Vincent van Ommen
Encyclopedia
Vincent van Ommen is a Dutch actor
who stars in English
language films. He was born and raised in The Hague
, The Netherlands.
, where he was trained to become a professional actor, after that he took an intense post-course specializing in acting for film and television. He was also trained in film and stage combat
by Tony Wolf, the Lord of the Rings
fighting styles designer, and took method acting classes. During his studies, van Ommen starred in several commercials and made guest appearances in various TV shows.
In 2008, van Ommen made his mark after he caused a national stir in the media when his short film Stop! - in which he plays a leading role - was released during the International Film Festival Rotterdam
. Stop! is about two boys who witness a robbery and decide to chase the thieves by car while filming everything with a mobile phone. The wild chase ends badly for all concerned. Stop! got over 870 thousand views online. Journalists contacted the police thinking it was real. This reached national media, talk shows and news.
From that moment on, van Ommen's career took flight. Within the next few months he landed lead roles in a handful of award winning short films, ranging from romantic comedy to sci-fi, like the Dutch short film Millie, Faith (UK) and Provocator (UK). Shortly after, van Ommen made his English language feature film debut as the immortal Elijah in the urban fantasy film Reiki, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival
2009. In April 2010, Reiki also screened at the Elf Fantasy Fair
, the biggest fantasy event in Europe.
Director Jayant R. Harnam saw one of his short films and was convinced that he would be the perfect actor for the leading role of Nathan Scott in the thriller Life is an Art, in which he stars alongside Alison Carroll
(Doghouse
, Tomb Raider: Underworld
model). This movie was van Ommen's second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival
in 2010.
In March 2010 van Ommen played the leading role in the UK neo noir film A Morass, with Alessandro Giuggioli (Me and Orson Welles
, Genova
), which is now in post-production.
He also had a part in the Dutch feature film Verloren Jaren starring Frederik de Groot
and Wouter de Jong.
He has recently been cast in the action-film Amsterdam Heavy which stars Michael Madsen
(Reservoir Dogs
).
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who stars in English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
language films. He was born and raised in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, The Netherlands.
Film career
Van Ommen studied drama at De Trap, a private school for acting in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where he was trained to become a professional actor, after that he took an intense post-course specializing in acting for film and television. He was also trained in film and stage combat
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
by Tony Wolf, the Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings (film)
The Lord of the Rings is the title of the following films:*The Lord of the Rings *The Lord of the Rings film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson:**The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring...
fighting styles designer, and took method acting classes. During his studies, van Ommen starred in several commercials and made guest appearances in various TV shows.
In 2008, van Ommen made his mark after he caused a national stir in the media when his short film Stop! - in which he plays a leading role - was released during the International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
. Stop! is about two boys who witness a robbery and decide to chase the thieves by car while filming everything with a mobile phone. The wild chase ends badly for all concerned. Stop! got over 870 thousand views online. Journalists contacted the police thinking it was real. This reached national media, talk shows and news.
From that moment on, van Ommen's career took flight. Within the next few months he landed lead roles in a handful of award winning short films, ranging from romantic comedy to sci-fi, like the Dutch short film Millie, Faith (UK) and Provocator (UK). Shortly after, van Ommen made his English language feature film debut as the immortal Elijah in the urban fantasy film Reiki, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
2009. In April 2010, Reiki also screened at the Elf Fantasy Fair
Elf Fantasy Fair
The Elf Fantasy Fair is an outdoor fantasy event in the Netherlands which is traditionally held in April since 2001, but from 2009 it is held twice per year in Haarzuilens and in Arcen . The Haarzuilens fair is the largest fantasy event in Europe and attracts some 22,500 visitors every year...
, the biggest fantasy event in Europe.
Director Jayant R. Harnam saw one of his short films and was convinced that he would be the perfect actor for the leading role of Nathan Scott in the thriller Life is an Art, in which he stars alongside Alison Carroll
Alison Carroll
Alison Carroll is an English gymnast, model, and actress. She was the most recent Lara Croft model, from 2008 to 2010.- Biography :Alison Carroll was born in Croydon, Surrey in England....
(Doghouse
Doghouse (film)
Doghouse is a 2009 British horror comedy and splatter film.A group of men travels to a remote village in England for a 'boys' weekend'. Upon their arrival, they found out that all the women in the town had been transformed into some kind of man-eating cannibals.-Plot:Vince is depressed over his...
, Tomb Raider: Underworld
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Tomb Raider: Underworld is the eighth instalment of the Tomb Raider series. The story continues from the events in Tomb Raider: Legend as a direct sequel, but also addresses unexplained plot elements by association with Tomb Raider: Anniversary; the 2007 remake of the original Tomb Raider...
model). This movie was van Ommen's second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in 2010.
In March 2010 van Ommen played the leading role in the UK neo noir film A Morass, with Alessandro Giuggioli (Me and Orson Welles
Me and Orson Welles
Me and Orson Welles is a 2009 period-drama film directed by Richard Linklater and starring Zac Efron, Christian McKay, and Claire Danes. Based on Robert Kaplow's novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 New York, tells of a teenager hired to perform in Orson Welles's stage production of...
, Genova
Genova (film)
Genova is a film directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Colin Firth, Catherine Keener, and Hope Davis. It was filmed in the titular city of Genoa during the summer of 2007. It was written by Wonderland screenwriter Laurence Coriat...
), which is now in post-production.
He also had a part in the Dutch feature film Verloren Jaren starring Frederik de Groot
Frederik de Groot
Frederik Percy de Groot is a Dutch actor. In the Netherlands he appeared in the detective series Bureau Kruislaan and its spin-off Unit 13....
and Wouter de Jong.
He has recently been cast in the action-film Amsterdam Heavy which stars Michael Madsen
Michael Madsen
Michael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin...
(Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs is an American crime film marking debut of director and writer Quentin Tarantino. It depicts the events before and after a botched diamond heist, but not the heist itself. Reservoir Dogs stars an ensemble cast: Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and...
).
Feature films
- A Morass (2011) .... Traveller
- Amsterdam Heavy (2011) .... Agent van Beek
- Life is an Art (2010) .... Nathan Scott
- Verloren Jaren (2010) .... Luuk
- Reiki (2009) .... Elijah
Short films
- Paper Parachutes (2011) .... Uncle Ed
- Faith (2010) .... Keith
- Millie (2008) .... Matthias
- Stop! (2008) .... Paul
Television
- Koekeloere (2009) .... Meneer Boer
- GamekingsGamekingsGamekings is a Dutch television program centered around videogames and is broadcast on MTV. Until 2005 it was broadcast on the former Dutch television channel The Box and was broadcast on TMF until 2011....
(2008) .... Mark / Pascal
External links
- Vincent van Ommen Official site