Daniel Marjan: From “Silly Videos” to Dynamic Filmmaking
With a fusion of Asian and European filmmaking styles, Daniel Marjan is an award-winning British-Singaporean filmmaker who has directed projects for the likes of Marriott, Capella, Riot Games and Nike. His cinematic work marries a diverse range of talent with powerful storytelling and narratives, and as a multi-faceted creative, his background in editing gives dynamism to his films across all genres.
Here, the electriclime director speaks with LBB’s Sunna Coleman on how making silly videos led him to where he is today and how his editing expertise gives him more freedom to direct.
LBB> How did you first get into film – is it a childhood passion or did you discover it later on?
Daniel> It all started with making silly videos with my childhood friend Sean, where we recreated our favourite action movies and produced what (our 10-year-old selves thought) was cinematic gold. Fast forward six years, and we were just as clueless, still doing the same thing at school for our GCSEs.
Years went by, and it wasn’t until I flunked my first year of product design at university and moved to Manchester on a whim to study filmmaking that I truly began to fall in love with the craft and consider film as my life’s ambition.
LBB> You recently created ‘Luck’ for Nike, what was the inspiration behind the film and how do you feel about the final piece?
Daniel> The idea for Nike stemmed from my own thoughts and self-doubts about filmmaking – how much of success comes down to luck and being in the right place at the right time, versus pursuing something with passion and consistently training that creative muscle? Or is it a combination of both?
There’s a part of all of us that, at one point or another, wishes for the “big break” (represented by the unknown caller in the film). But I like to believe we can take control of our destiny by simply creating – over and over again. To me, nothing captures this idea more visually than athletes persevering through relentless training to achieve their goals.
LBB> How do you bring your expertise in editing to your directing work?
Daniel> My background in editing has greatly influenced and liberated my approach to filmmaking. On set, I work with a rough vision of the edit – mapping out the narrative’s peaks and valleys – which serves as a guide for both the cinematography and the talent’s performance.
This perspective also gives me confidence, knowing I can rely on the edit to bring things together. As a result, I have more freedom to experiment and play with ideas during the shoot, which I believe is crucial for creating something that’s truly your own.
LBB> What keeps you inspired and motivated?
Daniel> Working with a diverse range of talented, passionate people and being exposed to an endless stream of mind-blowing work online has always been a huge source of inspiration and motivation for me.
Undoubtedly, the sheer volume of creativity within filmmaking – whether in commercials or films – is staggering. What excites me most is drawing inspiration from countless elements across different projects and weaving them together to create something uniquely my own.
LBB> What are your aspirations for next year?
Daniel> Next year, I’m eager to take on projects that explore more “out of this world” visuals – pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and working on creative films that challenge my approach to visual storytelling.
I’m also a firm believer that, after characters, a film’s setting plays a pivotal role in shaping the project. With that in mind, I’m hoping to shoot in new and interesting countries I’ve never filmed in before, adding more diverse perspectives and inspirations into to my work.
