Hey I’m Lukas – the German outpost of FilmTiki. Currently I’m studying Communication and Cultural Management in Friedrichshafen in the south of Germany, and have been a passionate filmmaker for many years. Combining my dedication to film with my studies, in June 2008 I began my internship at FilmTiki. By helping to design the research assignments and discussing the film industry all day I was able to gain more of an understanding of the world of online film distribution and promotion. Now my work with FilmTiki is project-dependent – I am currently collaborating with other FilmTiki members to make films for promoting the platform and in May 2009 I will join Iris and Matthew on the film festival tour to promote FilmTiki.
In 2004 I co-founded the “Xineart Filmproduktion”, a two-man production company, which produces all kinds of promotional videos for companies. We used the money earned from these videos to make our own short, documentary and feature films. Through our own film projects I experienced how film production can be both hell and a huge satisfaction. But when you are finished making your film, it all begins again with distribution and promotion. Through my work at FilmTiki I got a new perspective on what is possible now by using online channels to distribute and promote your film. That has helped a lot!
Recently I have finished a documentary film about life in a Texan hospice, where I worked as a caregiver for almost a year: “If you’re feeling KIND OF HEALTHY you’ll make it!” The film tells the story of the people who live in the hospice, facing death but enjoying life more than ever. Most of those who enter the hospice die within the first 4 months, but one of them felt ‘kind of healthy’. It’s a controversial topic but the film just shows and tells the story of the people without trying to judge about them or their situation.
I love to watch all kinds of films. My all-time favourites include films from all genres, which results in a long list. Some of my favourites are “Old Boy”, “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Rear Window”, “Cinema Paradiso”, “Man on Fire”, “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “Memento”, “Darwin’s Nightmare”, and many German movies which you won’t be able to see because they never got an international distribution. Too bad…
