“Cats and Dogs” By Joost Biesheuvel
“Cats and Dogs” tells a tale of two young lovers who meet at a masked ball. They start an intense love affair, inspired by their differences. The story is told in a poetic fashion; playfully exposing the difference between the solitary and the needy; the mysterious and the enthusiastic; the cat and the dog. Will they be able to truly take off their masks and find love?
Writing this film was all about combining simple words, with simple images and simple melodies to create the narrative for a complex love story. None of these elements were supposed to tell the entire story, but the combinations had to be magical, interesting, witty or unexpected. Also, it was important to keep room for the viewer to read between the lines and find their own narrative.
Composing the music was an absolute dream. I kept a 'musical diary' from the very beginning, containing bits of melodies and sounds. I remember playing the theme on the old piano during the shoot.
I've been a musician all my life, but I've never had a better reason to compose. I absolutely loved it.
During the process, I got inpired by classic childrens books about animals. In these books, Every page has a single verse with a single illustration. This became the stylistic approach for each scene; using wide, symetrical shots to support each poetic phrase.
Joost Biesheuvel - Director
Credits
A Film by Joost Biesheuvel
Starring: Selin Akkulak & Armand Rosbak
Executive Producer: Yanna Panagopoulos
Director of Photography: Tobias Smeets
Production Design: Sophie Draper & Jurian Vermoolen
Music: Joost Biesheuvel
Wardrobe: Imre van Schooneveld
Masks: Carlynn Armour
MUAH: Saro Seddighi
Choreography: Nicola Hepp
Assistant Director: Joost van Deijzen
Production Manager: Merle Keller
Gaffer: Christian van Marle
Best-boy: Thijs Besteman
Assistant Camera: Arjen Ottema
Sound: Sjoerd Kats
Production Assistant: Marijn Arbouw
Production Support: Sophie Victorine
Voice Actors: Aika Zabala & Ben Pryer
VFX: David Velt
Colourist: Ruben Labree
Soundmix: Yellowbloom
Casting Agency: Ash Agency & All Stars Agency
Location: Mucking Afazing, DesignByU, Monument 256
Photography: Rein Kooyman
Supported by: Vigics & Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst
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