Zep (zeptilian / zep de bruyn) works mainly in filmmaking, comedy, and illustration at the moment in a way where these three practices are constantly blending into one another. After high school he thought he would become an animator, until he learned what the job actually involved. He did study animation and motion graphics for a while, but eventually moved toward illustration, hoping the simplicity of a single image would suit him better. Instead, perfectionism made that difficult too. Over time he found his way into filmmaking and comedy, where improvisation became a way to break that perfectionism. The videos he creates now often feature himself and other comedians improvising scenes, embracing chance and spontaneity. He is also training to be a clown, a practice that requires being fully present in the moment. This is another way of resisting the instinct to overwork and perfect every detail of a project. In his illustration work he typically gives himself strict time limits, keeping the process loose and playful.
Zep has been at Contact for about two years, usually two to three days a week, since he also has a separate office job. When he is here, he enjoys investing time in the community and getting to know the people around him. The space is close to his home, which is another huge benefit and gives him room to work, something his small apartment cannot offer. What he appreciates most is how interdisciplinary the community is; everyone is doing something different, and that energy feeds his own work.
Right now, he is editing a short film he shot in August with a friend from the comedy scene. Because the entire project was improvised, editing it feels like assembling a puzzle. He is also hoping to return to illustration more regularly, and he recently took a clown workshop to continue developing as a stage performer.
Zep loves creating things with a focus on collaboration and momentum. While he often sees his projects as long, ongoing processes, there is one project that stands out: a short film called Big Ideas. He made it with a friend in just one day. Though he thinks parts of it could be improved, the experience affirmed to him that filmmaking does not need to be precious or follow traditional rules. You do not need a script, professional lighting, or elaborate setups to call yourself a filmmaker. You can make a film however you want, focusing on the parts of the process that actually excite you. This project in particular, marked the beginning of his journey toward making more films in that style.
