Sebastian Sommer was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and below is the Q&A session we had with Sebastian.
Where did the idea of your directorial debut Dragon come from?
Dragon started with a feeling more than an idea. I knew that I wanted to make something in the fantasy genre, then I thought what but about memory? What if it was about myth as it erodes over time? At the same time, AI programs were just starting. The results were imperfect, almost glitchy, sometimes like a dream, but those flaws also felt human.
Why are you the best person to tell it?
I think Dragon is a reflection of my own search for meaning in a time where meaning feels hard to hold onto. I knew that I didn’t want to make a conventional fantasy film. I wanted to make something more poetic, almost spiritual. This film is about the longing for a kind of ancient truth.
What were some of your biggest cinematic influences when making Dragon?
I was influenced by Tarkovsky. I was influenced by Terrence Malick. I want to be like him. Just make two features and then go live for 20 years. I also looked at medieval art. But more than anything, I tried to unlearn what I’d absorbed from a culture that had tried to brainwash me. I wanted Dragon to feel like you stumbled upon a myth that had been half erased by time.
Have you faced any struggles in your life?
Early in my career I felt like I was being used by people in the industry who didn’t have my best interest at heart. Looking back I wish that I trusted my gut more and placed more boundaries. I disown those shorts. Bad time in my life. But I didn’t know. I just find it cringe at this point. I’m embarrassed by it. But I’m all cinema baby. I’m proud of Dragon. I think it’s the best thing I’ve made so far.
Who or what inspires you?
My girlfriend inspires me.
Jose R. Harwood is a the author and editor of TheCelebrity.Online and expert in Entertainment Industry working with TheCelebrity.Online Magazine – You can reach R. Harwood via Contact page! – Read more on our About Us page.
