Today we’d like to introduce you to Basil Schneeberger.
Basil, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My introduction to film took place when I worked as a photo editor in the fashion industry in Switzerland. I had the privilege to meet some incredible photographers who introduced me to the language of imagery. I was able to explore composition and different techniques to express an idea through one single frame. I came to realize I was much more interested in telling a story through moving images rather than one photograph. I needed a tool that gave me access to movement. That’s when I started considering filmmaking.
Eventually, it became my passion and I wanted to share it with other friends. Together as a group, we would learn to tell small stories by shooting small clips and posting them online. After about two years, we were already making projects for small clients. During the process of understanding how to technically capture visuals, I was more interested in becoming better at telling an actual story. That’s when I decided to apply to a film school in the United States where I could explore more narrative-driven projects. Gratefully, at the beginning of 2018, I got into the University of Southern California where I pursued a Master’s degree in Film & Television production.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In my opinion, becoming a filmmaker feels like having to go through several stages of creativity to understand what type of voice you have as an artist and what it is that you actually want to do. This part is challenging because you need to accept and have the patience to allow your creativity to evolve as the years go by. Being aware of this notion is tremendously helpful and allows me to continue to learn and grow within the industry.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Heimat Films is a small creative production company that specializes in developing and producing authentic branded films. Instead of the heavy tropes of direct product placement, we are more interested in crafting non-standardized advertisement that tells a story about a brand. We try to distinguish ourselves by using a humanistic approach to filmmaking and finding universal elements that almost every individual can connect with. It’s a beautiful phenomenon to be able to tell short stories that reach more than just the target audience. It’s a dream.
This is the second production company I have founded. The first one was in my home country in Switzerland where it took several years to understand the market which wasn’t even that big. Yet now, being in the United States and in the hub of the entertainment industry, it’s an interesting challenge to navigate within such a saturated market. So far, I see that in today’s society it’s not anymore about what you do, it’s about who you are as a person. This is great and has been such a good lesson to understand that authenticity, clarity, and transparency is the new path to success. With Heimat Films, my goal is to find brands that are willing to invest in high qualitative productions, stories about people, and a message that best represents the brand’s universe.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.basilschneeberger.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basilschneeb/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/basil.schneeberger/
Image Credits:
Heimat Films Andrea Wüest Santiago Gómez
