shots Unsigned: Vanessa Stachel

Director Vanessa Stachel came to our attention last year when we saw her film Lady Painmaker at the Porsche Awards in Germany.

A current student at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Stachel's latest film, a spec-ad for LG titled Delivery for Mr. Frogula recently won a Porsche Award in the Long Advertising Content section.

The film, which is one of Stachel's third-year-projects, is a wonderful stop-motion affair featuring Stella the moth who is delivering LG electronics. The job sucks, especially because of the weird-ass clients she has to deliver to, and this last client of the day seems to be especially weird…

Can you tell us a little about your background and your route into directing? 

Since childhood, I've been in love with fantastic stories, whether it be Grimms’ fairy tales, Astrid Lindgren's The Brothers Lionheart, Cornelia Funke's Dragon Rider, or the magical world of Harry Potter. I quickly realised I wanted to tell stories myself, so I joined a local theatre group as a kid and the theatre club in high school. However, I felt that acting wasn't enough for me to express my stories. 

At the age of 12, I began creating my own animated films, also because I loved drawing. With 15 I got into making films with friends and family with a MiniDV Camcorder. And I noticed: That is so, so, SO much fun. I would never get tired of making films. For me, one of the best parts of it was showing the finished films to an audience. Making people smile, laugh, giving them the shivers, it’s the best. 

I wanted to study film but thought I wasn’t good enough for film school yet. So, I took a detour and studied Communication Design

After high school, I wanted to study film but thought I wasn’t good enough for film school yet. So, I took a detour and studied Communication Design, where film was a part of the curriculum, but the focus was mainly on advertising and graphic design.

Throughout and after my studies, I worked extensively as a freelancer, taking on motion design jobs and some small local directing
commissions. However, I didn't give up on my dream (yeah, I know, it sounds cheesy) and eventually applied to film school to study directing. I was accepted at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Germany, the film school I wanted to go to since I was 15. I will likely graduate in 2026, so there are still some more films to come and I’m slowly starting to reach out and it would be great to take foot in the film and advertising industry in the near future.

ABOVE: Vanessa crafting and bringing Mr. Frogula to life.

Would you say you have a directing style? How did you arrive at it?

I think I do. The stories I want to tell often have a dark side to them, but they mostly also have a funny one! In my stories you will find sinister and twisted things and colourful joy or wholesomeness at the same time. I like weird and fucked up stuff, but I still want to give my audience some candy for their senses. I think studying Communication Design helped a lot with that. I learned how good design and visual appeal work. In my film studies I concentrated a lot on character work and storytelling.

When I stay true to myself my directing style comes naturally to me. It is the stories I want to share and let others be part of it. To break it down you could say I do: Storytelling, Comedy, Craft and fantastic, sometimes dark, settings. I love topics about female empowerment and weird outsider characters.

I love topics about female empowerment and weird outsider characters.

Did you study filmmaking? How did you learn your craft?

Yes, right now, I’m still in film school. However, before that, I was mostly self-taught, gaining a good understanding of how each department works. While studying Communication Design, I had the freedom to explore, but now I'm fully focused on directing, which I'm thrilled about. Looking back, I'm proud of everything I've learned over the years.

What was the story behind the Delivery for Mr. Frogula film?

First: Frogs are one of my favourite animals, and as a teenager, I read many vampire books (not just Twilight). The initial inspiration came during a summer vacation with my boyfriend in Bologna, Italy. We did a self-guided treasure hunt/city tour and learned about the scientist Galvani, who conducted experiments on dead frogs, running electricity through them, causing their legs to twitch, even though the frogs were dead. That got my head spinning, thinking of stories where human-like frogs might live in the city, maybe also some undead Vampire-Frogs, It is said author Mary Shelley was inspired in Bologna by Galvanis frog experiments to write Frankenstein. I mean those are big footprints and I feel honoured to be able to walk in them a little.

One year after the trip, I decided to make Delivery for Mr. Frogula as one of my third-year-projects at Filmakademie. I had done stop motion before once and thought that could fit perfectly with a Vampire-Frog story.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in pulling this project together?  

The first big challenge was to convince the Filmakademie that our team could pull off our ambitious stop motion film concept in just a few months. After we got green-lighted, the next big challenge was of course to actually pull it off. A big piece of the work had to be done in just three months (copywriting, casting, audio recording, animatic edit, set design and building, puppet design and building, the shoot itself) and all of that with a very limited budget and a small (but dedicated) team.

It was challenging for everyone to work through the hottest and most beautiful summer days, when we could have been enjoying life outdoors. I’m super grateful for each and everyone on the team for pulling through and the unforgettable time we were having.

ABOVE: A closer look at Stella the moth.

How long was the shoot and what was the most challenging aspect of the project?

The shooting phase lasted six weeks. We did not shoot every single day, overall, it was 28 shooting days, but some days were for set changes and lighting. However, it was six weeks in a row being fully concentrated every single day (Yep, no weekends…) Also, I wanted to do the puppet building myself.

So, it was challenging to always be available for all the departments as director and still wanting to do a decent job with the puppets. But it worked out. I was kind of living on the film school campus for the six weeks. The night guards got used to me still working on the puppets in the middle of the night.

I want to direct more stop motion films. The medium is just pure magic.

What have you learned during the process of making the film?

• Energy drinks do actually work. (I was never a fan before, but now I know they can be quite useful.)
• Personally, I know now how much I still love working with my hands. Building the puppets was an experience. It can be kind of meditative and very rewarding, but I also love the challenge on how to make the puppets right, so they work for what they need to be able to do in the film.
• I want to direct more stop motion films. The medium is just pure magic.
• The importance of good communication
• Don’t underestimate a good night’s sleep

ABOVE: Photographs from behind the scenes of the shoot.

What other directors' work do you admire?

For feature directors I love Peter Jackson's work. He has a big love for horror, scary, trashy things but he is such a powerful storyteller at the same time. I admire that! I also love the fantastic worlds created by Guillermo del Toro. Pans Labyrinth left me in awe.

For commercial directors I think Traktor are epic, I love their comedy storytelling. And of course, I’m a big fan of directors who also studied at the Filmakademie, like Hanna Maria Heidrich (love her clever and on the point storytelling) and Dorian & Daniel (the stunning visuals and all of those emotions!).

Where do you find the inspiration for your projects? 

Inspiration can strike anytime, sometimes out of the weirdest conversations or situations. But good inspiration starters are of course books, films, travelling, the news, memes, childhood memories, I guess staying curious and being open minded is the key for me.

It’s also good to take a break after a big project to recharge the creativity and find new inspiration.

Inspiration can strike anytime, sometimes out of the weirdest conversations or situations.