The Ebert Brothers
media artists duo from Germany
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Interview: 10 questions
1. Tell me something about your life and the educational background
The Ebert Brothers are Axel and Michael Ebert. Both grew up in Germany and are in their early thirties. Axel is a Graphic Designer who studied at the Universität für Angewandte Kunst Vienna and graduated at the Rietveld Academy Amsterdam. Michael studied Audiovisual Arts and graduated at The Rietveld Academy Amsterdam. Both of them live and work in Berlin.
2. When, how and why started you filming?
While moving images and visual art have always been part of their studies and their lives, they started their collaborative video and audio production in 2006, forming The Ebert Brothers.
3. What kind of subjects have your films?
Their video work is mainly concerned with the individual experience of memory, reflection, inside vs. outside world and metamorphosis.
4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?
Ideas, concepts and images are collected in a pool. The pool is checked regularly to see if there are enough items that can be related to each other. When this is the case a storyboard is drafted and preparations for filming begin.
5. Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.
All types of videocameras, ranging from vintage tube-based to HDV. Editing is done in FinalCut, additional treatments in Aftereffects. Soundtracks are composed in a studio consisting of classic hardware synths&effects and contemporary software, including Ableton Live and Max/MSP.
6. What are the chances of new media for the genre film/video in general and you personally?
Assuming that “new media” stands for the digitalization of images/audio/video, the advantages are: Easier distribution via the web and the affordability of computer based equipment. The disadvantage: There’s so much media offered it gets difficult to separate the interesting bits from the rest.
7. How do you finance your films?
The movies are financed with the money they earn working in normal jobs.
8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team?
if you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?
The Ebert Brothers work as a team of two and invite friends to collaborate if appropriate or required.
9. Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making? – The Weirdness of Life in general
– Other people’s movies
– Electronic and Classical music
– Older technical equipment that provides a particular sound or visual quality not found in modern gear
10. What are your future plans or dreams as a film/video maker? – To keep moving
– Being less dependent on money from normal jobs
Can works of yours viewed online besides on VideoChannel? Where?
Video:
http://www.ebertbrothers.com/
Music:
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Ebert+Brothers/+albums
http://www.vagheit.org/
Their work as individuals:
http://www.axelebert.com/
http://www.michael-ebert.org/