Every now and then, a project comes along that makes you think: “Yes. This is exactly why I do what I do.”

For the City of Antwerp and LDV, I got to create a manifesto film. Not just a video, but something that had to become the literal and visual voice of the city. A film rooted in place, people, and soul. And that, as a visual storyteller and proud born-and-raised Antwerp citizen, hits me right in the heart.

Starting point: a script and a database

The project started with a written voice-over and storyboard. The message was set, the words were there. My job was to bring it to life visually. Luckily, the city has a rock-solid video archive, filled with high-quality footage. A treasure chest to dive into. But as I scrolled through the material, something struck me. There was plenty of atmosphere, a lot of city, lots of motion but not a lot of individuals. Sure, there were crowds, parties, happy gatherings, passersby, busy streets… but no one you could truly see. We saw Antwerp, but we didn’t feel her on a single individual level.

That needed to change. Because the soul of a city isn’t just in buildings, squares, infrastructure or masses. It’s in the individual people who live there and bring it to life every day.

So I decided to shoot a whole series of extra portraits. Not flashy scenes or action-packed shots. On the contrary: almost like moving stills. Calm, static frames that give the viewer a second to breathe. A moment to actually look at someone. To see personality, feel identity. And to create some balance with the fast-paced urban visuals.

That style choice was intentional. Antwerp is a city full of energy, but sometimes you need to slow down to really see.

Prepping and assembling the right team

Time and budget were tight. So we had to be smart and efficient. I teamed up with production house Mindbox to take care of casting, planning, and logistics. And on set, I brought Kristof as my assistant, someone who knows my rhythm, anticipates what’s needed, and brings contagious positivity. Together, we covered 23 locations across Antwerp. Load out, shoot, load in, move on. Two intense but incredibly rewarding days.

To find the right Antwerp faces, Mindbox literally hit the streets. Street casting. No agency books, no formal auditions. Just walking around squares, parks, markets. Spotting people with presence, character, that unexplainable something. People that represent the real, diverse fabric of Antwerp. Young, old, vibrant, reserved, eccentric… but always authentic.
No actors. No poses. Just real people. In their city. Being themselves.

And the locations? They didn’t come from an Excel sheet.
They came from my brain. From my gut as a local. I asked myself: Where do I love to be? What feels like Antwerp to me? What spots would I proudly show to someone from outside the city?

The technical puzzle: combining new and old

Combining new footage with archived material isn’t exactly plug-and-play. Different cameras, frame rates, codecs, color profiles even different size formats… all the joys of post-production. The trick was to make it feel seamless. No jarring jumps. Just one coherent visual story. That meant extra time spent on color grading, pacing, and rhythm. And for consistency, I filmed all the portrait scenes with the same lens. To bring calm, visual continuity, and contrast with the dynamic city footage. The result? A film that constantly bounces between city and soul, pace and pause, architecture and humanity without losing its thread.
And of course, getting the right editor on board.
Someone who understands the rhythm, the intention, and can translate all those ingredients into a coherent and powerful cut. Because no matter how good the footage is, without the right montage… it won’t land.

Compact, agile, and ready to roll

To keep things smooth and stress-free on the shoot days, I went for a compact and mobile setup. Everything — and I mean everything — was loaded onto my trusty video cart. It rolls straight in and out of the van like a dream.

Camera gear, accessories, laptop, power station, batteries… all in one place. No endless unpacking or searching for cables in a pile of bags. Just plug and play — or well, roll and shoot.

That kind of setup makes a big difference. It keeps you agile, quick on your feet, and able to respond to whatever comes your way — whether it’s shifting light, a spontaneous extra shot, or just the next location.

It also meant we could keep our footprint small. No dragging gear around the city. Just smart, efficient, mobile filmmaking.

And yes, it made the whole two-day location sprint just that little bit more enjoyable.

Creative freedom within clear boundaries

This project had a bit of everything. A pre-written script. A fixed deadline. A set budget. But also… creative freedom. Room to make suggestions. To shoot my own footage. To shape the story visually. These are the types of projects where my hybrid skillset—directing, shooting, and editing orientation really comes to life. I love jumping into an existing framework, helping push it creatively, and knowing when to let go in post.

What made this project extra fulfilling was the level of trust and openness from both the City of Antwerp and LDV. No micromanaging. No stifling control. Just support, collaboration, and real creative partnership.

They had a vision. But they also let me bring in my own style, voice, and method. That kind of space makes you feel like more than a contractor, you feel like a co-creator. And you see that in the final product. When everyone plays their part, and respects each other’s strengths.

Peak job satisfaction

You don’t always know it when you’re in it, but sometimes you feel it.
And at the end of those two long shoot days, we knew: “we got the good stuff”

I’ve always been a proud Antwerp citizen. And after all these years of making campaigns for this city, I still feel pride and honour in doing those assignments. And portraying people, that ‘s the most fun thing you can assign me to!

Proud? Absolutely.
Tired? Also.
But mostly: deeply content.

Thank you - come again!

» Click here for the final result & more behind the scene photo & video «

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