We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maxine Rödiger a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maxine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Since I came to Los Angeles my number one passion has been to bring people together and to create in a team. I’ve always had lots of ideas and got so excited about them that I immediately started planning and dreaming about what they could eventually turn into. I absolutely love discussing goals and dreams with the people around me who inspire me. My most meaningful project yet is the NETZWRK GROUP. I started this community with my friend Karolina Bryner, a stills photographer, who I met on set over a year ago. We wanted to bridge the gap between no-budget productions and newcomer actors. The number one question is always: Where/How do I start? No matter if it’s film or acting school. My advice is always to gather all the experiences and knowledge that you can by creating your own opportunities. I don’t believe in waiting for something to happen, so I make it happen. I wanted to provide that opportunity to filmmakers and actors by providing a roster of incredible people to no-budget filmmakers. Artistic expression should never be limited by financial barriers and that’s why I started NETZWRK.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I guess you could say I’m a bit of a global storyteller. I was born in Germany and raised in Spain, which has given me a diverse cultural perspective and the ability to speak three languages. My journey into filmmaking has been quite an adventure. I initially studied musical theater and even moved to LA to pursue acting. However, when the pandemic hit, it forced me to pivot and adapt. In 2021, I co-wrote, produced, and directed a pilot in Munich, called “Fishing Avocados” which turned out to be a pivotal moment in my filmmaking career.

From there, I took on various roles in the industry. I worked as a Production Assistant in Berlin, and then I decided to return to LA in 2022. That’s when I truly fell in love with the art of filmmaking while working as an Assistant Director on student film sets. What I learned during that time is that it doesn’t matter how many years of experience you have; what truly matters is your work attitude and the hunger to succeed in this industry.

I’ve been gradually expanding my horizons by working on commercials and even venturing into feature films. Most of the time, I work on short films as a freelancer. Currently, I’m on track to graduate from the Los Angeles Film School in December 2023 with an associate degree in Film.

Ultimately, my goal is to dive deeper into producing and perhaps one day establish my own production company, both in LA and Germany, focusing on commercials and image films. I’ll probably come up with more ideas until then and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out for me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the ability to bring people together and help others achieve their creative goals. There’s a unique thrill in connecting with other creatives and being a part of something that excites and drives you. It’s all about engaging with people on a deeper level, sparking conversations, and sometimes even inspiring change. I also love making people happy and excited with my work and ideas, which is why being a freelance filmmaker, who gets to choose their projects and the people to work with is so exciting.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I think in today’s world, especially in the film industry, it seems to get harder and harder to be successful without any resources. That’s why I started NETZWRK. I wanted to help others take their projects to the next level without having to worry that they can’t afford the right actors. The actors in my roster are a mixture of experienced and unexperienced actors but they all have one thing in common: They are incredibly driven and are willing to go the extra mile to make their dreams cone true. I wish more people know about what we do at netzwrk, simply because it has so much potential to bring filmmakers together and start conversations, ideas, and even projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.netzwrk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/netzwrk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/netzwrk.group/
• Other: My personal Insagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxine.ro/

Image Credits
Karolina Bryner & Asher LaBostrie