If there is one thing I have learned so far from Sverige episode one: A Foreign Crime it is the meaning of trust between both actor and director. As many filmmakers will agree, this relationship is extremely important. As a filmmaker, you read this in books and hear this from teachers numerous times. However, this idea of trust is rather transparent and dubious until an honest act has actually occurred (which can seldom happen). Furthermore, it is not about whether an actor trusts the director’s vision and ability to direct, this is just an initial layer…to some extent this is a layer of uncertainty within everyone.

Reflecting back on my previous short films I wish I had a more personal and emotional journey with my actors. When my actors cry then I feel that I must mourn and if they are angry then I must be furious. I have indeed felt a small portion of this during the duration of Moments. However, as a director I wanted to be with them more. Despite being a small production there is still this invisible wall that separates the crew from the cast. And despite giving my actors the freedom to explore there is still this barrier. I have come to think that this barrier is merely the wall that is created when people first meet people or whether this barrier is created from people who would not have any connection outside of the production. Even when everyone is in a positive and friendly environment (don’t get me wrong, this helps immensely) there is still a distance between the filmmakers profession and the actors profession which ultimately separates the two. For obvious reason, this process is often kept like this. However, I believe this separation can be removed with a more personal approach to the relationship between the overall production. I would also say that is relationship proves extremely fruitful when executed correctly.

I have never felt so much trust from an actor as I have felt during this production from Mikael Ayele. Despite the crew being just me (and occasionally Fredrik Berg 1st AD) with a small camera, practically no script, and a young experimental director, there is this immense amount of determination and goal to create without barriers. To explain this better, I will have to go into detail regarding our relationship. First, we see each other in class nearly three times a week. Second, we often hang out after class. Third, we usually always travel together. This familiar relationship also applies to Anya whom lived a floor below me and has seen a few films with me. This is a personal relationship and with this eliminates the barrier of professions and allows this unique trust. Perhaps, some people will ponder the possibility of this friendship in other production…my answer is yes. If this relationship is committed then both actors and directions will begin to honestly and truly create mutually. Also from this, barriers will be brought down and this is where true trust comes into place. This trust allows both director and actor to see within each others art. There is no more separation between professions, but now creators creating.
The question remains how? How can this relationship form? Well, the first is to take down these barriers. Lately, I have been meeting with all the actors and introducing them into my life not only as actors but as friends. I have always had this problem to separate and keep a comfortable distance. These ideas and thoughts are still unstable in my mind, but, what I do know is that this trust will make a film much stronger.

With whatever project I decided to embark on after Sverige I want to have a closer relationship will all the actors and crew. Perhaps we will all watch some films together or go bowling and have a few drinks before production.

After the completion of Sverige: A Foreign Crime all the crew and cast felt this new bond within this small production. Here is what Mikael had to say during the production,“As you all have heard by now, Episode 1: A Foreign Crime is officially wrapped and in post-production! The amount of time Erik, myself, and all the other wonderful members of the cast & crew have put into it is simply astonishing, From pre-shoot rehearsals, to countless takes and re-shoots everyone stuck it out and gave it there all. I had so much fun every single day, especially doing the scenes with Anya (who plays Jonas’s love interest, Charlie). Erik had us improvising and exploring different directions so intensely it was incredible.

One minute I was to nervous and afraid to say anything to her, and the next I was messaging her feet, smelling her hair, and seducing her with all sorts of ridiculous pick up lines. Unbelievable! haha.
Another very new and exciting experience for me were the solo scenes. Its SUCH a vastly different experience acting by yourself than with others, one that I feel I have learned tons about during the filming of Episode 1. It required me to truly let go of all my own personal characteristics and fully embrace the thoughts, emotions and actions of Jonas. It was here that I really could see all of the character development work Erik and I did in pre-production paying of. Overall it was a very enriching process for which I am very grateful.

The evening shoot at the nightclub was easily one of the most exhilarating and fun acting experiences I have ever had. Walking to the middle of the club’s dance floor (where no one was dancing yet) and busting out in a fury of drunken dance moves (from the robot to rave hands), dousing myself in beer and then collapsing onto my back is definitely not something I (or probably anyone else at the club that night) will ever forget. Especially since Erik had me do it more than once! Also, shooting in the late hours of the night in subzero temperatures was surprisingly fun and exciting, despite the fact that we all lost feeling in our hands and feet. Oohh the things we do for this little thing we call movie-making.

The best part is, this is not even half of all the crazy and fun stuff you guys will see in this first episode. However, Erik has made it very clear that it won’t be for a while though, so until then everybody, including myself : ( will just have to sit tight and patiently await its release. In the mean time, lets all get pumped up for Episode 2 which is already in the works!”