Dirk van den Berg
Encyclopedia
Dirk van den Berg is a German film director
and producer
.
He left Germany shortly after his high school degree and went to Italy, where he began to study history of music and dramaturgy at the Sapienza University of Rome. For several years, he worked as a drama and opera director with various Italian and European theaters and opera houses. Subsequently, he graduated in producing and directing at the Silvio d’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts and Film in Rome, where he was one of the last students educated by Italian veteran writer and scholar Andrea Camilleri
. Shortly before his graduation, he was offered the chance to shoot his first feature film in Moscow, which he wrote together with Russian novel writer Vladimir Makanin
as the first of a series of films about the reality of the dying Soviet Union and the transformation into the Russian Federation. In spite of the film's success, the series was never produced. Van den Berg decided to hurl himself into the real world of filmmaking and began a parallel career as a Line Producer
. He took care of many international projects, directed various movies and series episodes and eventually started also to write and produce films.
In 2006, he moved back to Germany and started working for a Munich and London based movie production company. His first film as a producer was the American-German co-production Steel Trap, a thriller directed by Mexican-American newcomer Luis Camara. After he left the company in 2009, he associate produced and in part filmed the feature documentary "Generation 9/11", directed by Scottish-American Academy Award winner Nigel Noble
and based on the work of German politician, philanthropist and writer Jürgen Todenhöfer
.
In 2010, van den Berg founded the new production company OutreMer Film in Berlin which aims to produce films with and in the Middle East. The first project Seam of Desire, an investigation into the hidden sexuality of Arabic women, was supposed to be shot in Damascus
, Syria: it had to be suspended due to the situation in Syria project trailer here. Other projects include a film about German diplomat and adventurer Wilhelm Wassmuss
, who led Persian tribesmen against the English in world War I.
Since January 2011, Dirk van den Berg is working as the Creative Producer for LOOKS Film Produktion on "The Great War Diary", a landmark documentary series about World War I
that is due in 2014 project trailer here.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
.
He left Germany shortly after his high school degree and went to Italy, where he began to study history of music and dramaturgy at the Sapienza University of Rome. For several years, he worked as a drama and opera director with various Italian and European theaters and opera houses. Subsequently, he graduated in producing and directing at the Silvio d’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts and Film in Rome, where he was one of the last students educated by Italian veteran writer and scholar Andrea Camilleri
Andrea Camilleri
Andrea Camilleri is an Italian writer.-Biography:Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri, began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories.From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio...
. Shortly before his graduation, he was offered the chance to shoot his first feature film in Moscow, which he wrote together with Russian novel writer Vladimir Makanin
Vladimir Makanin
Vladimir Semyonovich Makanin is a Russian writer. - Life :Makanin is a writer of novels and short stories. He graduated from Moscow State University and worked as a mathematician in the Military Academy until the early 1960s. In 1963 he took a course in scriptwriting, and then worked in the...
as the first of a series of films about the reality of the dying Soviet Union and the transformation into the Russian Federation. In spite of the film's success, the series was never produced. Van den Berg decided to hurl himself into the real world of filmmaking and began a parallel career as a Line Producer
Line producer
A line producer is the key manager during the daily operations of a motion picture production.The line producer supports the vision given by the director but does not have direct influence on the creative expression or narrative of the film....
. He took care of many international projects, directed various movies and series episodes and eventually started also to write and produce films.
In 2006, he moved back to Germany and started working for a Munich and London based movie production company. His first film as a producer was the American-German co-production Steel Trap, a thriller directed by Mexican-American newcomer Luis Camara. After he left the company in 2009, he associate produced and in part filmed the feature documentary "Generation 9/11", directed by Scottish-American Academy Award winner Nigel Noble
Nigel Noble
Nigel Noble is an English sound mixer, film director and producer. He won an Academy Award in 1982 for Close Harmony in the category of Documentary Short Subject...
and based on the work of German politician, philanthropist and writer Jürgen Todenhöfer
Jürgen Todenhöfer
Jürgen Todenhöfer is a German executive, author and former politician.Todenhöfer studied law at the universities of Munich, Paris, Bonn and Freiburg. He graduated as a doctor of law in 1969 and worked as a judge from 1972 on...
.
In 2010, van den Berg founded the new production company OutreMer Film in Berlin which aims to produce films with and in the Middle East. The first project Seam of Desire, an investigation into the hidden sexuality of Arabic women, was supposed to be shot in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Syria: it had to be suspended due to the situation in Syria project trailer here. Other projects include a film about German diplomat and adventurer Wilhelm Wassmuss
Wilhelm Wassmuss
Wilhelm Wassmuss was a German diplomat, also known as the "Wassmuss of Persia". He attempted to foment trouble for the British in the Persian Gulf in the First World War.- Birth and schooling :...
, who led Persian tribesmen against the English in world War I.
Since January 2011, Dirk van den Berg is working as the Creative Producer for LOOKS Film Produktion on "The Great War Diary", a landmark documentary series about World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
that is due in 2014 project trailer here.
Filmography (selection)
- The Great War Diary (2013), creative producer, 4/8x52' internationally co-produced series
- Seams of Desire (2011), producer, director: to be announced
- Generation 9/11 (2010), associate producer; director: Nigel Noble
- Separation City (2009), line producer; director: Paul Middleditch
- I, Don Giovanni (2008), line producer (and music coordinator); director: Carlos Saura
- Steel Trap (2007), producer; director: Luis Camara
- The Holy Family (2006), line producer and liaison Jordan; director: Raffaele Mertes
- The Grooming (2005), line producer; director: John Irvin
- Le Fugitif (2004), director: line producer (France); director: Andrea Manni
- The Lives of the Saints (2004), action director; director: Jerry Ciccoriti
- The Prey (2005), line producer; director: Curtis Radclyffe
- Access Denied (TV) (2000); director: Dirk van den Berg
- Mort Programmé (2000), action director; director: Hajo Gies
- Il Cielo sotto il Deserto (1998) line producer; director: Alberto Negrin
- Nicolao Dalle Pomarance (TV) (2003–2004); director: Dirk van den Berg
- Russian Times (TV) (1993); director and co-writer: Dirk van den Berg
External links
- profile at the Internet Movie Database
- profile at German film people website Crew United
- personal homepage http://www.dirkvandenberg.com
- production company homepage OutreMer Film