We had the good fortune of connecting with Julien Wagner and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Julien, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think the decision was pretty much taken from me as I simply lack the ability to do anything else. Jokes aside, I do believe that filmmaking is the closest thing to real-life magic. And who doesn’t love a bit of magic? Once you’re on set and you see things coming together, see that spark, a vision translated onto the screen, man… you’re a goner. If you’re really in it with all your heart, nothing comes close to that feeling you get when the page comes alive. It’s not really a choice at that point, it’s a calling. Doesn’t make me a great filmmaker. Just means I’ll never find meaning in anything else. And I’m more than okay with that.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When life got heavy, I found film wasn’t just a hobby; it was a lifeline. It helped me make sense of the tough stuff and share my journey with others. I remember wrapping my first short film at seventeen – it was terrible, but I was proud. Life threw me some serious curveballs, though. My mom battled brain cancer, and shortly after she passed away, my father was shot and killed, leaving me to take care of my then 9-year-old sister. It felt like my film dreams were over. But funny enough, those sleepless nights led to ‘September Babies.’ I wrote it for me, but it became a team effort. We poured everything into it, not for fame or fortune, but because it meant something. It taught me that being real is the best way to connect with people. And knowing others believe in my work gives meaning to all the ups and downs. At the end of the day, it’s not about me – it’s about sharing stories that resonate with others. ‘Depicting aspects of shared humanity,’ which is something I truly wish I said first. But I’m pretty sure I stole that from somewhere. Good line though. Much like my life, I’d like to think of my art as something you can either laugh or cry about. The choice is really yours. I just know that one feels worse than the other.
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 mean… don’t blame me, but I will say again that I am Swiss, and raised in a village that had more cows than people. So excuse me when I say that I absolutely LOVE Universal Studios. Especially the studio tour. I must’ve done it about 70 times at this point. Never gets old.
I feel like the Griffith Observatory is a must. We would for sure visit my favorite burger spot: ‘Burgers Never Say Die’ on Glendale. And of course, remember to order two, as one is just simply never enough.
If they were visiting in February, I’d probably take them to see the Chinese Theater. Just so happens that my first feature premieres there on the 29th (shameless plug). Food-wise, I’m currently very obsessed with Musso & Frank, Kodo Cafe, Fabio’s, Carnitas el Momo, Parks BBQ, Kali, Erewhon, Villa’s Tacos, Anajak Thai, Courage Bagels, Saffy’s, Mauro’s Cafe, Laveta, Bludso’s BBQ, and Bavel.
Honestly, if that doesn’t do it… I’d get Pinkberry and walk them down Rodeo Drive.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I really think I owe a lot to the people who have believed in me, put their lives on the line, and made incredible sacrifices just to see something I threw onto a page come alive. If it weren’t for my Director of Photography, Damian Derungs, and my Producer, Samira Sahli, I highly doubt I’d be where I am today. It’s hard to put into words. But when people close to you see what you see, it probably means that at the very least, you’re not completely crazy. Be it a project, a line, a song, a vision, a script, a beat… whatever. You need people who share your spark. Otherwise, things get damn dull. I’ve known Samira and Damian pretty much my entire adult and teenage life. We started out shooting stuff in our basement, editing it in our high school. They’ve been with me every step of the way, and I wouldn’t move an inch, let alone take a leap, without them.
Website: https://september-babies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjulstar/?hl=de
Other: https://thehubfeatures.com/#nymlong https://september-babies.com/#teaser