As a child, commercial director Arjen Schotel loved creating epic stories with his toy dolls, knights, Playmobil, G.I. Joes, and cars. He dreamed big, imagining himself saving whales at sea and staging spectacular action scenes in the meadows around the village where he grew up. When he saw similar fantasies come to life in feature films, from real-life dinosaurs to thrilling car chases, he knew: “I want this too!”

After studying film, Arjen worked as a TV editor, mastering the art of the perfect cut and building suspense. He believes, “In my view, a successful commercial is one that stands out from the crowd. This can be visual, or through the impact of a great story, or both. Ideally, I bring out strong emotions, create great contrasts, and stimulate all senses. From the first frame, the viewer must be curious and triggered. By doing so, the commercial, and therefore the sender of the message, will stand out.”

Arjen is passionate about seeking out intense moments and authentic experiences in his work. He pushes boundaries in casting, locations, and visual effects to ensure the film’s impact. “I want to feel something!” he says.

As a commercial director, Arjen won a Dutch Creativity Award for “A Letter to Brabant,” a project for the Van Gogh Museum & high-tech multinational ASML. Moreover, Arjen worked on projects with Ducati, Mitsubishi, Smart, Keune and SAP.

“I see great opportunities, especially in the areas of edgy commercials, exciting storytelling, automotive, fashion, and drama. Secretly, I would also like to develop myself more in the field of fiction, which is also possible at Hazazah. Because one day, I would like nothing more than to make a beautiful feature film every year and fantastic commercials,” Arjen shares.

He smiles, “I haven’t stopped dreaming.”