Michael Engelbrecht
How long have you been in the industry and how did you get started?
I started about a year and a half ago when I decided to enrol at The Film School in Wellington. Up until that point, I had looked into other careers and tried different courses, but nothing really seemed right for me. I then started thinking seriously about working in the film industry. I had very little technical knowledge at that time and knew nothing about how the industry actually worked, but The Film School prepared me well for working in the real world. It was an intensive crash course on all aspects of the filmmaking industry, and I found myself drawn to camera and lighting. The balance between technicality and creativity is just right for me. I own numerous cameras now and honestly can’t imagine life without one.
Why did you choose film/TV as a career?
I have been interested in films for years, but my passion came when I started learning about how films are really made and how the industry actually works. There are some aspects that stand out to me, and I love the freedom that this kind of industry provides. Travel is important to me, and this line of work has the potential to take me anywhere in the world. I have learned that no two jobs are ever the same. Every day is different, exciting, and brings a new set of challenges to overcome and learn from. Finally, the short contract nature of the work keeps me on my toes. I am always actively looking for new projects to work on and trying out new things to keep me moving forward.
What has working experience taught you that study didn’t?
The most important lesson that experience has taught me is that it is all about people. You cannot make a film with only one person. At times there can be hundreds of people working together to bring a single vision into actuality, and needless to say, there are many times when not everyone agrees on what that vision should be. You need to learn to work and get along with every kind of person, whether that means taking charge, letting someone else take charge, or a compromise somewhere in between. It often isn’t easy, but it is vital to making a project be the best it can be.
Are you able to make a living in the industry? Do you work outside of it at all?
As of yet, I have had little paid work in the industry. I keep myself busy with projects as much as I can (usually low-budget short films and other projects of that nature), but I do have a day job to keep me going each week. It is always a struggle finding time to make the money I need while finding time to pursue the work I would rather be doing.
I am fortunate that my day job is fairly flexible, and it also sits on the edge of the film industry out in Miramar, so creative environment. even when I am not working on set, I am still immersed in a creative department.
What have you learnt about your department as a whole? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your department?
I have learnt that with the right camera work and lighting then anything is possible as long as you work hard to make it happen. The 'bad workman blames his tools' analogy fits in well here, especially among inexperienced filmmakers who put far too much emphasis on the camera instead of using camera and lighting to complement each other. Without light, the camera is useless, so knowing how to use light effectively is crucial in creating a good image, regardless of what camera is being used. I regard this as a strength because it means there is always more to learn. You are learning new things every day and refining your skills. Steer clear from anyone who thinks they know it all.
How easy or hard is it as a newbie in the industry? What are attitudes of other crew like to you?
At the moment it is rather hard getting started in the industry but I have found that it is due to the amount of work available and the competition for it, rather than the attitudes of other crew. The majority I have spoken to or worked with (both students and industry professionals) are very supportive of us newbies and are always willing to lend a helping hand when the opportunity arises. I appreciate that I would not even be where I am now without the support of so many talented people that all made the effort to help me.
What strengths do you think the NZ industry has? What could contribute to a more sustainable industry?
As well as the ‘can do’ attitude that is shared by most people in NZ a lot of people I have met simply love what they are doing, even if it means making films for no pay. This is a big part of how local stories continue to be told. Local films would have a much harder time being made if we did not want to make them. I think we are on the right track but we need to push this further. We need to make sure that NZ stories, both features and shorts, get the proper exposure in the media that they need. I am often hard pressed to walk into a cinema and find more than one NZ film screening, which is tragic because if the NZ public aren’t watching these films then who is?
