Pieter Van Campe

Cinematographer

“ TRY TO APPROACH EVERY DAY ON YOUR WORK WITH LOVE AND PASSION AND BE NICE TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU”

Photo by Thomas Nolf

Hi, how are you?

Hello, I’m a bit tired and upside down at the moment. I’m just back from a 6 day round trip to Hainan, China for a film festival. So I guess I’m enjoying a double jetlag at the moment. But it was worth it, such an amazing experience! It was my first time there and for me it’s like and other world. But overall I’m good and thank you by the way, for inviting me in Ambras magazine!

Thank you for doing the interview! How have the last few months been? Any exciting projects or travels?

The last months were kind of tricky, I was supposed to shoot a feature film, but it got postponed to next year. There were some problems to get the project completely financed. So I’m really hoping they can figure it out so we can shoot in 2025 because I really believe in the project. Other than that, I got the chance to shoot the Promo / Trailer movie for the next Oostende Film festival in 2025. It was a lovely experience to work together with Charlotte Vandermeersch as Master of the festival and Ann-Julie Vervaecke as director.

I traveled to Sevilla Film festival with ‘Young Hearts’ directed by Anthony Schatteman and to China with ‘Ultraviolet’ directed by Veerle De Wilde. So I’m very grateful for those opportunities and nice moments!

Wow! That’s sounds great! You're a cinematographer. What’s your favourite aspect of it?

For me it’s definitely the combination of two things. First you have to team up and work very closely with a director. They all want to tell a story, it’s about people, relationships, the real things in life I guess. Those things are not controllable, sometimes they arise sometimes not. If they arise on set we have to catch them!

The second thing is all the technical and logistic factors around it. The lighting, the framing, coverage, how do you approach a movie, what style does fit the project the most ? I think, if you manage it as a cinematographer to make these two things fit. You’re on the doing a good job.

How do you balance your time between cinematography and photography?

For me, cinematography is definitely my pasion, it’s my job. But as a cinematographer, you always work together with a director. The director is the captain of the ship, you can work as close as possible together but you always work in support of somebody else. That’s the reason why I like to do some small photography projects on the side. Sometimes I want to be the captain on my own little ship.

What’s your go-to equipment or tool you always have with you?

I don’t care to much about gear, I like to switch a bit. Last years I shot projects on Arri Alexa, Red, Sony, some projects on 16mm. If I use the same gear for to long, I got a bit bored. I think it’s important, for every new project, chose the equipment that fits the project the most. But I have to admit, a proper project on 35mm sounds very nice.

Photo by Alexander Dhiet

How does it feel to have your work selected for a film festival?

I think it’s lovely, not only for me for the whole crew and specially for the directors. We jump from one project to another, but the directors give some years of their lives to a project. So it’s the directors who diserve the attention and the applause on film festivals!

Do you prefer working on set or behind the camera in your own time?

The projects I do need a lot of preparation and a lot of people to make it work. In my own time, I prefer to do some sports, take some photos, see friends...

How do you stay inspired and come up with new ideas for your projects?

I have this little list on my phone, if someone tells me or I read about a nice book,Expo or movie. I write it down and try to check it out. For example, a few weeks ago I went to a Harry Gruyaert expo in Antwerp. Afterwards I watch a documentary film about him. Those kind of things are a true inspiration for me. At the moment I’m reading the new Sally Rooney roman ‘Intermezzo'

What’s your favourite movie or show that you’ve seen recently?

At the Gent film festival I really liked ‘L’amour Ouf’ directed by Gilles Lellouche and ‘Bird’ directed by Andrea Arnold. Two completely different movies but both lovely. Recently I also saw the TV show ‘The Offer’ it’s based on the memories of the producer who made the first Godfather movie. So a TV show about the film industry, for me it’s super entertaining, funny and well made.

Thanks for the recommendations! What’s one project you haven’t worked on yet but would love to do in the future?

I don’t have any specific dreams or desires about that. For me, if I have a vibe with the director and the idea or script is great, it’s a go for me. And of course it’s always nice to have a proper budget to make it work.

You have an exciting project coming out. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

Absolutely, last summer I shot a feature film ‘Young Hearts’ directed by Anthony Schatteman. I think it’s the project I’m the most proud of. It’s his own personal story about his struggle with his sexuality as a kid. We really put or heart and everything we got in the movie and I’m so happy about the result. During the last years of working together, we became really good friends so I wish him all the best and a lot of visitors in the cinemas !

That’s sounds amazing! When will people be able to see the movie?

From December the 18th, in all cinemas in Belgium!

We will definitely go watch it! Tell us something to inspire the culture!

Hmmmm, I guess, try to approach every day on your work with love and passion and be nice to the people around you.

I think I’m very bad in inventing those kind of lines, hahaha. But thanks for having me, it was a pleasure!