Todd Verow: Vacationland R: Todd Verow Land: USA 2005 Drehformat: MiniDV Format: Digibeta, Farbe Länge: 104 Minuten mehr Informationen

In seinem neuen Film erzählt Todd Verow die Geschichte seiner Jugend. Im Mittelpunkt der Handlung steht Joe, der, wie einst der Regisseur, in Bangor, Maine, aufwächst. Zusammen mit seiner alleinerziehenden Mutter und der älteren Schwester Theresa lebt er in den „Capehart Projects“, einer berüchtigten Sozialbausiedlung. Mit zehn Jahren wurde er sexuell missbraucht, was er aber niemandem jemals erzählt hat. Als er sich mit einem älteren Künstler
anfreundet, zieht er zu ihm, weil er hofft, mit Victors Hilfe Bangor entkommen zu können. [aus dem Panoramaprogramm]

Vacationland is a rather personal film. Is its style, filmic language etc. any different from the other films you've made?
Yes, VACATIONLAND is very different from every film I have ever made. Because it is such a personal film I had very specific images in mind and I spent a great deal of time thinking about the cinematography and lighting. My films in the past had a much harsher aestitic, which worked for those movies especially ANONYMOUS, but for this movie it had to be beautiful and dream like, not in a nostalgic way but in an almost suffocating way. Also there was no improvisation in this film, every line was scripted.

Almost 10 years ago, you stated in a kind of manifesto for Bangor films that the digital video revolution were upon us and would bring true independence for filmmakers. Now that so many of the films shown at the Berlinale are shot digitally, would you say the revolution has been accomplished, and did it turn out the way you expected? And, what's next?
Yes, I think the digital revoluton has happened and a there really can be true independence for filmmakers, if they want it. That is a big if! We made this movie on our own, me and my tiny crew and my actors. That was it. So many filmmakers think they need this star or this huge crew or big trucks or whatever for their movie to be of value, fuck that, we are doing it for love.

What's next? Well it is just going to get easier and easier to make your movie, and cheaper too. I think we are going to see theaters doing more daring things too as the chain theaters go out of business and smaller theaters crop up. I do love see movies and showing movies with an audiance. Home video, the internet, and television are going to get more interesting and connected to each other which will mean more choices and possibilities to see new and interesting movies.

Finally we're curious: did you ever make a film with your cellphone, as you mentioned in 2004?
I am still working on my cell phone movie. When you can only shoot 10 seconds at a time it takes a lot longer to make a film! I am almost done shooting it and hope to have it done soon. It is called "HOOKS TO THE LEFT" and is about prostitution.


see also the Interview with Todd Verow on Anonymous (2004)