Why Louise de Nexon Hopes Never to Find a Filmmaking Formula

Growing up between Paris and New York, Louise de Nexon always had a rich inner world. Childlike imagination has blossomed over the years into a keen creative sensibility that’s made her an up-and-coming filmmaker quickly attracting the attention of fashion, beauty and sports brands.

The director, who’s represented by STARLING in the UK, marries human narratives with powerful imagery characterised by surrealism, opposing forces, and a drive to transform “abstract ideas into concrete visuals.” You can see her visual eye at work across short films, music videos and branded content – ‘Antimony’ in particular stands out, unusually combining fashion visuals with eerie direction and even eerier music and sound.

Curious to find out more, LBB’s Zara Naseer spoke to Louise, finding out why the emerging talent hopes never to find a formula that suits her.

LBB> How did you first get into filmmaking? Was it always clear this was the path you’d follow?

Louise> I’m not sure there ever was a time I thought I’d do anything but something creative. 

I had the privilege of growing up in a household that preached a ‘do what you love’ way of life, and what I loved was dreaming up scenarios – or stories at the time. I just went from being a child with a pretty rich inner world, to a teenager with a desire to pursue storytelling in one way or another. 

I loved literature, images and music... Films, in their essence, combine a lot of art forms. The attraction was obvious. 

But beyond this urge I had to create, I mostly was driven by a deep desire to attach meaning to things and reach a certain understanding of human behaviour. Why did one person do this and another say that? Filmmaking somehow requires you to take a stand on the ‘why’ and convey it through intentionally crafted images. That very exercise is pretty cathartic to me. 

LBB> How would you describe your unique directorial style?

Louise> I think my style is ever-changing because it’s driven by curiosity. I’m hoping not to find a formula that suits me but rather to keep on learning and growing as a filmmaker. But right now, I’d say I’m attracted to making culturally rooted and visually striking human-centric pieces that explore themes surrounding the self. 

LBB> Your films stand out for their bold, artfully constructed visuals – a shoe in a fishbowl upon a pedestal, a cloud of fine powder being shaken off skin, a body writhing under a translucent bedsheet – who or what inspires your artistic sensibilities?

Louise> Contradiction is what inspires me most. I like to play around with opposing forces. I’m also very attracted to surrealism and turning abstract ideas into concrete visuals. 

Above: Louise's short film, 'Beyond Converse'

LBB> You have a particular eye for fashion, beauty, and sports – how does your experience in each sector influence your creative approach to the others?

Louise> I’ve actually never fully made that distinction in my mind. For me, they’re different sides of the same coin: culture. Whether you’re crafting for whimsicality or relatability, all you’re ever trying to do is connect with humans.

LBB> And how does your background in short films and music videos bleed into your commercials?

Louise> Short films and music videos require being super resourceful. Ultimately, they often force you to boil down every concept to what’s absolutely essential. They’re an exercise in precision and have in common that their success lies in a good idea. I think bringing that energy into commercials is crucial. 

LBB> What’s your favourite part of your filmmaking process and why? 

Louise> On the good ones, being on set is my favorite part of the process. Up until the frame is up, every problem feels abstract, and every solution is a creative gamble, but if I’ve done my job correctly, once the frame is up, everything that is to be fixed is both minor and obvious. That’s when I feel most at peace.  

Above: Haiku 'Paradise'

LBB> What’s been the most challenging project of your career so far? What did it involve?

Louise> I’m not sure I have a specific project in mind that stands out as the most challenging, but all of the challenging ones had in common that they felt like they could have been great, but the circumstances or the collaborations made it so that we had to either settle or compromise one too many times. 

The hours are long, and the job is demanding, but the most challenging projects are the ones where everyday feels like a pitch. 

LBB> What trends are you excited about the most right now?

Louise> I’m not sure it so much qualifies as a trend as it does as a break in what's been trending but I’m seeing more and more films that depart from the ‘transition everything’ structure and I couldn’t be happier. 

LBB> If you could manifest your dream commercial project in the near future, what would that look like?

Louise> It would look pretty simple and quite candid, but feel big and universal. I just love to let the seconds tick on the clock. My dream project is a relatable moment, told truthfully, but in a way that feels somewhat sophisticated even though authentic. 

To chat further, contact charlie@starlingfilm.com