MaX Dali - Smokers and non believers
8:00, 2006Even in this newly divided world they don’t get along, but so far no serious accidents have happened. Smokers and Non-Believers is a short film about extremism, situated in a world where narrow mindedness has won the war.
DirectorMax Dali
CountryNetherlandsEdition2006
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Who is MaX Dali?
On finishing my bachelor degree in Economics in 1997, I travelled for one year through South-East Asia followed by three years working as a software engineer back home again. Then after a nine month sabbatical through Canada and the USA, my creative ambitions and my degree finally came together in 2003 when I started MaXDali Productions. I’m almost 30 years old and happily living together with my girl and two children.
Smokers and Non-believers is about...
Smokers and Non-Believers’ is a short film about extremism, in a world where narrow mindedness has won the war.
Financing your movie?
The project was submitted for Kort! 2005 which is organized by the Dutch Film Fund and the NPS. The event is supposed to select ten short film projects creating a mix of experienced and new filmmakers. Sadly as an unknown filmmaker you have very little chance to be selected. So it wasn’t really a big surprise when the film was not selected. With the help of the cast and crew, who agreed to work for just travel expenses, and a lot of support of companies giving discounts, we could complete this film for little over 1500 euros. A complete credit list can be found in the online Press Kit (pdf) at Smokers and non-believers.
Influences?
Not really one particular influence. Movies like ’Delicatessen’ (1991) and ’The Animatrix’ (2003), the book series like ’The Dark Tower’ by Stephen King and the book ’House of Leaves’ by Mark Z. Danielewski probably all have had their influence.
Individual film making or co-operation?
Both have their advantages and their disadvantages. I have no specific preference. Making a film with a team can be very rewarding. When everybody is working towards the same goal, ideas pop up, creativity is sparkling and all egos disappear. However it does take some effort to find the right people at the right place and the right time. Timetables have to be compared and agenda’s have to be adapted.
When making a film by yourself, you don’t have that kind of problems to solve. You plan your own agenda. You don’t have to communicate any change of plans. You don’t have to consult your cameraman whether or not the shot is possible. You’ll figure it out by yourself. On the other hand, try making a full length feature by yourself and you’ll probably be busy for the next 50 years.
I found out that I like writing and directing best. Producing the project is not my favorite but it comes with the territory. So if anybody is out there who things ’Production’ is the best, give me call.
Plans and dreams...
I’ve been working on another short called ’My father’. It’s about a father who deals in a rather unusual way with the current ’corruption’ of society. The project was again submitted to Kort! And again the project was not selected. The script is a little gem and definitely worth the effort making a film of. Depending on finance and availability of the cast and crew it’s either going in to production this June or otherwise in the beginning of next year.
In the far future I’d like to make a feature film. I’ve been working on a script and I’m half way. So who knows in a couple of years?
Did you ever had another ambition in life than to become a filmmaker?
Technically speaking no. I’ve always been wondering about what I should do as a profession and wanting to become a filmmaker is actually the first concrete ambition I’ve had.
All other remarks
On the website Smokers and Non Believers you can also find a Press Kit and an interview held in September 2005.
< overview
CountryNetherlandsEdition2006
< overview
Interview
On finishing my bachelor degree in Economics in 1997, I travelled for one year through South-East Asia followed by three years working as a software engineer back home again. Then after a nine month sabbatical through Canada and the USA, my creative ambitions and my degree finally came together in 2003 when I started MaXDali Productions. I’m almost 30 years old and happily living together with my girl and two children.
Smokers and Non-believers is about...
Smokers and Non-Believers’ is a short film about extremism, in a world where narrow mindedness has won the war.
Financing your movie?
The project was submitted for Kort! 2005 which is organized by the Dutch Film Fund and the NPS. The event is supposed to select ten short film projects creating a mix of experienced and new filmmakers. Sadly as an unknown filmmaker you have very little chance to be selected. So it wasn’t really a big surprise when the film was not selected. With the help of the cast and crew, who agreed to work for just travel expenses, and a lot of support of companies giving discounts, we could complete this film for little over 1500 euros. A complete credit list can be found in the online Press Kit (pdf) at Smokers and non-believers.
Influences?
Not really one particular influence. Movies like ’Delicatessen’ (1991) and ’The Animatrix’ (2003), the book series like ’The Dark Tower’ by Stephen King and the book ’House of Leaves’ by Mark Z. Danielewski probably all have had their influence.
Individual film making or co-operation?
Both have their advantages and their disadvantages. I have no specific preference. Making a film with a team can be very rewarding. When everybody is working towards the same goal, ideas pop up, creativity is sparkling and all egos disappear. However it does take some effort to find the right people at the right place and the right time. Timetables have to be compared and agenda’s have to be adapted.
When making a film by yourself, you don’t have that kind of problems to solve. You plan your own agenda. You don’t have to communicate any change of plans. You don’t have to consult your cameraman whether or not the shot is possible. You’ll figure it out by yourself. On the other hand, try making a full length feature by yourself and you’ll probably be busy for the next 50 years.
I found out that I like writing and directing best. Producing the project is not my favorite but it comes with the territory. So if anybody is out there who things ’Production’ is the best, give me call.
Plans and dreams...
I’ve been working on another short called ’My father’. It’s about a father who deals in a rather unusual way with the current ’corruption’ of society. The project was again submitted to Kort! And again the project was not selected. The script is a little gem and definitely worth the effort making a film of. Depending on finance and availability of the cast and crew it’s either going in to production this June or otherwise in the beginning of next year.
In the far future I’d like to make a feature film. I’ve been working on a script and I’m half way. So who knows in a couple of years?
Did you ever had another ambition in life than to become a filmmaker?
Technically speaking no. I’ve always been wondering about what I should do as a profession and wanting to become a filmmaker is actually the first concrete ambition I’ve had.
All other remarks
On the website Smokers and Non Believers you can also find a Press Kit and an interview held in September 2005.
< overview
