The Director Of The Week Onur Şentürk: “‘Nokta/Dot’ was my point of escape!”

Director and the motion designer Onur Şentürk put an end to a certain period of his life after his internationally acclaimed short film “Nokta/Dot”. He grew tired of doing work that is open to manipulation and intervention in Turkey and began working in Los Angeles. Şentürk, who came to limelight again with his film “Triangle”, which took part in PressPausePlay project and was previously mentioned in Cut Magazine, also worked for David Fincher and Magnum.

Let’s clear this first; are you living in Turkey or in New York at the moment?

I live in Los Angeles.

We know that either you are working for Prologue Film in New York or they are representing you, right?

Prologue Film studios are in Los Angeles; however, they have an representative agent in New York. I work there as a designer and director.

Can you tell us about your relationship with Prologue Film? How did the relation develope? Since when are they representing you?

I made a short film called “Nokta/Dot”. It became well known because of Internet. I signed a contract with them as designer and director. I have been working with them for almost a year.

I think, Turkey, like the rest of the world, got to know you with “Triangle”-awarded by Vimeo-and “Nokta/Dot”. However, there are a number of other projects that you produced or were a part of it. Which project does have a greatest meaning for you and why?

“Nokta/Dot”. Because I think I put an end to a certain period of my life with it. There was a period that I was doing commercial work and I was not happy with it. There were works that anyone could manipulate and formulate, and I felt so lost at that time. This is why; when I had time I tried to get away and made this film. I was tired of being manipulated; the film was the only point of escape for me. Otherwise, I was completely about to give up on doing something.

“Triangle” took part in the worldwide hit PressPausePlay project. Let’s talk about it a little bit. The film basically talks about the state of digital culture from the point of hope and fear. What is your personal opinion on that? Should we fear or should we hope, what do you think?

I clearly do not know; so many people create/produce something, this is a good thing. Making your voice heard-regardless how hard it can be-is always better than not being heard. If you remember, Dadaists said that after World War II. Creating, designing, and managing something is everyone’s passion. We all have dreams; however, when those dreams come true, when they transform into a product, a movie, or a song, the audience decide which one us will be defined an artist. Creating a unique work is a complicated matter. Whatever you do, the work you do will be similar to the work done by another person. Of course, openly copying is a different story.

How do you evaluate the market in Turkey? Do you get job offers from Turkey?

Yes, I do. As I mentioned before, the intervention was worst during my time here. Of course, there would be exceptions. In other words, I think there are places doing creative work and doing commercial work completely separated. If you have a client, if you create a visual entity for the brand, the brand might be open or close to creativity. And that will directly affect the intellectual quality of the work. Clearly, I am choosy.

Which project are you working on right now?

I just finished a project with David Fincher last week. It will be released in December 2011. I am shooting a commercial for Magnum right now.

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