and therefore we just have to pull focus and apply the same discipline. When it’s your own project and there isn’t a client budget or schedule stopping your wish list, then it’s really difficult to deny ourselves that creative indulgence. As it is, we think we’ve managed to push the boat creatively way beyond what on paper was deemed possible so we’re just curious now to see what everyone else thinks when it’s released. Our hopes for this film are that it will play its own little part in redefining the way films are made and created. Sundays is the film we all want to see. Our ambition is that the short (the first stage in the Sundays feature film project) shows what is possible both creatively and intellectually when films are not primarily governed by traditional forms of filmmaking. 

Dutch Digital Design #1: Jules Tervoort & Mischa Rozema (PostPanic) - Sundays from Dutch Digital Design on Vimeo.

LBB>And as what sort of insights and lessons did you take from it?

JT & MR> For us it was the reassurance that the Dutch are still continuing to do their own thing and pushing both the creative and commercial opportunities within the digital arena. It means the climate for creative industries within this country is still very productive and supportive.

Sundays Teaser #1 from PostPanic on Vimeo.

LBB> How would you characterise Dutch digital design? Do you think there’s something unique about it, if so, what is it?

JT & MR> If we talk about Dutch digital design, then honestly speaking, PostPanic are the odd ones in the group. On paper we’re a hybrid film production company not working exclusively in the digital realm but yes, certainly many of our design philosophies and creative attitudes share the same influences experienced by those working in digital companies. It’s difficult to characterise Dutch digital design neatly but it’s probably a mix of lateral thinking, clean lines and breaking rules/ conventions (actually all things you could argue stem from the Dutch design heritage and attitude as a whole). Plus the Dutch have a natural ease in working with English as a language so that creates an immediate internationally accessible feel to the work which I think is pretty unique outside of non-native english speaking countries.

LBB> And how do you think Amsterdam’s digital output compares to the rest of the world?

JT & MR> Of course we’re going to say it’s pretty good! But on a serious note, there is pride and recognition in crafting work to a very high standard and that is essential to keep the quality of Dutch design consistent. Again, working so comfortably using English as the main language certainly has its advantages on the international market. The Dutch appropriate English in their own unique way which injects a bit of the unexpected into how ideas evolve and are created.

LBB> What digital trends and platforms are getting you excited at the moment? 

JT & MR> We love crowd funding. Isn’t it the ultimate facilitator in this new current generation of ‘makers’ and ‘creators’? How amazing that people are not reliant on traditional ways where someone has to grant them the right opportunities and access to resources to create their ideas? Nope, these days, everyone can facilitate their own passion and make their own content by using resources such as crowd-funding. It’s an amazing catalyst. Plus you have the power to establish your own future audience at a very early stage of a project. So it’s not just their money they’re giving you, but their support and belief for your ambitions. It’s a very rewarding and positive way to work. And at the end, you have the clarity of knowing whether your idea can turn into a profitable business idea or not. Its win-win really.

LBB> This is the first Dutch Digital Design event – what were you hoping to see from it?

JT & MR> To be honest, it’s just really interesting to see what is happening in this little big country of ours. We forget what an intense concentration of creative work is produced here in the Netherlands so this is a very important opportunity to see some cool concepts and projects. And the term Digital is very vague and loose - it can mean so many things so it’s also important to include the whole spectrum of creators within this field (which is probably why we’re here alongside the more easily identifiable digital agencies). It also allows the cross pollination between creative folk so that hopefully new interesting off-shoots of creative ingenuity can start growing within this digital design domain.

LBB> The theme of the show is ‘Made In Holland’ – which Dutch work have you seen recently that’s been really cool and interesting?

JT & MR> ‘Sweetie’ the digital campaign created by digital agency Lemz surely has to be one of the most important uses of our digital knowledge (and design skill). It might not be visually the coolest or trendiest but it changed lives and in our fickle creative world, we have to do some direct good.