Szymon Dudka

"I was swinging from the helicopter like James Bond with a camera," says Warsaw-based filmmaker Szymon Dudka, recalling an extraordinary opportunity towards the start of his career, while shooting a documentary in Norway. "I was filming at the small local airport and the pilot asked if I would like to take some shots from his helicopter," says Szymon. "I thought, 'Why not?'"

That fearlessness and willingness to try new things has helped Szymon to build an impressive commercial portfolio. He has worked with renowned health and beauty brands, as well as household names in the sports and leisure industry, who are drawn to his contemporary yet nostalgic Hollywood aesthetic.

Szymon often takes inspiration from his surroundings and enjoys immersing himself in an environment. One of his favourite projects was a film for a clothing brand made with photographer Marcin Kempski. "We stayed in this old villa in Tuscany, where we were also shooting," he says. "The space was both our workplace and the inspiration for the project; it was a really nice way to work."

Szymon has since worked on numerous commercials and documentaries, and has even directed a feature film, Al Di Là, with Moroccan director Othman Naciri. A tribute to 1960s Italian cinema, the dramatic comedy follows a real estate agent who meets an actor, altering the course of both their lives. "There was a lot to learn from this project," he says. "I hope to have the opportunity to make another video with Othman."

You can see some of Szymon's footage from Morocco in his showreel, above, which he shot on a Canon EOS R6 Mark II while he was in the country for the premiere of Al Di Là.

Szymon's creative language has evolved through his filmmaking experiences and his work is influenced by both film and photography. "I'm making videos, but I really respect the way photographers work – the aesthetic of framing and the way they think about colours, for example," he says. "I try to combine the style of old movies and contemporary fashion photography. I think these styles and aesthetics complement each other immensely."

Renowned portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz and German photographer and filmmaker Peter Lindbergh have had the biggest impact on Szymon's work. He has also been influenced by American filmmaker Wes Anderson, particularly his use of colour. "I really liked The Grand Budapest Hotel – the symmetry, colours and the design of his movies are unique and inspirational to me," he adds.

Now working with a talent agency in Warsaw, Szymon hopes to create more films and documentaries. "My dream is to work on another feature film," he says. "I may ease off a little from commercials to do something with more purpose. I really like making documentaries – they can be important for society – and I plan to create more. I love making commercials, but at the same time it will be nice to make some projects without any creative boundaries."

What's been your favourite project and why?

"A commercial I made for a sports footwear brand was one of my favourite projects because I worked with a film camera, so it was very aligned with the 'old movie' styles I'm interested in. It was a different way of working compared to what I was used to. We had three rolls of film, so it pretty much guaranteed just three minutes of filming. I liked the challenge of having to work within these parameters when making framing decisions. There's magic when you're working with film because you don't fully know what you have recorded until you develop it. Receiving the results was such an exciting moment."

What has been your most memorable experience shooting?

"At the beginning of my career, I collaborated with a pilot to make a documentary video about base jumpers in Norway. We had so many adventures there. We worked with a small crew and went to the top of the mountain with the base jumper. I took some shots of the mountain and she jumped down. It then dawned on us that we were alone on the mountain and we had to figure out how to get down. We ended up trying to find the way for about 10 hours which, although it sounds scary, felt like we had joined an expedition in paradise; it was bright all day, and the mountain views were unbelievable."

Are there any lessons you have learned from your experience?

"Idea over gear! Be practical when you go 'run and gun' shooting, which is a method I sometimes use. Don't take too much stuff with you, just simply set up. It's so important to stay present and capture the essence in this fast-paced environment, rather than being preoccupied with which camera and accessories to use."

"Don't be the smartest person on the crew. It's about teamwork, so it's good to listen to everyone involved. It's also important to be self-confident. When you are the director, you should believe in your own ideas and expertise, but at the same time you must fully consider the whole crew's input, and realise the good ideas."

Instagram: @szymondudka

Vimeo: Szymon Dudka