Entrevista a Johan Renck

El director sueco Johan Renck es un hombre de multiples talentos, es fotografo, pintor, trabaja en el teatro y ademas es pop star en Suecia en su banda Stakka Bo. Pero mas aya de eso Johan se ha convertido en uno de los mejores directores de la industria en europa y en estos ultimos siete años ha creado con su estilo tan particular una cantidad importantisima de comerciales y videos.

El admite que su trayectoria en la direccion ha sido lenta. Renck comenzo en el 92 firmando con la compania Sueca MeKano Film and Television. Luego en el 94 fue uno de los principales en reciente Petterson-Åkerlund, de Jonas Åkerlund y el productor Lars Petterson, esta cerro en el 2002. Ahora tiene su propia compania junto a Åkerlund, R.A.F. (Renck Åkerlund Films)

En 1999 su video para la banda Baxter’s Televison del sello Maverick (Madonna) lo ayudo a filmar su primer video internacional. Nothing Really Matters de Madonna. Naturalmente este video le abrio un monton de puertas para dirigir un monton de videos y comerciales ese año. El comercial mas renombrado fue para Nike Racing, una version de el “Smack my bitch up” de Prodigy, el cual le hizo ganar dos bronzes en Cannes.


Aquí una entrevista reciente que le hizo Director’s File (en Ingles)

Your work concentrates more on narrative filmmaking, although you've done a great metaphorical piece for Madonna "Nothing Really Matters." Is narrative more your cup of tea?

Well, I actually really like doing more conceptual stuff, but somehow it rarely feels right when push comes to shove... In my stills photography I work more like that and that has become my outlet for visually wanking off. Every now and then I do a video or an ad that way though...

Your videos and commercials are always elegantly shot and beautifully colored. Do you have people (DPs, colorists, editors) you regularly enjoy working with?

I more or less always work with the same two or three DPs when I don't shoot the job my self, I always operate one camera my self, I work with one colorist in 95% of my jobs, and the same goes for editors. The only time I don't work with my editor/colorist is when agencies think they have a better idea. However, the result is never as good.... A man of habits, as you see... Or maybe I just found my ways? Or am I just afraid of the outside world..?

"Pass This On" is one of my favorite videos of 2003. How did the concept with Rickard Engfors come about? Where was it filmed?

Glad you like it, I like it very much my self. The idea of Rickard came from the band (Karin [Dreijer] saw him in a magazine and wanted him to perform it). The concept just came up as I was setting the thing up (this was definitely a one-man-band-shoot...). I used to be a performing artist, and I always felt as if the audience hated me (which they probably did). Thus I liked the idea of creating that tension between performer/audience. I shoot it in a dingy suburb of Stockholm and literally casted it on the street in the morning of the shoot. If you look carefully you will see that the cast changes, as we had to get new people in as people became bored and left... I could only pay them five quid and coffee...

"Hung Up" was originally David LaChapelle's treatment; is that correct? If so, what did you add to (and get out of) the project?

Hung Up was originally Madonna's treatment, nothing else. La Chapelle had a go at it and I guess they didn't hit it off together. Thus I took a stab.

Which of your videos and commercials came out almost exactly as you envisioned? What do you like about them?

None. Shooting is a process and I like to go with what happens. However, often the result contains the emotion you are after, even though it came about in a different way than originally intended. The Knife video is a good example of that.

Which video shoot do you recall most fondly?

Well there is many reasons to remember a shoot, but people tend to make them most memorable. For instance, Kylie [Minogue] was so lovely both me, my DP and my first AD walked around with a strange smile for weeks after completion.

What's the most frustrating thing about doing videos or commercials?

Working for people that don't understand that they don't understand.

I haven't seen any of your videos before 1999. What of your early work should we know?

Hadn't really done any before that. Did a couple for my own music, that was about it. Madonna's "Nothing Really Matters" was the first real video I did.

Which other directors - current or not - inspire you?

Well, Gondry because I could never ever do what he does. He is great. Thus, I am very very jealous. [ed- Renck's Peugot ad City Bug is reminiscent of Michel's La Ville, though Johan notes that he was unaware of that video, and wouldn't dare copy somebody.]

What's happening with Downloading Nancy?

Looks like everything is in place and hopefully we get started in June. Our lead actress got pregnant and had twins in December, thus we have been waiting for her. However, up to now this has been a real "Lost in La Mancha"...

Are you eager to begin another feature anytime soon? And are you going to abandon music videos eventually?

I really want to do features, as I truly think that is my thing. However, I will never stop doing music videos - I love music too much for that.

Can you talk about your upcoming projects?

Well...Focusing on the film... Developing a Swedish script as well... Gonna try and record a new album in September... A video for The Knife... And a bunch of the regular stuff

Do you have any wood panelling in your home? It seems to show up a lot in your videos.

He he he... Blame my parents... Guess I grew up with it...

Aqui sus mejores videos para ver (copia el link en una nueva ventana para poder verlo)

The Knife ·· Pass This On
Madonna ·· Hung Up (director's cut)
Madonna ·· Nothing Really Matters
Robbie Williams ·· Tripping
New Order ·· Krafty
Chris Cornell ·· Can't Change Me
Suede ·· She's in Fashion
Kent ·· Karleken Vantar
The Streets ·· Dry Your Eyes