Wim Verstappen
Encyclopedia
Wim Verstappen was a Dutch
film director
and producer
, television director
, and screen writer.
Verstappen grew up on Curaçao
. He started at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy
in 1961, and released his first movie in 1966, De minder gelukkige terugkeer van Joszef Katus naar het land van Rembrandt. He joined the editorial staff of the movie magazine Skoop in 1964, working alongside Nicolai van der Heyde, Gied Jaspars, and Pim de la Parra. From 1966 on he directed and produced films with De la Parra, and in 1967 they founded a production company, Scorpio Films, becoming known as 'Pim & Wim'. Among their productions was the 1971 explicit movie Blue movie, which led to the abolition of the Dutch movie rating system for adults.
After the demise of Scorpio Films, Verstappen directed two movies based on novels by Simon Vestdijk
, Pastorale 1943 (1978) and Het verboden bacchanaal (1981). While the first was a commercial success, drawing an audience of over a million, the second movie flopped, as did two later movies, De Zwarte Ruiter (1983) and De Ratelrat (1987).
Verstappen stopped directing movies and focused on movie rights, founding an organization to secure authors' copyrights. In 1992 he was awarded the Dutch Filmmuseum Award for his contributions to the Dutch film industry, and in 1995 he received a Golden Calf
for his body of work. He died of cancer in 2004.
Cinema of the Netherlands
Because the Dutch film industry is relatively small, and there is little or no international market for Dutch films, almost all films rely on state funding. This funding can be achieved through several sources, for instance through the Dutch Film Fund or the Dutch public broadcast networks...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, television director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, and screen writer.
Verstappen grew up on Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. He started at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy
Netherlands Film and Television Academy
The Netherlands Film and Television Academy was founded in 1958.The academy is the only recognised institute in the Netherlands that offers training to prepare for the work in the various crew disciplines...
in 1961, and released his first movie in 1966, De minder gelukkige terugkeer van Joszef Katus naar het land van Rembrandt. He joined the editorial staff of the movie magazine Skoop in 1964, working alongside Nicolai van der Heyde, Gied Jaspars, and Pim de la Parra. From 1966 on he directed and produced films with De la Parra, and in 1967 they founded a production company, Scorpio Films, becoming known as 'Pim & Wim'. Among their productions was the 1971 explicit movie Blue movie, which led to the abolition of the Dutch movie rating system for adults.
After the demise of Scorpio Films, Verstappen directed two movies based on novels by Simon Vestdijk
Simon Vestdijk
Simon Vestdijk was a Dutch writer.Born in the small town of Harlingen, Vestdijk studied medicine in Amsterdam, but turned to literature after a few years as a doctor. He became one of the most important 20th-century writers in the Netherlands. His prolificness as a novelist was legendary, but he...
, Pastorale 1943 (1978) and Het verboden bacchanaal (1981). While the first was a commercial success, drawing an audience of over a million, the second movie flopped, as did two later movies, De Zwarte Ruiter (1983) and De Ratelrat (1987).
Verstappen stopped directing movies and focused on movie rights, founding an organization to secure authors' copyrights. In 1992 he was awarded the Dutch Filmmuseum Award for his contributions to the Dutch film industry, and in 1995 he received a Golden Calf
Golden Calf (award)
The Golden Calf is the award of the Netherlands Film Festival, which is held annually in Utrecht. The award has been presented since 1981, originally in six categories: Best actor, Best actress, Best film, Best Short film, Culture Prize and Honourable mention...
for his body of work. He died of cancer in 2004.
Select filmography
- IJdijk (1965; an experimental movie about pedophiliaPedophiliaAs a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
, with Verstappen playing the pedophile) - De minder gelukkige terugkeer van Joszef Katus naar het land van Rembrandt (1966)
- Liefdesbekentenissen (1967; with Ramses ShaffyRamses ShaffyRamses Shaffy was a Dutch singer and actor. He became popular during the 1960s. His most famous songs include Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder , We zullen doorgaan , Pastorale, Sammy and Laat me...
) - Drop Out (1969)
- Blue MovieBlue MovieBlue Movie , a.k.a. Fuck, is a film by Andy Warhol starring Viva and Louis Waldon.Warhol describes the film, "in October '68 I shot a movie of Viva having sex with Louis Waldon...
(1971; with Carry Tefsen and Hugo Metsers) - VD (1972)
- Frank en Eva (1973)
- AliciaAlicia (film)Alicia is a 1974 Dutch film directed by Wim Verstappen....
(1974) - DakotaDakota (film)Dakota is a 1945 Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring John Wayne.-Cast:* John Wayne - John Devlin* Vera Ralston - Sandy Poli * Walter Brennan - Capt. Bounce of the Riverbird* Ward Bond - Jim Bender* Mike Mazurki - Bigtree Collins...
(1974) - Leren van Las Vegas (1974; 8 mm documentary, commentary by Kees BrusseKees BrusseKees Brusse is a Dutch actor and film director. He has appeared in 47 films and television shows since 1936. He starred in the 1975 film Dokter Pulder zaait papavers, which was entered into the 26th Berlin International Film Festival....
) - Mens Erger Je Niet (1975; with Rijk de GooyerRijk de GooyerRijk de Gooyer was a Dutch Golden Calf- winning actor, writer, comedian and singer. From the 1950s until the early 1970s, he became well known in The Netherlands as part of a comic duo with John Kraaijkamp, Sr...
) - Pastorale 1943 (1978; based on the novel by Simon VestdijkSimon VestdijkSimon Vestdijk was a Dutch writer.Born in the small town of Harlingen, Vestdijk studied medicine in Amsterdam, but turned to literature after a few years as a doctor. He became one of the most important 20th-century writers in the Netherlands. His prolificness as a novelist was legendary, but he...
); adapted for television) - Grijpstra en de Gier (1979; based on Het lijk in de Haarlemmerhouttuinen by Janwillem van de WeteringJanwillem van de WeteringJanwillem Lincoln van de Wetering was the author of a number of works in English and Dutch. He was particularly noted for his detective fiction, his most popular creations being Grijpstra and de Gier, a pair of Amsterdam police officers who figure in a lengthy series of novels and short stories...
) - Het verboden bacchanaal (1981; based on the novel by Simon VestdijkSimon VestdijkSimon Vestdijk was a Dutch writer.Born in the small town of Harlingen, Vestdijk studied medicine in Amsterdam, but turned to literature after a few years as a doctor. He became one of the most important 20th-century writers in the Netherlands. His prolificness as a novelist was legendary, but he...
) - De Zwarte Ruiter (1983; adapted for television in 1986 as De Smokkelaar)
- Leren van Las Vegas (1985; re-edited version of the 1974 original)
- De Ratelrat (1987; based on the novel by Janwillem van de WeteringJanwillem van de WeteringJanwillem Lincoln van de Wetering was the author of a number of works in English and Dutch. He was particularly noted for his detective fiction, his most popular creations being Grijpstra and de Gier, a pair of Amsterdam police officers who figure in a lengthy series of novels and short stories...
); adapted for television as Het Lijk In Friesland)