A conversation with Beau Meevis
Where does the urge to create come from? That question lies at the heart of filmmaker Beau Meevis’s latest project. In “The Birth of an Artist,” he explores the motivations behind creativity in a somewhat dark way. We spoke with Beau about symbolism, Tilburg, and making a living from fiction.
“The initial idea for this film came from a number of questions I asked myself as a filmmaker,” Beau explains. “Why do I create? Why do I feel the need to create? I mean, financially speaking, it’s obviously not the most lucrative thing to do. And the competition is fierce, especially in the film industry. Those were things I regularly struggled with, and yet, at the same time, I’d find myself working on a new film anyway. So I started asking myself: where does this need to be a filmmaker come from?”
To find an answer to this, Beau spoke with artist friends. “An interesting dialogue emerged. And ultimately, the conclusion to those questions was: you’ve already sold your soul; there’s no turning back.” Anyone who finds that a bit dark has immediately captured the atmosphere of The Birth of an Artist. “It is a dark film. It starts off fairly normal, but eventually becomes more and more intense. It’s a thriller, a thriller about the creative process.”
Mental puzzle
"Birth of an Artist" tells the story of Martin, who lives his life as an artist. Through an interview, you delve into his past and discover how he became an artist in the first place. “It begins with him as a cynical architect who thinks he can make a quick buck by selling his father’s old artworks. However, the buyer leaves one of the works behind with the promise to pay Martin four times the price if he can 'solve' the artwork.” He soon becomes intrigued by this one mysterious work of art, and that’s how he takes his first steps as an artist. That makes the film into a kind of mental puzzle, but there’s also a symbolic layer beneath it.”
Viewers can certainly learn lessons from the film’s mysterious plot. “The film says a lot about creativity. What it means to be an artist, how that can change the way you think, and how the arts can bring you closer to the answers to the big questions of our existence.” Does that mean the film is also a plea for creativity? “I don’t think it’s necessarily an invitation for people walking out of the theater to start making art. But that’s mainly because it’s taken to the extreme. It is, however, a representation of how an artist’s mind works.”
Tilburg
After completing his film directing studies in Belgium, where he learned everything there is to know about the film industry, Beau returned to Tilburg, his hometown. “Ultimately, the mindset in this city really appeals to me. Creative people here connect well with one another and are especially eager to collaborate on great projects.” Beau dreams of more collaborations like this one. “I’m always on the lookout for great collaborations so I can create more fiction and put on bigger productions together. Ultimately, that’s my big dream: to make a living from fiction.”
“Birth of an Artist” will be screened on Tuesday, April 21, at Cinecitta Tilburg. The lead role is played by Joeri Happel. You can get tickets at https://shop.ikbenaanwezig.nl/tickets/event/the-birth-of-an-artist-
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