A Film by Roland Wehap, 29min., Austria
Directed by Roland Wehap
The film “A Film by Roland Wehap” is a work by the filmmaker of the same name, Roland Wehap, who, as a “one-man show filmmaker,” challenges the concept itself by embarking on an extraordinary experiment: Is it possible to produce a short film with almost no budget entirely on your own?
http://a-film-by-roland-wehap.com/
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
I’m what you would normally call a “solo filmmaker” — meaning I take on the key roles in my films myself: writing, camera, directing, and editing. Since I mainly work on documentaries, that approach works quite well. Of course, even there I have a small team supporting me — but really, very small.
One day, I started wondering what it would be like to make a short fiction film in the same way. So from the very beginning, it wasn’t just an idea, but also a challenge: to do as much as possible on my own on this project.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I started writing the script eight years ago. Even though the whole project was extremely demanding to realize — since I had to take on all the roles in front of and behind the camera — that doesn’t mean I worked on it constantly.
My second personal challenge was to make the film with as little budget as possible. I didn’t want to become dependent on anyone, so I gave up on grants and other funding sources and financed everything out of my own pocket. But for those who like the film, the props are now available for purchase at inflated prices in the fan shop on the website www.a-film-by-roland-wehap.com .
Since I financed it myself, I could only work on it during breaks between other commercial projects.
Looking back, I think that actually benefited the film. Letting things rest, taking your time — after a year or two, you suddenly see the story in a different light and can refine it.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Don’t quit.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
There were several obstacles along the way, but the biggest one was probably perseverance. Writing a script is relatively easy, but the moment you start thinking about how to actually make it — especially alone and with almost no budget — that’s when the moment of truth arrives.
It was perhaps less an obstacle and more a fear: that I might never be able to finish this film.
When it was almost done, I had to leave for an extended commercial shoot in Africa. And I remember thinking, it would be really stupid to get eaten by a lion now, just before the finish line.
So I actually wrote a will, outlining exactly what still needed to be done — and who should do it. Fortunately, the lion didn’t eat me, and I was able to finish the film myself.
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Of course, I was happy that people enjoyed the film. But what pleased me even more was that the hidden messages I had woven into it also came across. It’s not just a satire or a comedy — there’s a lot of truth in it.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Very early on — that’s actually part of the story in the film, and it’s true. My father used to make family movies on 8mm film. When I was sixteen, I grabbed the camera, bought a film cartridge, and two weeks later, when the developed film arrived in the mail and ran through the projector for the first time — I was hooked.
At first, it was just a hobby, but I absorbed everything I could learn about filmmaking. Back then, it wasn’t as easy as it is today with the internet. So I never went to film school — it was all learning by doing.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
That really depends on how you look at the question. Realistically, my own films — because before they’re finished, you watch them so many times, over and over again, that by the end you can’t stand to see them anymore. I also don’t like watching my older films, because I just get annoyed by all the mistakes I see in them.
But if we’re talking about films I actually enjoy watching multiple times, then it’s the ones by Tarantino, Scorsese, and Herzog.
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
You’re already doing a lot of things right. Of course, it’s nice to get a laurel or even win an award. But I see filmmaking as a constant process of developing one’s own skills — and in that sense, feedback is incredibly important.
Most of the time, you only get an automated response or, at best, a polite form letter. But honest feedback helps you grow. When it’s positive, it makes you happy and motivates you to keep going; when it’s negative, you learn from your mistakes.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
FilmFreeway is a great platform. In the past, I had to burn DVDs and mail them — which was also an added cost on top of the submission fees. Of course, there are other platforms, but given the sheer number of festivals out there, I’ve stuck with FilmFreeway; otherwise, it’s easy to lose track.
10. What is your favorite meal?
No particular dish — but Thai cuisine in general. I like it hot.
11. What is next for you? A new film?
That’s a question I get a lot — and I don’t really have a clear answer to it. First of all, there are commercial projects, because that’s how I make my living. Whether there will soon be another short film like this one, or perhaps a continuation of the project, I can’t say.
In general, though, I believe the world doesn’t need a new Roland Wehap film every year. There’s simply too much content out there, no matter where you look — and it’s not always the best. Sometimes, less is more.
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