We are proud to be supporting this years unique ÉCU Independent Film Festival in Paris and have been really lucky to interview on of this years partipants in the Student Film Category Markis Pajtler director of “A Damn Killer”. This is just one of almost 20 student films from all over the world that are part of this years ÉCU Film Festival and highly recommend you take a long hard look at the 70 films showcasing at the festival next month.
UPDATE: A Damn Killer WINS AUDIENCE AWARD At ECU Film Festival 2011
ÉCU European Independent Film Festival takes place from 1st-3rd April in Paris and you can find out more information HERE.
How did you get into filmmaking has this always been a passion?
All the time. I made the first movies with my father´s camcorder. I filmed nearly everything. Mostly stories, including my friends or some action figures. The stories changed while growing up as well as the actors, but the passion never changed.
Tell us about your films, what is your approach, how do you come up with your projects?
My movies start with ideas of pictures and dialogs. If I finally find a story interesting enough to make a film out of – our team, cinematographer, actors, producer etc. try to make it alive. It´s often my cinematographer Tony Kopec who discovers an attractive location and I create a story around it. That is just one thing that makes him irreplaceable for me.
Your film is part of the ECU Film Festival in Paris, are you excited about this?
Of course, I am. It is an honor to be selected – and I have been to Paris only once. I love the city – it´s one of the most impressive capitals of the world. When I left the city, I decided to return to Paris with a movie someday and that’s what happened. By the way I have been to Paris in February 2010, in April 2011 I will be back. Dreams come true sometimes.
What have been the challenges you have faced?
“A damn killer” was an extreme challenge for the whole team because we shot it in just three and a half days. Luckily we got the budget right the day we started to shoot the movie. The date was fixed, the money not. David Gant, who plays “the piano player” is an actor known from movies like Ghandi or Braveheart. He worked with legends like Clint Eastwood – getting him and working with him was challenging but turned out to be a great experience. He is one of the most professional and gentle actors I have ever met. I would love to work with him again.
Things are going so well for you, you feeling the pressure?
The only pressure I feel is to make a better movie, after I have finished one. I think that´s important for a filmmaker. The only pressure I feel comes from myself. We have been to Hollywood with our movie and now we are in Paris – what more can you ask for as a young filmmaker.
What do you want people to take away from your film?
I see my movies as open sources for everyone. Take what you want – a word, a frame, a song. I am not a political or educational filmmaker. I don´t want to teach something or give advices – I am 26 years old, but at least I would like people to see how much heart and work we put in our movies and how much we love cinema.
What advice would you give other filmmakers?
I made about 30 short movies, several commercials and hundreds of hours of video – but two years ago no one called me a director or filmmaker. My advice to other filmmakers at the beginning of their journey: never stop being a filmmaker – make movies – never surrender. But most important – watch movies – the best film school you can have. I always try to learn from the greatest, from the Hitchcocks, the Leones, the Tarantinos and so on. Everything is in there – you just have to find it.
Finally, what are you working on now?
I am writing the script for a feature film. My cinematographer Tony Kopec and I are dreaming of this movie for the last five years and now we want to make it. Now we are looking for producers to realize it. Maybe the ECU helps us to find them.
