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Your new movie
Babystar - in a few words, what's it about?
Babystar is a
satirical drama about 16-year-old Luca, an influencer who has been the
star of her parents' family social media business since birth. When her
parents decide to have another baby to create new content and revenue,
Luca falls into a deep crisis. She realizes how little of her own identity
actually belongs to her and tries to break free from this commercialized
existence. What were your sources of inspiration when writing
Babystar? And to what extent
does the film mirror your own feelings about internet fame?
I’ve always been fascinated by how technology alters our relationships. As
an early adopter, it’s a recurring theme in my work. The initial spark was
simply the idea of a child suing their parents, which evolved
significantly over time. A lot of the inspiration came directly from real
videos we found online—like promoting a beauty product right up until the
moment of giving birth. We adapted some of those almost one-to-one.
As for my own feelings, I think social media acts as a mirror for late
capitalism's promise that anyone can get rich. We scroll through feeds looking for the
life we don’t have. Luca isn't just a daughter; she's an economic asset to her
parents. I’d love for us as a society to become more critical, detach from these
platforms, and actively shape this massive social experiment rather than just watching it.
What can you tell us about
Babystar's co-writer
Nicole Ruthers, and what was your collaboration with her like?
Nicole Rüthers and I met at our university and we developed the screenplay
together. We had to dive deep into the grotesque and often absurd reality of family
vlogging to find the right balance between drama and satire.
Do talk about
Babystar's brand of satire!
Some might call the film a satire, but honestly, we are probably too close
to reality to use that label. It’s a mélange. When you look at how some
tech CEOs speak in real life, it’s often more grotesque and clear in its
calculation than anything we could invent. The film plays with that cold,
transactional reality where human connection is commodified, and
self-worth is tied entirely to generating money.
A few words about your overall directorial approach to your story
at hand? Because it's a self-contained world, I wanted to create a strong, distinct
visual language with a slightly cold aesthetic. Influencers often live
very withdrawn, private lives to protect themselves, creating a sterile
"golden cage" that consists mostly of facades. Because we had to be very
efficient with our budget, a lot of the shoot took place indoors, which
perfectly served this concept.
What can you tell us about
Babystar's cast, and
why exactly these people?
We have an incredible ensemble led by Maja Bons as Luca, along with Bea
Brocks, Liliom Lewald, Joy Ewulu, Maximilian Mundt, and Verena
Altenberger. Maja perfectly captured the internal crisis of someone
realizing their entire life is a performance. I was very blessed by all of
my actors. Do talk about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere!
It was a very focused, highly efficient shoot, largely dictated by the
realities of our budget. The on-set atmosphere was fun, especially when
Maja, Bea and Liliom were acting together. They were constantly chatting
and playing around. Even when the films atmosphere feels quite heavy
sometimes, shooting it felt light.
The $64-question of course, where can
Babystar be seen?
Babystar will be
released on September 25th in selected cinemas!
What got you into filmmaking in the first place, and did you
receive any formal training on the subject?
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Actually I wanted to become a photographer when I was a kid. Before film,
I did vocational training as an electronics technician for devices and
systems. Later, I worked managing creators at the YouTube network
TubeOne
and as a production assistant at Iconoclast Germany. I started my formal
studies in directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in
2017—Babystar is actually my diploma film. Along the way, I also completed
a program at La Fémis in Paris and a masterclass at UCLA Extension.
Do talk about your filmwork prior to
Babystar!
Before this, I directed Pornfluencer, a documentary
feature about a couple making a fortune with amateur porn on social media,
which premiered at DOK.fest München and had a theatrical run in
2022. The themes of internet culture and commodified intimacy definitely
bleed into Babystar I’ve also
done short films and music videos, like "Nostalgic Love" for the band
Bergfilm.
Thanks for the interview! < |
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