We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felix Van Kann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Felix, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
As a screenwriter, it’s an ongoing battle for me for sure. But at this point, it’s almost part of my process. Meaning it’s a drive for me to keep working and becoming a better storyteller. This is not to say my imposter syndrome hasn’t decreased a lot over the years and I think a lot of that is about gaining confidence in your abilities as a writer and considering yourself a professional rather than someone who just writes for fun. Developing a routine has also made a big impact on me. If you write every day and treat it as your job – then it’s your job. You’re not an imposter if you’re doing the work. Of course, sometimes it’s not that simple and imposter syndrome hardly ever fully disappears, but to me, it’s all about building the resilience to say: “Even if I feel like one now, I won’t in the future.”
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a screenwriter from Germany which is where I was born and raised. I came to LA to study here with a tennis scholarship after graduating high school and that’s when I fell in love with screenwriting. No one I knew in Germany worked in the film industry, but coming to LA, it was everywhere and it felt like a natural fit for me because I’ve always been a storyteller. So I committed to going to film school in New York and moved back out to LA afterward.
In addition to my writing, I’m also working on a documentary in Germany about my grandfather’s soccer team in 1960 which was the first German team to reach the Champions League finals. I’m really excited about it because it’s a great way to connect with my family history. I’ve also just completed my thesis short film “The Devil On Screen” – a dark comedy about the devil bringing social media to earth to corrupt humanity – which we’re submitting to festivals right now and we’re hoping for good news on that front soon.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First off, my journey is still ongoing as well and I learn something new every day. Three things that have helped me so far, I believe, are staying optimistic, my abilities as a writer, and my resilience when dealing with difficult decisions which I think stems from my tennis playing times.
I’d say the hardest part for me was to truly commit to the journey which I feel like is a common struggle. Wanting to write for a living is a crazy thought and it’s very easy to let pessimism – or rationality, whatever you wanna call it – slip in and prevent you from even giving it a proper try.
That’s what I faced because it’s so hard to find a clear path to get to where you wanna go in this industry. I had to remind myself that I wouldn’t succeed if I didn’t try. I’m a strong believer that if you have faith in yourself, you’ll end up in a position you’ll be happy in, even if it’s not exactly what you expected. You have to keep an open mind.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Sure, I always look for collaborators. That’s one of the main reasons why I decided to pursue writing for film over writing novels – because I love the concept of talented people giving their best to reach a shared goal. In its best form, this brings out a piece of work you would never be able to create just by yourself.
As a writer, I’m always looking for other writers, directors, and producers to exchange ideas with – I love to brainstorm and can get lost in spitballing dumb ideas until one finally sticks. I mostly work in the comedy space, either with a dark twist or something satirical, so that’s where I feel at home. The best way to get ahold of me is through my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.felixvankann.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felix-van-kann-9b1136a7/
