How an idea slowly becomes something real: The Mood Video.
Every ad you see started as something very loose. A feeling, a few images, maybe just a sentence. It never just appears, every detail is built, step by step. People (outside of the film industry) often ask me about my job and canât really put together the steps of creative work.
So hereâs a small, honest look into my process when it comes to visualizing the idea through a mood video.
Why mood videos?
If youâre not from a technical background (like me), bringing an idea to life is not only putting frames together. Often, I know which key moments I want to integrate so I kind of know the dramaturgy but not the whole play yet. Therefore, I plan each shot in a static moodboard before even starting the mood video. Then, I take the phone and either shoot each scene directly on recce (location visit) or at home. The mood video is where those pieces start to connect.
Shooting at home: Even if the location is super different, shooting in âcomfort spaceâ is often great when youâre not sure yet if your idea or visuals are going well together or you if have a narrated storyline. I often work with friends, which gives me the opportunity to try out different ways of acting, speaking and filming. But of course, you miss the ârealâ location which often results in a fully different shot in the end. So I mostly do this when I want to focus on the storyline.
Shooting on location during recce: This often comes with more time and team pressure. On recce, the other departments have their clear focus so âusingâ them to stage a video, can be tricky sometimes. But itâs also great to make them understand your idea. I often use @cadrageapp to try camera settings and framings. Shooting during recce is probably the most efficient in the end, as you can plan lighting, set design and angles even better but you also need the time, people and patience of everyone to do this during the short amount of time in a location.
So in this case, THANKS to the whole moodvideo team who staged this with me. Itâs so helpful for me and really fun to watch afterwards! @dreramiro@greta.bolzoni@unoriginal_alx@shahsets@carlottaheiter
So excited to share one of my first projects of the year - the release campaign for the podcast collab between Mord Auf Ex & Sebastian Fitzek on Amazon Music I shot together with @saymyname.berlin đĽ
If you know me, you know true crime has always had me hooked, so getting to shoot these icons was unreal. đ¤
@mordaufexpodcast@sebastianfitzek@amazonmusicde
C R E D I T S
Production: saymyname GmbH @saymyname.berlin
Director: Lea Baintner @lea.baintner
Executive Producer: Benjamin Casser-Zech @bennizech
DOP: Sebastian Mowka @bastimowka
Producer: Carla Finkelstein @carlafinkelstein___
B-Cam Operator: Benjamin Cierpiol @benny_030
C-Cam Operator: Danny Glahn @dannyglahn
1st AC: Thanh-Long Vo @longjourneyfilm
AD: Carlotta Heiter @carlottaheiter
Oberbeleuchter: Gordon Spandern @gordon_spandern
Beleuchter: Alex Schmutzler @this.is.schmutzler
Beleuchter: Leo Gensel @blendende_
Art Department: Carolina Duarte @thisisbob.de carolie.marie
Set Assistant: Fritz Philipp Sturm
Set Assistant: Florence Stadelmann @florence_stadelmann
Sound Engineer: Lukas May-Floor
HMU Artist: Joe Onde @joe_onde_artist
PA: Helene Adolph
Starring:
Main Talent: Linn SchĂźtze (Mord Auf Ex) @linnschuetze
Main Talent: Leonie Bartsch (Mord Auf Ex) @leonie_bartsch
Main Talent: Sebastian Fitzek @sebastianfitzek
Phantomzeichner: Gabriel Hintenaus @gabrielhintenaus
Post Production: saymyname GmbHâ¨Online Edit & Grading: Sebastian Mowka
Offline Edit: Danny Glahn
Client: Amazon Music
Social Media Lead: Kandi Harris
Podcast Lead: Benedikt Treuer
Podcast Manager: Nicole Lemberg
Agency: We Are Social @wearesocialde
Account Director: Jule FrĂśde
Project Managner: Kriszta Csala
Creative Director Production: Hondo Ratkovic
The Duality of Life đ¸
With this post, I want to honor 2025 in all its highs and lows. I donât think Iâve ever lived through a year that was simultaneously so successful and so tragic, so full of growth and yet so deeply sad. 2025 showed me the true duality of life - how you can feel profoundly loved and at the peak of your career, while at the same time being heartbroken and completely paralyzed by life. In no universe could I have made it through this year without my friends and family.
This year, work seamlessly blended into friendship and what might sound like fun was, in truth, a necessity. Only through the understanding and support of the people around me was I able to thrive the way I did. From crying together on set in one second and giving the best we can in the next to pushing each other until the very limits of creativity.
I know many people around me were hit hard this year, and I hope I can give back even a fraction of what I received: love, trust, and kindness. I dearly love my work, but nothing is more important than time spent with the people you love. â¤ď¸
So I say thank you to friends that carried me through the roughest time with patience and love. To friends that travelled with me to different countries, cities or my tiny Schrebergarten. To people that I see on set and the moment I see them, I feel secure. To my family and boyfriend who lift me up each day of the year. To the people always checking in and not forgetting. To all the artists that gave me the trust to visualize their music. To all the clients that challenged me and made me a better director. To all the production companies that trusted me with their clients, visions and work. To all the Gaffers, H&M, styling, art departments, sound engineers, producers and everyone that spent time with me on set - thank you for working with me!
May 2026 arrive with more lightness and many sunny days.
