A NEW PERSPECTIVE
My illness has changed my perspective. I take things easier now, and notice things that before I would have just walked past without looking. I think this also shows in my movies. For me it’s about artistry. Music, colour, action, riders … it needs to come together and fit. I want to inspire people by the image taken, not necessarily by the craziest action. I am no longer looking for the perfect triple loop anymore – even though that would be cool to have – but instead I look for beautiful, emotional light, which transfers our action lifestyle and the surfer vibe. I want to immerse people in the feeling you have when you drive home after a good session. This feeling is mostly not just ‘I made a new move’. This feeling means more. Being out there in the ocean enjoying yourself, a nice shower after the session, having a barbecue and drinks with your friends at sunset.
The perfectionism stays, even with my disease. I want to make my videos perfect. I always want more, do better. But why? Just so people write to me and say ‘wow André, nice video’? I am not sure if that’s a good reason. I want to make a movie because I like it. To make it the way I want to make it, not the way people might want to see it. Whether people congratulate me or not shouldn’t matter to me.