'Experience the world and let the world experience you' – Jan Oudemans & Max Grapperhaus, Cover Artists for The Growth Issue

A huge thank you to Jan Oudemans & Max Grapperhaus, founders of Trip to the Moon Films, for being our eighth FRONTIER and the Cover Artists of The Growth Issue alongside directing our new ADCN film - taking you on a journey through the decades with desks from the 60s until the future. As visual storytellers whose films are often aimed at triggering audiences, we chat with Jan & Max to learn a bit more about their practice, how they continue to grow creatively and why you should get in touch if you’re a young filmmaker.

How do you ensure that you continue to grow creatively?

We have this Bonsai tree at our office. We water, nurture and expose the little fellow to the sun. We even sing for the son of a gun plant it is. It isn't growing. It's not blossoming. But it ain't dying either. You got a good recipe for creative growth right there.

If you could collaborate with anyone for an upcoming film, who would it be and why?

The Dalai Lama - he’s been outside the spotlight for too long. We’re organising a fundraising for him to come over right after Eurocup this summer.

How do you deal with failure?

Talk about it. The whole topic of failure has too much of a taboo-status for the “biggy” it actually is. The whole kind of “if you fail, you lose” mentality. We don’t feel that, though probably sometimes we’re afraid as well to expose that we might have failed. For example: we lost lots of big productions - that were supposed to be breakthroughs - last year, our second year. Partially due to COVID (commercials for SAIL2020 and EURO2020 were on the planning); but let’s also just face the fact that we lost some projects because we weren’t able to convince clients at the time. We talk about how we fail and make the bloody damn experience worth all of it.

Over the last year, have you developed new ways of working?

Just small sessions on checking in with each other (clients too) in digital hang-outs on where everyone is. There’s lots of complaining about working digitally - and there’s reasons to complain too, let’s not act like we’re not sick of people unable to find the unmute button yet - but the ease of connecting for a quick chat and exchanging some creative thoughts is such a win at the same time. Translate these benefits to analogue working.

What’s the one new skill you would like to learn?

Max: Fluently talking French!

Jan: How to avoid my mother in law / bankruptcy.

How do you overcome a mind block?

Let it go. Headspace/meditation/yoga/running.

How much of a routine do you have in your daily lives?

Max: Warm showers on the weekend; two coffees a day. Check in with Jan 24/7.

Jan: Watering my plants/checking my bank account. Check in with Max 24/7.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

So much to do - in a positive way: just go for it, “do” what’s out there. Experience the world and let the world experience you and what’s on your mind.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome and how?

Each of us has lost one of our parents. Don’t believe one of us has seen this as a challenge, but overcoming this life-event - next to sorrow and strength - has made us more independent. That characteristic helps us in doing what we do.

What is the most bold move you have made?

Starting this company. We met while studying in Leiden. Probably somewhat of a corporate life was ahead of us - which is totally cool too. While working at a corporate bank/finishing a Master’s Degree, we decided to take a walk on the wild side. Which at times isn’t as wild as it sounds, but we’re loving the adventure every second.

What is the most bold move you wish you had made?

All that stuff that’s still ahead of us.

Do you have any new plans in the pipeline for Trip to the Moon Films that you can share with us?

We are currently working with a director on a documentary and a script for a short fiction film. To manage this while keeping the commercial work going, we've decided to expand our team. Yes, we are hiring! We're on the lookout for a Head of Operations starting mid-summer.

Coppola or Kubrick?

Kubrick.

Spaghetti-hair or sausage-fingers?

Spaghetti-hair would be hella-dope.

Heroism or a comfortable life?

Po-tee-to / po-ta-to?

Any advice for young budding filmmakers?

Send us an email with your work - we are always looking for young talent.

Also check out our Members in the Spotlight interview with the creative duo here.