Meet Anne Koolen | Writer, Director & Virtual Production Supervisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anne Koolen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
As I am currently in school, I try to take as many risks as possible, so I can learn as much as possible while I am here. I am very interested in virtual production and VFX. Last semester I was learning about Unreal Engine for the first time in my life and decided to make a film about a young woman turning into a dragon for my “Virtual Production in LED Volumes” class at USC. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but as I learned more about Unreal Engine and VFX, we came up with a shooting plan that turned to work out great.

Especially in virtual production I have tried to push the boundaries while at the same time working with the technological limitations, rather than against them. Is the LED wall too small for extensive camera movement? Let’s use a turntable to do a 360 degree shot around the actress. A dragon up close looks too fake? Let’s make it move past the virtual camera fast and create a silhouette shot against the sun. I think there is always a way to shoot something in a way that tells the story you want to tell, so I try not to shy away from a challenge too much. I’d rather try and fail than regret not trying at all.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My main goal is to make fantasy films with a deeper meaning to them, which is why I am currently focusing a lot on virtual production and VFX besides writing and directing. It is interesting that this is my main focus area, as I’ve studied computer science before and have always been very intrigued by new technologies and innovations. That being said, I am always looking to tell stories that make people think about life and elevate their understanding of the people around them.

Currently I am in pre-production for my virtual thesis film Fuel Up, which will be shooting on the LED wall this summer. It is about a female race car driver who loses her boyfriend in a race car crash and has to overcome her fear of racing or be kicked off the team by her team boss due to lacking performance. The core message is that sometimes what we love is dangerous, but that we should enjoy our lives and not let fear define us. It is a little bit of a love letter to the racing community I grew up in. It is a very challenging project with many moving parts: trying to get a real race car onto the sound stage, a VFX shot of a race car crash, figuring out how to do the wide CG shots, etc. I am very lucky to have an awesome team lined up to realise this project and it is very rewarding each time we crack the code on something new, which makes me very excited for this summer!

It has not been easy to get to where I am today, but no matter what, I will always keep going because I know what I am doing this for. I think if you really love doing something, you will find a way to do it. One of the most fulfilling things for me about filmmaking is being able to collaborate with different people on each project. People with unique skills, life experiences, people who inspire you to take things further and help you understand other perspectives and cultures.

As filmmakers we are mirroring what we see in the world and what we hope to be different for future generations. Especially in the world we live in today, there is so much hate towards each other. If my films can make life better for even one person, either through changing someone’s behavior, or by making someone feel seen or heard, I am a very lucky person. We have a Dutch saying “your last shirt doesn’t have pockets”, which means you cannot take anything with you in death. What you leave behind matters more. That’s why I always try to lead with kindness and understanding.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My schedule doesn’t often allow me to explore LA as much as I’d want to, but I definitely have a couple of favorite activities. I like to take people on the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier, go hiking, see a movie in one of the smaller indie film theatres, walk around arts district and visit The Grove. Another favorite of mine is Little Tokyo, especially taking tons of polaroid photos, getting honey ice cream from Honeymee or the Upside Down Ahboong ice cream from SomiSomi, visiting the Japanese grocery store and the revolving sushi bar. On campus, I like to show people Doheny Memorial Library and the sound stages at School of Cinematic Arts. Moreover, we have a lot of good taco trucks around campus. Combined with froyo this is the perfect dinner.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It would not have been possible to do anything I am doing today without the support of my family. As a child with endless curiosity, but also three other siblings, I probably had way too many hobbies. My mom constantly drove me everywhere: Judo, Scouting, Basketball, Aerobics, Dancing, Theatre, Piano. We lived on the countryside, which means most of these places were not nearby. Then, my dad gave me a camera for my 12th birthday, which made me fall in love with filmmaking. My siblings were always acting in my films. I am very appreciative of everything they’ve done to help me find my passion for filmmaking.

My musical theatre teachers and piano teacher also deserve a massive shoutout for always believing in me. Moreover, I want to recognise my friends who always support me, tell me their honest opinion, and are there for me in times of need. Last, I have met so many great professors and students during my time at USC. These past two years I’ve grown so much as a filmmaker as well as a person and I couldn’t be more grateful for these experiences.

Instagram: @annekoolen

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annekoolen/

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@annekoolen

Image Credits
Madi Price, Jelle Stevens, Sebastien Chiu, Kevin Remy, Jinrun Han