It’s so good when we see a prize winner at the Young Director’s Award in Cannes go on to make another cracking commercial professionally. Christian Mielmann who picked up the 2nd prize for European film school with his filmic spot for Tuborg went on to shoot this delight for DKV out of Ogilvy Frankfurt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZgP0CK_RHQ
Tell us about your background?
I studied Commercial Directing at the Film Academy Baden-Wuerttemberg. The Tuborg ad was my last commercial after five years of study.
What would the ideal script be for your first job?
I’ve now done a few real jobs. But It’s all about stories. The ads must be like a good feature film work with the combination of strong images and a good story. That’s what I like.
Tell us then about your latest commercial for DKV.
Long before I shot DKV I visited the agency Ogilvy in Frankfurt. They knew my work from YDA Award in Cannes and the Porsche Award. Of course, that was good for me. I won the pitch, probably also because of the Tuborg ad.
So was there was a lot of work to make the idea into an entertaining commercial?
The original board was not like that. Fortunately the agency was open to changes I was able to contribute own ideas. So we filmed four funny vignettes. I still like this commercial. It’s a good story and so true!
It was the first time that I got an email from an agency after the shooting thanking me and they talk about a very positive response! Wow, that was wonderful.
Are you signed to a production company now? Where are you based now?
I live in Berlin now, after almost five years in Ludwigsburg, the most creative city in Germany!
In Hamburg I work with the Erste Liebe and in Berlin with Mr. Bob Films and in Munich with E+P commercial but not exclusively.
What were the key lessons you learnt from directing Tuborg?
Being prepared is always good! Once on the set there is no more time to prepare and everyone wants to know what to do.
What were the main challenges of the Tuborg shoot?
In our film for Tuborg we had to find 23 actors! That was hard, but also fun. We had bad luck with the location. Except for the hospital, all locations were canceled. That was really hard for all of us, especially for the art department and DOP. After the shooting, we looked for months for the perfect music, having spent a long time on the wrong track.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about filmmaking?
Be always good prepared!
Which part of the production process did you enjoy the most?
The first day of shooting.
How would you sum up your directing style?
My directing style? Well, I’d like to work with actors. Timeless, simple but well detailed with always a pinch of humor.
What would you like to be doing in five years time?
In five years I’d like to be filming only the commercials that suit me. Yes in five years time I want to be an old director!
