Winner Wednesdays

New Yorker Philipp Wolter's film, 'Crave', came second for Pepsi in the MOFILM Goa Video Contest last month. We caught up with him to find out about his experience in film, his thoughts on Pepsi and the inspirations and problems behind his spot.

Name?
Philipp Wolter

Age?
Around 30?

Location?
New York City in the U.S. of A.

What experience do you have in films and filmmaking and how long have you been doing it for?
I graduated from SVA Film School with a major in Directing and have for over 6 years now directed and shot many short films and music videos.

What are your hopes for your future in film?
I would really like to get into more commercial work and of course the big feature. Fingers crossed. Altogether, just fun and interesting projects.

Why did you choose to enter for Pepsi in particular?
Pepsi has changed it’s logo and I feel like could really widen or “adjust” it’s target audience.

Are you planning on entering future Pepsi Films contests?
Yes, if an idea comes up.

How did you come up with the idea for this particular spot?
I didn’t. I wanted to show the new Pepsi can and my crew kept stealing it.

What do you think about Pepsi as a brand and how did you try to convey this in your film?
After shooting the commercial all I want to drink is Pepsi. Honestly - I always felt Pepsi was trying too hard to be the big player instead of keeping it small and then enter through the back door. You’ve got to cater to the people that have something to say so that at the end you will be heard as well.

What kind of person were you targeting with your spot, what particular reaction were you aiming for and how did you go about getting it?
The indie type, the hipster, the normal guy, artistic, knows what he/she wants. A little bit in limbo, the city-kid. Short: the urban American.

What equipment did you use?
Canon 5D DSLR. And a boom pole.

What challenges did you face in the process of making the film?
Again, people kept stealing the prop.

What advice would you give a filmmaker thinking about entering a Pepsi Films competition?
Be original.

For more information about Pepsi Films and entering future competitions, visit us here.