Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Zäch.
Hi Ben, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a small town in Switzerland where not much is happening. Through my mother I got in touch with photography but I never actually thought that this is something I want to do. Years pass by and I realised that I don’t want to learn a “usual” job and somehow I got back into photography. Down this road I met the director Caroline Wloka who hired me for her feature film as a PA. That’s how I entered the film industry and how it is, this job led to the next thing and now I’m studying cinematography at AFI. That’s obviously the fast forward version.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe everyone who works in film would be lying if they never encountered any struggle. The big struggle for me was that before AFI I never studied filmmaking in the traditional way where you meet likeminded people and possible future collaborators. Specially in a small country like Switzerland it is hard to meet people who are willing to collaborate with you if you are not part of their particular “film bubble”. Another struggle that I’m working on and goes hand in hand with my previous point is my introversion and thoughts of putting myself out there. That’s more a personal obstacle I’m wrestling with and I’m working on to one day overcome and feel confident enough about myself and my work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a young cinematographer I don’t like to think that I have or need a specific style that speaks for me. The interesting part of filmmaking to me is to visualise stories and tailor a style to every specific story and not to just do what I like. Right now I’m at a point where I shape my taste as a cinematographer and learn about myself what kind of stories I want to tell.
If someone would ask me what films do you want to shoot my answer would be: natural – surrealism.
But even with this answer I put myself right into a box where I don’t want to be. I believe in every story you visualise is something new and thrilling and you find new things that you like and dislike. If a specific personal style crystallises down the road that’s okay, but I don’t want to do it intentional.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think being an artist in every field is quite risky. But fun!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.benzaech.com
- Instagram: ikbenbenfrancesco
Image Credits
Picture nr.1: Andrin Kindschi
Picture Nr.5-6: Flor Crosta
