'What matters is a good story'

Dimitri Declercq, director, executive producer, adapter/dialogue writer, foreign producer and co-producer, is known for his 'My Conversations on Film' (1998).

A Belgian native, Declercq grew up in the Middle East before majoring in film direction and production at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Declercq has been in news after his 'You Go To My Head' (YGTMH) hit the screens last year and was widely acclaimed.

A special invitee for the 10th Bengaluru International Film Festival, Declercq shared his ideas on filmmaking and admitted that his fascination with the desert led him to produce several award-winning films set in desolate environments.

Unlike many other filmmakers, Declercq is obsessed with locations. "For me locations yield many moviemaking ideas," he says. Taj Mahal is a key connection between Declercq and India. "I view YGTMH like the Taj Mahal. For me, YGTMH is Taj Mahal," he says. He partially drew inspiration from Taj Mahal for his YGTMH which is a celebration of feminism. "I made this film to immortalise women's love, passion and compassion. Taj Mahal is an incredible act of passion and love, so is YGTMH,'' he adds.
For the movie, Declercq chose a different way.

"In Europe, films are made based on local, regional and government subsidies. YGTMH was completely a privately made movie," he informs. The filmmaker admits there may be similar ideas in the works of art of Sigmund Freud and DH Lawrence and YGTMH.

"But, it was the Morocco desert and American movie maker Sam Packinpah's moviemaking method that inspired me," he says.

Declercq finds many ideas for great films in India. "Many things are happening culturally across India. These are capable of breeding great concepts for movies. I am sure the Indian cinema is set to make a few great movies in the days to come out of these cultural issues," he points out.

"You've mainstream culture, counter culture and independent culture. Many more movies are possible here," he notes. For him it is the story, not the technology, that matters. "In the end what matters is a good story," he says and quickly adds: "There has been advent of technology. Today, you can make movies using tiny gadgets. But has this led to great filmmakers or movies?"

"You can break the tradition of classical form of story telling and experiment. But will gadgets do this?" he quips.

Declercq is thrilled about making an Indian movie. "But I need to travel and understand India's culture as an alien being. I need to see locations and be inspired by them for an Indian movie," he says.

"It is such a diverse country that I shouldn't be making the same movie for Bengaluru that I would be making for Kolkata," he adds.