'I find my greatest inspiration in the real people I talk to. I believe that each of us has a storyteller within, and we can draw inspiration from it in our creative endeavors.’
Join Alon Daniel, a multifaceted director and photographer, as he unveils the layers of his artistic journey. In this exclusive interview, Alon opens up about the forces that shape his creativity, navigating through challenging projects, and finding equilibrium between artistic expression and commercial demands.
"I'm Alon Daniel, a director, and photographer. Ever since I can remember being a child, my father always had a 35mm film camera in his hands when we were traveling, taking pictures of us with it. At the age of 13, I started capturing my friends performing tricks on a skateboard with a small mini DV camera. Over the years, it just felt natural to have a camera in my hands and to tell a story by choosing different frames."
"I find my greatest inspiration in the real people I talk to. I believe that each of us has a storyteller within, and we can draw inspiration from it in our creative endeavors. In my opinion, one of the most inspiring directors for music videos and commercials nowadays is Valentin Petit, and it was truly heartbreaking to hear about his loss. Another director who inspires me is Aisultan. I appreciate the authentic approach he employs to capture situations and light in his work."
"The most difficult and stressful project I've worked on is '06:30,' a documentary feature film that tells the stories of eight survivors from the terror attacks in Israel that occurred on October 7th. Interviewing survivors of terror attacks is a sensitive and complex task that demands empathy, respect, and a deep understanding of the trauma they may have experienced."
"My smallest projects have often been the most memorable. I believe that with small budgets and passion projects, both my team and I pour our greatest energy and effort into the work, often turning them into significant projects without excessive effort. I'm convinced that I get chosen for jobs because of my passion projects rather than for commercial work."
"My dream jobs involve collaborating with big brands and renowned artists, and ever since I moved to Milan four years ago, I've had the opportunity to work with some of them."
"I try to work on passion projects whenever I have some free time, but often, they happen in between my other assignments rather than during periods of complete freedom."
"I want to continue my working with big brands and to get bigger opportunities such as putting my creativity into the big works I'm doing."
"Just keep on going."
"The Wire, Better Call Saul, Harry Potter, Fight Club, Trainspotting."
A big thanks to Alon Daniel for sharing his insights and experiences on his creative journey.
