"The European clients allow us the freedom to shoot a lot of crazy things," explains René Villar-rios, one half of directorial dynamite Vogel.Villar-rios. "Our first job in the US was so huge that everything went painfully slow - now we choose to work with small but highly professional crews."

Having just signed with London/Hollywood/ New York-based Believe Media, while continuing to be repped in Germany through Trigger Happy Productions, Vogel.Villar-rios will have ample time to adjust to their stateside amble. A reel of potent visuals and punctual edits will appeal to a plentitude of agencies and clients across North America and worldwide.

"This is as fresh as director's reels get," explains Gerard Cantor, exec producer at Believe Media. "I rarely get this excited about new directors. They have their own signature in the same way that Spike Jonze and [the late] Jhoan Camitz have theirs."

Berlin-native Jan Vogel and Chilean Villar-rios first met at Los Angeles' American Film Institute (AFI) while studying cinematography together. Vogel was born in Quito, Ecuador before moving to Germany and worked on commercial sets as an assistant cameraman prior to entering the program. Villar-rios moved to Sweden at a young age, harking from the world of documentary photography before his calling to the AFI, exploiting the power of the image to express his ideas and thoughts.

Vogel.Villar-rios's first seven spec spots were shaped for the tidy sum of $11,000 US. Adidas, Levi's and Fox Sports were among the spec mix; each piece saturated with selective focus, smooth editing, well-directed talent and inventive camera angles.

"We essentially did a lot of pre-production together, decided on the cast and location then storyboarded heavily together," explains Vogel on the spec scenario. "This allowed us to relax more on set to get creative with the actors and really push our ideas."

Then came a $250,000 campaign for Burger King, consisting of nine spots through Munich-based START ag. One spot, entitled "Lowrider" follows the exploits of two Spanish homeboys pulling alongside a pair of ravishing beauties with burgers in hand. Shot with a Moviecam SL and a keen eye, the spot flows with energy and conviction thanks to succinct cutting from Alexis Chavez of Jigsaw Editorial. "I know that we can just give [Chavez] a bunch of footage and he'll study it, understand our ideas and push it just that little bit further," explains Villar-rios.

A short film, shot using the funds secured during studies at the AFI, was also filmed in various locales throughout downtown LA. The short gets deep and personal by uncovering the emotional strains of a drug-induced love triangle.

"We shot the shit out of LA for two solid days," explains Villar-rios. "We opted to use black and white, ektachrome and a lot of equipment like dollies, handheld cameras and a steadicam."

Jodi Miller was on hand to steadicam the action while Vogel.Villar-rios opted to cross process the color film, then intertwine it with additional black and white footage to accentuate the emotional journey of the characters. "We decided to emphasize specific moments by experimenting with different techniques to heighten the tension on screen," outlines Vogel on the experience. "We wanted to investigate the possibilities of film and make something urban and organic."

The film admirably succeeds in capturing an essence of character in the players; sweeping camera movement, under- and over-cranking of shutter speeds and carefully composed mise-en-scene trap space and time as the languorous melody of "Asleep from Day" by The Chemical Brothers plays above. All these elements come together to heighten the sluggish, idle existence of the drug addicted and love afflicted characters on display.

"We just love to shoot and work," says Villa-rios on future projects through Believe. "We join a very distinct range of directors while no one conflicts with our style. This means we're out in America for the first time. We'll be seeking good creative feedback from agencies to improve our work. We just have to get some good projects to suit our style - basically loosen up, have fun and keep the energy alive."

Other clients thus far include a K2 job shot through Munich-based D-OFFICE and a Nike spot slotted through W+K's Amsterdam office.

Webfiles:
Believe Media> http://www.believemedia.com
Trigger Happy> http://www.triggerhappyproductions.com