Interview Paul Enkelaar

Paul Enkelaar is a freelance documentary maker, director/producer, cameraman and also teacher in TV and film. He has two children, 11 and 13, and lives in the heart of Amsterdam, in the Jordaan. At the moment he is preparing a couple of promo films for Free Press Unlimited, and in a week`s time he will shoot a historical documentary in the troubled Maluku Islands of Indonesia (Ambon/Banda).

How did you get into contact with RNTC?

I was hired as a cameraman a long time ago by a colleague that I knew through a previous employer, Julia Strijland. She worked at RNTC's production office. And at some point they asked me to give camera training.

Why do you like to teach here? What do you do exactly at RNTC? 

It is one of my favorite jobs because I am extremely interested in other cultures and media and I did an International Communications study at the University of Amsterdam in this field, and also because the atmosphere at RNTC has been always so good. I teach or rather train the TV participants in the basics of making TV or film. We have a method 'Learning by Doing' so it is not just theory, but a lot of assignments. After theory and training in the use of equipment, they get to direct, do camera, sound, conduct interviews and afterwards they are taught by the editing trainer how to edit the story. 

Why is your work very important?

I think it is of great value to them because nearly all of the trainees never had a proper formal training and feel very insecure. I really feel that we help these producers in making better programs with bigger ratings and impact. Not only better and balanced information is so necessary but also there are a lot of possibilities for improvement by the media in health campaigns, human rights, ecology and the fight against poverty.

What is your experience with international students? What are the funniest moments of traning them? 

The contact with the international students is always great and we always have so much in common, so much to talk about; our interest in TV, film, culture and in making better programs. I guess the funniest moments we have is when we shoot drama. It can be pretty hilarious sometimes. On the next photos you can see our Dutch/Nigerian actor who plays a patient punch our course participant from Benin who plays his doctor.

Please share some good memories!

I have fantastic memories of RNTC especially all the nice people I got to know and a lot of them I still am in touch with through Facebook or email. Sometimes when I go abroad making documentaries I hook up with them for dinner. That is so great!

How do you see your future at RNTC?

I really hope I can keep working at RNTC for many years to come!

If you want to know more about Paul and his work, please visit his website: www.paulenkelaarfilms.nl