'Our film stood out for its theatricality'
- Theatre
- Education in Art
Directing a film as a student, winning numerous awards and being screened at an international film festival: it happened to Jort Ploos van Amstel, fourth-year student at the bachelor's course Artisteducator in Theatre & Media in Zwolle. What knowledge did Jort gain on this course contribute to this success? And how does he see his role as an artist educator?
Jort’s love for filmmaking began at an early age. “As a young boy, I often made videos with my cousins on a tablet. I also regularly watched tutorials on YouTube to learn more about filmmaking. And whenever I had to give a presentation in secondary school, I always incorporated film", he explains.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if Jort had chosen a course focused purely on audiovisual studies. “However, I wasn’t just passionate about film; I also had a strong interest in theatre, and I didn’t want to lose that ‘theatre element’. Moreover, I enjoy working collaboratively in the creative process. So, I was looking for a playful course that would give me plenty of freedom.”
Following your own path
Jort feels that freedom in the bachelor's course Artisteducator in Theatre & Media. “What’s great about this course is that you’re not forced into a ‘mould’. Instead, you receive guidance to further explore your own interests and develop your strengths.”
Jort shares that using film within performances is certainly encouraged by the lecturers. “My final research project even focuses on how film and theatre can merge. I’m exploring this through four creative projects. For example, I created a theatre scene where a film was made live on stage with a live camera. The audience not only saw the film but also how the result was achieved with the actors, fans blowing, and lights mimicking passing cars. The audience really appreciated that ‘layered’ approach.”
Jort gives another example: “Together with my fellow student Ilse Lenstra, I’m making a film about everyday love. In this project, we use a lot of theatre techniques. For instance, we filmed scenes without cuts, but we also employed film techniques. We shot actors in front of green screens and built miniature rooms, so later it would look as though the actors were living in those rooms.”
Collaboration
The miniature rooms were made by Fenna van Wees, a student from the bachelor's course Graphic Design at ArtEZ. Jort explains that the bachelor's course Artisteducator in Theatre & Media shares a building with various visual arts courses. “This allows you to meet people from other artistic disciplines, which can sometimes lead to valuable collaborations.”
Niemand Weet (Nobody Knows)
Another part of his final research project is the award-winning film for the 48 Hour Film Project in Arnhem. “In this project, different teams are tasked with making a short film within 48 hours. You’re required to include various given elements, such as a genre, character, line of dialogue, or object,” Jort explains. “We started from scratch with a group of twelve people. We brainstormed together about the concept, after which a core team wrote the script. Then the entire crew began the production process.”
The result was the film Niemand Weet, in which a conspiracy theorist and a student suspect that a teacher is an alien. “When the film was first shown, I could hear the audience laughing throughout,” says Jort. “I hadn’t expected the film to be so well received. That made my day!”
It got even better when the team won a truckload of awards, including Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Script, and the Audience Award. “We even won the prize for Best Film,” says Jort. “And the film will be screened at the international festival Filmapalooza in Seattle.”
Knowledge gained from the course
The jury and audience were particularly enthusiastic about the film’s ‘theatricality’, Jort says. “During my course, I’ve learned a lot about various creative methods, directing, and writing. I applied that knowledge when making Niemand Weet.”
He continues: “As an artisteducator, you also learn how to work with groups, which came in handy. Fellow students, writers, and producers Ilse Lenstra, Robby Hoesenie, and I thought it was very important for us and the crew to meet and get to know each other a bit. So, we went out to eat with everyone before we started working.”
Jort also credits his internship as an assistant director at LINEA REKTA in Zwolle, which he did as part of his course, for helping him hone his directing skills. “But I mainly learned about the technical aspects of filmmaking—such as lighting, camera work, editing, sound design, and colour grading—through projects I initiated myself, outside of the course.”
Connection
What are Jort’s plans after graduation? “I want to keep learning and exploring, especially as a director,” he says. “In addition, I’ll be performing the show Het Mooiste Geluid (The Most Beautiful Sound) with Ilse Lenstra and Marit Nygård at secondary schools. We travelled around Europe, asking different people what they thought was the most beautiful sound. We then used their stories to create an interdisciplinary performance that combines film, music, and theatre. In today’s world, people are often divided. Art, including film, is a powerful tool for bringing people together. As an artist-educator, I want to contribute to that connection, both inside and outside education.”
Advice for students
Finally, does Jort have any advice for (aspiring) students? “Are you expressive, do you like making your own choices, and are you interested in theatre, media, film, and education? Then definitely consider applying to the selection process for the Artisteducator in Theatre & Media course! It’s a fantastic place to experiment and develop yourself.”
