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

Hi Damian, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Pursuing an artistic or creative career, for me, is akin to embarking on a journey where art doesn’t just seek you out; it becomes an intrinsic part of who you are. My journey commenced with a passion for music — a medium through which the essence of inspiration and the magic of subconscious creation first revealed itself to me. This initial spark ignited a tireless pursuit of that euphoric feeling of creation, not just for my own fulfillment but for the sheer joy of sharing experiences with others. It’s in the collaborative effort of filmmaking where the vision transcends the individual, morphing into something far greater than the sum of its parts. As a Director of Photography, I find myself at the heart of visual storytelling in film, crafting the imagery of the world for the story to come to life in. As a whole, movie making, challenging yet immensely rewarding, allows filmmakers to weave together the myriad facets of human expression — photography, music and sound, literature, acting and design — into a cohesive and moving cinematic experience. Yet, sometimes, the most profound moments in cinema stem from simplicity, like the haunting beauty of a solitary violin note piercing through the darkness of a blank frame, crafting pure magic on screen.
The Japanese philosophy that finding purpose in life brings joy, regardless of its magnitude, resonates deeply with me. My obsession with stories, with capturing those emotional experiences that halt time itself, has led me down this path. Music and photography were my gateways to exploring these fleeting moments, but film offers an unparalleled medium to convey stories — one that allows us to live through 24 frames a second, each frame a moment in time, each moment a piece of a larger narrative.
“September Babies,” my first feature film, is a testament to this journey — a narrative that allowed me to dive deep into the art of storytelling on the full scale of a feature. Set for theatrical release in Switzerland this March and internationally in the summer, it encapsulates the essence of what I live for: The power of film to combine truths and lies, darkness and light, into an immersive experience that transcends the sum of its artistic parts. This, in essence, is why I do what I do — to chase those feelings that bring the world to a standstill, 24 moments at a time.

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.
If I had to name what distinguishes me in my field, I’d name versatility and patience as my greatest allies. This, and if you truly pursue your work with all the passion in the world you keep on learning and getting better every day. I feel like the best thing I’ve ever done is always in the future. Getting to where I am today was far from easy, but the difficulties only added value to the journey. It has taught me the invaluable role of surrounding myself with individuals who share my passion and professionalism. This not only makes the process more enjoyable but also elevates the quality of our work. Currently, I’m thrilled about the theatrical release of my first feature film and eagerly anticipate the future projects and opportunities that lie ahead.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think you need that perfect blend of movie magic, great food, and all-around fun. You for sure got to do a studio tour, preferably at the Universal Studio. You should as well include the Griffith Observatory, a staple of the city for a great view. But quite honestly it more about the feel of it, so you can’t really go wrong.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are too many people to mention that through their kindness helped or inspired me to get to where I am now. Influences in my life have ranged from the inspiration I found in a National Geographic podcast featuring Jimmy Chin, which motivated me to pick up a camera in the first place, to the encouragement from my saxophone teacher who advised me to pursue whatever path I choose in life, as long as I strive to become the best at what I do. While there are too many influences to name each one, I am also very much a child of all the movies of the past, serving as a spark for my creative work and the biggest textbook for me to analyze and learn from imaginable. But it’s not only about getting inspired but also about people taking the leap of faith, as a longtime collaborator Julien Wagner did, presenting me with the ultimate trust to bring his screenplays visuals on the screen. Furthermore, a huge shout-out goes to everyone who has worked and collaborated with me on so many projects over the years. It is well known that every position on set, as small as it may seem is absolutely crucial to the success of a motion picture but just to name a few people through whose work I wouldn’t be where I am today: Thanks Samira Sahli for your incredible work in production laying the ground work for every single day on the set of September Babies as well as the whole crew throughout the production to the professional trust and immense skills of James Slattery and the team at Company3 in London in finishing. As well as my family and friends for the supporting the little time of my life that is not dedicated to my craft which is so crucial. Shortly said: If you are doing things by yourself, you only get as far as being a lonely creative in a basement working into the void that can only be filled by the presence of great people.

Website: https://september-babies.com , https://damianderungs.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damianderungs

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