MARTIN KOOLHOVEN

 

Martin Koolhoven, born on April 25, 1969 in The Hague in South Holland of the Netherlands, wrote and directed in 2016 the movie ‘Brimstone’. With this movie he won numerous prizes, such as a Golden Movie, an Ensor, the Golden Pen, the Grand Jury Award and six Golden Calves. Perry of Moov.nl was given the opportunity to interview Martin Koolhoven for the internet site.

 

001.With your wife Tallulah you have worked together on two short movies. How was it like to work with your wife?

       Tallulah and I worked on those two short movies when we were both on the Film academy. We now write and direct our own movies, so I don't see

       new collaboration happening soon. I always let my wife read the script from my movies. In fact, she is always the first to read. Then she can always

       indicate criticisms or areas for improvement, if necessary. If I think that she is right I would like to consider implementing those changes.

002.Which movie of yours and at which prize you are most proud so far and/or do you keep the best memories?

       In terms of film, that is ‘Brimstone’ from 2016. And when it comes to the prices, I would rather go for two moments. First, is the nomination of the

       Golden Lion in 2016 on it Film Festival in Venice in Italy for the movie ‘Brimstone’ in the category Best Film. It is the second most important film

       festival in the world. Cannes is just a little more important, though there are people who say that it is Venice. Secondly, I go for the Grand Jury Award

       which I won in 2016 during the Western Film Festival in Almeria in Spain for the movie ‘Brimstone’ in the category Best Feature.

003.You've worked with Hollywood stars like Dakota Fanning, Kit Harrington and Guy Pearce for the movie ‘Brimstone’ of 2016. With who of

       those do you work  best?

       With all of these I would like to work again. So the collaboration was satisfactory fine. No one was annoying to work with or disappointed me. But if

       you ask for whom I would like to write a special role, that is Paul Anderson who played in the movie ‘Brimstone’ the role of Frank. Paul also plays one

       of the main roles in the tv-series "Peaky Blinders". I'd like to work with him more often. I still have plenty of Hollywood stars on my wish list with whom

       I would like to work. But in the first place it is Tom Hardy (Bane in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and Mad Max in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ from 2015, ed.).

004.You have worked on the movie ‘Brimstone’ for about eight years. What was the reason in particular that it took so long?

       I have worked on the screenplay of the movie for 3 ½ years before it was finished used to be. A long preparation was needed. But also a long

       recording period. The movie takes a long time in terms of playing time. Everything about ‘Brimstone’ takes a long time. I have very often thought the

       movie would not come, but I continued. At that time I had no other projects that I could otherwise focus on. That actors like Kit Harrington (Samuel in

       the movie, ed.) and Guy Pearce (the Reverend in the movie, ed.) did take care the movie of publicity. The only drawback was that once the movie

       was out, they could not promote for ‘Brimstone’ because they were already busy with recordings for new projects of their own. Carice van Houten

       (Anna in the movie, ed.) just gave birth to her son. So she could not do also too much.

005.What can we expect from you in the area of showbiz in the future?

       I started a new movie again. But this is still in an early process, so it takes a while before it is ready.

 

For more information about Martin Koolhoven, visit https://www.martinkoolhoven.nl/.

 

Photographer: Joshua Rood

Interview: Perry Krootjes