Page 82 - The Bite Magazine - Issue 11

With two films currently in the pipeline, Jada Brookes gets into
the mind of London-based director Pascal Bergamin and looks
at his career in films.
bitedirectorprofile
H is first film Nice Guy featured a cast of relevantly well-
known British drama actors and touched on what could
happen when an unemployed stay-at-home dad starts
venturing out at night and gets befriended by a group of petty
criminals and strippers. A story written by and starring Cavan
Clerkin from Pulling and The Inbetweeners fame, director Pascal
Bergamin took us on a compelling journey of someone who gets
implicated in a murder, finds himself indebted to a psychotic
gangster and then drawn into a world of violence that threatens
both his life and his family’s safety. After studying film at the
University of Arts in Zurich, Switzerland from 2001 to 2005, the
director moved to London where he now works as a freelance
writer and director. His interest in films stems from the age of 13
when he began experimenting with a film camera given to his dad
by his workplace. “At the time, I didn’t have any editing facilities,
so everything had to be done by camera. If a scene didn’t work
out the way I wanted it to, I had to rewind the tape and shoot it
again. I made a few short films, mainly casting friends and family.”
Growing up in the small town of Davos in Switzerland, Pascal had
no access to professional filmmakers or media companies but one
thing it did have was an amazing cinema. “I watched everything
I could. From Hollywood to obscure foreign art house films. I
clearly remember watching the first Dogma film The Celebration
thinking: If these guys can make such powerful films without lights
on a small video camera, relying on whatever is available then
nothing can stop you from making films. It was refreshing to see
that great films could be made with semi-professional equipment
and still end up on a big screen.The Dogma movement certainly
inspired me to make more films in my teens.” Pascal tells us
that he is influenced by everything he has ever watched from
Baywatch to Bergman and adds, “Inspiration can come from
anywhere, but I tend to find it’s almost always found in something
unexpected.” When asked what makes a cutting edge and
successful director, he gave us a very light-hearted answer: “If I
knew, I would write a book called ‘How to become a cutting edge
and successful director’. Make millions from selling it and invest
the money in my next film.”
In his experience, one of the most enjoyable and rewarding
moments in making a film is the screening of a film. “There’s
nothing more enjoyable or sometimes painful than showing your
film. For me it’s the moment where I can finally let go of a film,
celebrate the hard work and move onto the next project. If the
film gets a mixed or bad reception, I treat it more like a funeral
where everyone gathers to say goodbye, grieve and honour
Bergamin Pascal