ROOTS Masterclass by Bear Damen

Known for his boundary-pushing work with James Blake, Mac DeMarco, Patta, Napapijri (starring Taron Egerton), a wide range of commercials, his festival hit Synthesize Me, and his contribution to the Cannes Camera d’Or–winning War Pony, Bear Damen is a filmmaker who moves effortlessly between music videos, advertising, and narrative cinema — never afraid to get lost along the way.

In this masterclass, Bear dives into how he brought those worlds together: how it all began with pure visual instinct and gradually shifted into a desire to tell real stories. He speaks candidly about what happened during that transition, sharing glimpses of his early work — the beautiful, the rough, the searching.

Bear explores where short-form ends and narrative begins: why music videos revolve around moment and emotion, while longer stories require conflict, character, and momentum. His own script struggles, failures, and inspirations aren’t treated as burdens, but as guides.

At the heart of the session is Synthesize Me, the project that forced him to learn by doing. He breaks down how a small, quirky idea grew into a festival favorite, how editing becomes a second script, and why making choices can matter more than having ideas.

He also reflects on War Pony and what working on a feature film truly demands: patience, world-building, story arcs, and collaborating as if you’re alternating between director, writer, and producer.

Bear closes with the lessons he wishes he’d heard earlier: how to choose the right idea, how festivals can help shape your path, why scripts really do need to be finished — and above all, why you shouldn’t wait.

An open, energetic session filled with filmmaking stories, creative insights, and space to bring your own ideas into the conversation.