Trouble Maker Interview Series: Lara Celenza - "People who choose to live life by their own rules instead of passively accepting what's been spoon-fed to us since an early age by society inspire me."

I create my own projects and I also receive commissions from a variety of clients, such as songwriters and bands, actors and dancers, start-ups and corporate firms.

KALIFILM PRODUCTIONS

I’m a Berlin-based screenwriter and film director. In 2010 I founded my own production company, Kalifilm Productions, which specialises in indie films and music videos but also produces showreels for actors and commercials. I create my own projects and I also receive commissions from a variety of clients, such as songwriters and bands, actors and dancers, start-ups and corporate firms. We are very successful and we work all over Europe. Kalifilm Productions came to life quite early in my filmmaking career, as soon as I realised that freelancing on other people’s projects wasn’t really my thing because I’d rather have my own team and create independently. To be perfectly honest this choice has presented me with many challenges over the course of the years but I’m glad I made it, and I feel grateful for what I have learned so far. It has given me the opportunity to freely work on projects that would have been considered too far-fetched and out-of-the-box by the mainstream production engine. For instance, I’m currently in the cutting room working on two personal projects. The first is a short documentary called “Falcong” – the story of Giovanni Granati, a falconer and wild animal trainer who lives in the unspoiled and picturesque countryside of Abruzzo (the Italian region where I originally come from) alongside his wolves, eagles and other incredible creatures. The second is my first feature film, “Lost in the City” – a politically incorrect, darkly humorous, bizarrely philosophical take on homelessness starring Alex van Ric as a deranged, savagely unruly Berlin clochard. Both projects explore unconventional views of the planet we live on.

INSPIRATION AND PASSION

People who choose to live life by their own rules instead of passively accepting what’s been spoon-fed to us since an early age by society inspire me. For instance, I find the cutting-edge spiritual teachings of Bentinho Massaro incredibly enlightening. I am also inspired by my friends and all the amazing artists I work with. Take Bennet for example: quitting your Wall Street job to travel the world as a street violinist isn’t something anyone would do. I admire him for that. It requires a great degree of fearlessness and faith in your own abilities.

Right now my biggest passion is the study of consciousness. Meditation, shamanism, psychedelia. There’s more to reality that goes beyond our physical perception. My goal is to remove all the social conditioning from my consciousness and say goodbye to the many limitations we are brought up to accept, and later inflict upon ourselves, simply because we don’t know any better. The human soul is immensely powerful and our creativity can support us every step of the way, not only emotionally and intellectually, but also materially and financially. I am passionate about making this knowledge experiential.

THE COLLABORATION

I met Bennet through another talented friend, singer-songwriter Blake Day, during the production of our music video “Lulladie”. Shooting with Bennet and the others in the fairy tale forest was a magical experience that I hold very dear in my heart. I subsequently met Ollie and Flo, and Steffi of course, and I fell in love with The Trouble Notes and their beautiful vibes. They are the loveliest people you will ever meet and their music is incredibly uplifting and profound. I directed one of their official music videos, “Grand Masquerade”, with an amazing cast, and later I had the honour to have the band guest-appear in one scene of my feature film “Lost in the City”. The Trouble Notes have come a long way since I first met them: their audience is growing and I see them travelling all over Europe and beyond.

They kick ass on stage! I’m so proud of them and I wish them success and happiness.