Interview with Anders Bramsen

undated photo: Chelsea Hotel Production Crew


film stills

the artist immersed in his work

ponders inspiration

the filming of the magnificant "Chelsea Hotel" NY's Historical Stomping Ground

The Unique Creations by: Anders Bramsen

Anders Bramsen's films demonstrate an individual artist who sets himself apart and does his own thing. Like Diane Arbus, (visionary photography artist) he gives the outsider only a speck of what he sees and leaves the rest up to the critics to interpret in multiple ways. From viewing clips (from his editorial work) "Chelsea Hotel" directed by Abel Ferrara to (his own) Dennis Hopper (Retrospective) film collage, I became quite interested to learn more. I hope to see his completed film, "The Gold Fish Doesn't See The Bowl" soon at the Indie Film Festivals next year earn its rightful recognition.

What do you do?

I write, direct, edit and produce my own films.

Have you ever worked with any famous people?

Maybe, but I try not to namedrop.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve been focusing mostly on the writing of two screenplays THE GOLDFISH DOESN'T SEE THE BOWL and LAST BOAT TO AMERICA but I’m always editing film and video projects.

What is your genre?

Neo-Noir I suppose. With a hint of middle-class realism…I think…

Sounds like John Steinbeck, are you a John Steinbeck fan?

John Steinbeck? Is he a filmmaker?

No, a writer.

Oh, I love Ingmar Bergman, his focus is the psychology of man…it’s extremely fascinating. The human condition was his specialty.

Did you go to school for this (directing)?

I guess I did a little bit but I don’t feel like mentioning any names…you mean as far as schools I’ve gone to? That’s boring. I mean I’ve learned from all the teachers I’ve had but I've always learned much more by doing…making tons of mistakes, it’s the best way of learning I think.

Where are you originally from?

I’m from The Unified Field, as modern scientists would say!

How long were you here?

On and of since 2003...I go back several times a year. I love to go back for work or to visit everybody. I’m still very Danish. I love Denmark and my roots.

Denmark...one of the only countries that tried to help the Jews during the Holocaust.

I don’t know if we were the only one. But it’s true the Danes did a lot to help. If you do the research…I think we saved 95% of the Jews there during the war - we got them over to Sweden on boats. It was quite extraordinary. We tried to save everyone! And it’s wonderful being in New York and being around so many Jewish people here…people actually thank me. We know about it in Denmark but it’s different when you’re here and Jewish people thank you. When you think about it… My grandparents helped these people survive. I have many Jewish friends in New York and I’m so glad about this…

Have you ever been to a Jewish museum there?

I know there is one in Israel…they have an actual boat that took people over. The boats weren’t that big. There is a Jewish comic who I think is a powerful example, he was the most famous Danish Holocaust survivor…Victor Borge…Why are we talking about the Holocaust?

As an artist, do you have a set schedule?

Not really. I guess my independence is the most important to me. I’m pretty much my own man…but I always work with certain people like Pacific Street Films.

Did you get grants to come here?

No I came here with only two hundred dollars and a film (Liden Tid- screened at the Brooklyn international film festival in 2004- it screened at the Brooklyn museum- Google LIDEN TID for more info) under my arm…it was pretty hard coming here to New York. Lately, I’ve matured in terms of being able to ask for help… I have been applying for grants. Now, I feel more entitled to ask for help because I know I’ve done a lot of the hard work myself. Now would be a good time to do it.

What about the recession, do you think it’s making it more difficult for
independent artists like yourself to survive?

You know what, I really don’t have an idea. But I think that maybe…I think there are still people out there with trust funds or, you know? I still don’t think it’s a bad card to play. I don’t know if it has any influence, good or bad.

Do you know that famous writer, Flannery O’Connor?

No, why?

She was in your situation and got a lot of grants and eventually made it as a writer, I just love her, she wrote the eerie short story, “Good County People.” Who are your influences?

I have so many hero’s……Bergman I guess or Terrence Malick's two films from the 70’s: Badlands and Days of Heaven. I think it’s important to project real life in film and the mysteries of our selves…whatever doesn’t make sense…film can be such a beautiful window. It’s a way of getting out of yourself and then gets back into the self. I think it’s a wonderful art form. If you have something on your mind and you want to express it through film, well then it’s just vast. It’s still a very new art form….it’s still early…only a hundred years old. Not like painting, which we’ve been practicing for 8000 years…don’t know where I’m going with this…

I never thought of it like that before. You’re right; it definitely is an art form. So, aside from film, are there other types of art you enjoy?

I have been doing fine art painting long before this.

What do you paint?

I want to say um…abstract expressionism…you can call it neo-neo expressionism. If there is such a thing? A few years ago I painted a series of paintings. It was so nice working with canvases again.

What’s the series about?

My new formats are very horizontal…it’s almost like they’re favoring plainness and because my earlier works were more action I’m now trying to strive away from that…I got tired of that, tired of the chaos and confusion.

That reminds me of what Picasso did.

Why?

You know at first he was very detailed and then he got so simple. Are they untitled?

Some are. Others have titles such as “Black Band on canvas" because there is a black band on the canvas. Most of my earlier canvases were all titled and it had to do with my mood or the mood of the painting, or something that inspired me. However, later when I became better at what I was doing, I began to simplify my titles while at other times, I don't title my work at all...sometimes I just don’t find it necessary.

Ever been to the Guggenheim here in NY?

Many times, I was first there in 1988 as a 14-year-old boy-it did a huge impression on me! Last year I played a museum visitor in Tom Tykwer’s movie The International. It starred Clive Owen, Naomi Watts and my fellow countryman Ulrich Thomsen as the bad guy-villain.

OMG! How cool.

I was only on set that one day but yeah it was cool.

What is your next project?

It’s a movie I call, “The Goldfish Doesn’t See The Bowl” which will include archival footage from when I was young. I am writing several grants to complete it at the moment. My project envisions is a film universe in which odd personalities operate in indefinable patterns; a world in which philosophical questions are displayed in a series of grotesque vignettes. The picture also strives for a unique visual aesthetic. My goal is to create small episodes questioning faith, doubt and the meaning of life.

Wow!

My project envisions a film universe in which odd personalities operate in indefinable patterns; a world in which philosophical questions are posed to the viewer in a series of grotesque vignettes. The piece also strives for a unique visual aesthetic. I wish to build a bridge to the audience’s senses and spirits,thus melding the message (an exploration of the breadth of art in our time and culture) with the manner in which the story is told. THE GOLDFISH DOESN'T SEE THE BOWL is a barrier-breaking exploration of the human condition, merging performance art, painting, photography and film language.

Jim Hoover: Art Director at Viking Books Children's Book Publishing

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Several years ago (2000 actually) I met Jim when I was on my way to my friend Sean's house. Unbeknownst to me, Jim had moved in with Sean only days before. I approached the two boys, said hello to Sean and introduced myself to Jim. Neither of them said a word to me, they were just sadly standing there. Sean finally said the apartment had burned down within the last hour. I offered Sean and his girlfriend and his unfortunate new roommate digs for the night and even helped dig a hole in a park to bury their cat who perished in the fire. It was truly one of the worst days ever, but Jim became one of my best friends. Since 2000, he has always wanted to work for Viking and now he does just that! Even though, he and his fiance moved to Brooklyn, we stay in touch. He was more than willing to share his job experiences at one of the finest children's book publishing companies in the world...and check out the above picture of him in the midst of his work, so zen.

What is your occupation? I know but just tell me again.

I am an art director at Viking books.

And exactly how long have you worked there Jim?

I've been here four, no wait, five years, before that I was at Puffin for three...

What are some precious titles I as a future mommy and current teacher should be aware of that your company provides?

From Shreik to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth...to an award winning John Lennon Biography and countless other books in between...Jon Scieszka...

Who's that?

Wrote "Stinky Cheese Man" Duh! And he recently became the first children's book ambassador! And we just did a cover with Gary Taxali, another great children's book illustrator, and Aimee Mann's album cover...

So Cool Jim! I want to work for Viking! What current project they got you working on?

An Apollo 12 book with Astronaut Alan Bean (see picture of book above), the fourth man to walk on the moon.

Did you ever meet him?

No, lives in Texas, we spoke on the phone a few times (bragging a little bit), he lives in Houston, really nice guy.

Um, I see you met Amy Sedacas, did that have to do with your job?

No, we met at a Barnes and Noble book signing, I just love her!

I do too, I want to buy her new book-she's great. Al Gore?

Didn't get to meet him either, he did email me once though (laughing).

Really? Where is it? Did you frame that? I would have framed that!

Ah, no..I think I still have the link somewhere though, he just wrote something quick like, "looks good to me," that was about my only interaction with the former vice president.

Email him hello for me! (being very serious) When you helped create the book, "In the Middle" what was it like rehashing those middle school years?Jim:(Sighing)

Awful, just awful...terribly painful...

(Laughing) Really? Why?

Well back then...and everyone included in the book fits within the same ball park...had similar experiences, we were so mean to each other! I mean vicious!

You were mean in middle school?

Yeah, I think everyone was! That's just the way it went...if you go back and think about it...

No thanks.

...how you treated an easy target, picking on those less than you, just to make yourself feel better about yourself, I did it, sorry to report.

I really loved not only the words you wrote in this book but I absolutely loved all your amazing illustrations, what other books have you illustrated for?

I hire illustrators and work closely with them to finalize/design covers.

But not illustrate?

When I was young I thought being the illustrator was the be-all-end-all, not so much anymore. Now, I like the collaboration, working with others to create it (the hundreds of covers). I do art for me, the publication of my illustrations lost its luster. I've helped in the publication of so many books, it doesn't matter so much any more.

Favorite author?

Favorite author or Favorite artist?

Artist?

Umm, who is my favorite artist(long pause, that's like asking who is my favorite author) Peter Sis, Lane Smith...

Who?

They are both...see their work and my jaw drops illustrators. I've actually worked with Peter Sis, he's my hero!

Growing up, did you have a favorite children's book as a child, that question sounds weird, do you know what I mean though?

Yea, so many, so so many..."The Story of Ferdiand" which was actually published by Viking also in the 1930s and knocked "Gone with the Wind" off the top selling book list!

Describe the plot a little bit, I'm unfamiliar.

Seriously? It's one of the most famous books! About a very peaceful bull who just wants to lay in the shade...

Is there some kind of political message?

(laughing) No, the lesson is more about what happens, the Maditators want to fight the fiercest bull and one day they see him react violently after getting a bee sting and get him into the ring where he just smells flowers thrown into the ring but doesn't fight, it's just not him...

So the moral of the story?

You may think a big bull like him should be tough, but he's quite the opposite, never judge...sometimes bulls just want to lay about beneath a Cork tree (sounding like he's teaching a preschool class the meaning of the book).

Cork tree, did the story take place in Ireland or something?

No, Spain actually.

What's one of your favorite covers you assisted with?

An Inconvenient Truth.

An Inconvenient Truth? Isn't that an adult book?

We did the children's version of it...

Oh...

Oh, we also did a John Lennon Biography, children's version. A non-fiction, biography but also we tried to paint an actual portrayal of his essence, of the person, the factual stuff is all correct but we tried to really capture who John was.

Sounds like he was your favorite Beatle?

He was. Different reasons, I like the transformation from muddy rascal to sincere leader of peace, really interesting to see...he was by far the more interesting Beatle to me...he could be a real jokester even when he met Yoko, he maintained that rascal side to him, when you're doing a biography book like that, where a character has character flaws or contradicts themselves...this makes good literature.

I agree, I love dynamic characters!

I like Paul the least...

Many fans from the 60s would shoot you for that!

They're wrong. Ringo was John's favorite, always pop culture, neighborhood kid, George was thoughtful...

Did you get any assistance from them when you and your company created this book?

Paul was no help at all whereas Yoko was surprisingly helpful and gracious. Ironically, we did Paul's book (Paul created his own children's book around the same time) and even though there was a lot of promotion, it tanked.

When you're not creating wonderful children's books, probably the most important thing one could do for today's youth when you think about it, what else do you do?

As far as art is concerned, I still do a lot of figure drawing, there's places everywhere in the city. They even got places now in the city where they have a bar, so when you get tired or need a break, you can relax and have a drink...and chill out.

Do you consider it an intimate experience?

Absolutely, it is in that you're capturing someones mannerisms, their physicality, usually when I draw, I let my mind wander, you almost channel between the eye and the hand...it's very zen.

Tell me more about Viking.

It just celebrated its 75Th year anniversary, big party, lots of good wine, everyone hung out and had a nice evening.

You seem so happy Jim!

Viking has really maintained itself, has more awards for its illustrators and literary authors then other imprints can boast about, has an incredible back list (from years ago that still stay in print).

That's very amazing for books these days!

Like movies that teeter off after a few weeks, so like books. Most books do well the first few
weeks, then within a few years, they're out of print, not so with Viking.

Keep reprinting! Even in this recession, things with the stock market, everything is crumbling...

It stays steady every year and reprints books like "The Outsiders" by S.E Hinton, "Corduroy Books", "Madeline,"" Make Way for Ducklings,"" The Story of Ping," "Whistle for Willy"...all the greats.

Do you get a great satisfaction knowing your skill/trade/job occupation
whatever is transforming the minds of our youth in a positive way?

First, I love it when good children's books get good reviews, and it really does my heart well to see a kid enjoying a book we at Viking created. My best friend's kid (I gave him one of our books, "Red Truck") memorized a book I helped art direct, to see each stage, each page, and then to see how the child reacts and you see how this book is going to be a book, it's great, hey, my boss is on the other line, chat soon?

Okay, bye Jim! I know where to buy books for my young family members now, keep the recommendations coming!

Bye!