Julian Rentzsch – The TMG Interview
Interview by Paul Preston
If you’re a movie fanatic like us at The Movie Guys, you’ll love the project German artist Julian Rentzsch has taken on – illustrations of legendary film directors overflowing with the visuals, words, and more that the great works of these icons summon up in your mind. To call these artworks that blend in and out of the surreal “drawings” would be a disservice to the thought and research Rentzsch went through to create something truly unique.
Twist my arm to talk about movie-related anything, so movie-related director portraits? I’m in, and Julian obliged sharing his process and more. Read on…
Paul Preston: Everybody, in some way, loves movies, and they show it in different ways. People start podcasts, work at movie theaters, write books — I started a tour of movie locations in L.A. What sparked your focus towards Director Portraits?
Julian Rentzsch: That’s a fantastic way to celebrate cinema — visiting the places where iconic moments were filmed connects you directly to the art. For me, it was a similar merging of passions. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a child. Later, during and after my studies in communication design, I became increasingly focused on people and their stories. At the same time, I was always a huge fan of movies and series. The idea came to combine these two passions — art and film — which led to the Movie Director Portrait series. I wanted to give a face to the often invisible minds behind the camera and pay visual tribute to their cinematic legacy. Everyone knows the lead actors, but the creative vision behind the films is rarely in the spotlight. This project aims to close that gap.
Paul Preston: Yes! Totally agree. Anyone who comes away from a movie even with a very simple “I liked it” may have no idea how many choices a director has made to get you to that place. Let’s give directors some love! So, how did you choose which directors were going to be included in the project?
Julian Rentzsch: It’s a mix of influence, personal admiration, and visual potential. I usually start with filmmakers whose style and body of work have made a lasting impact — whether culturally, visually, or both. Some directors were obvious choices from the start, like Tarantino or Coppola, while others were added because I discovered how visually rich and narratively layered their work is. And of course, there’s always a balance between personal favorites and directors whose work resonates widely with film fans.
Paul Preston: Each portrait looks like an image of the artist splashed with words and images from the director’s filmography. What led you to this visual concept?
Julian Rentzsch: The idea was to reflect the way a director’s mind might work — a collage of themes, characters, and visual motifs they’ve created over time. I wanted each piece to feel like a window into their creative psyche. It’s more than just a likeness; it’s a visual story built from their work. That layering also mirrors the experience of watching a great film: there’s always something beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.
Paul Preston: How did you combine analog and digital methods to create the final artwork?
Julian Rentzsch: The process starts with analog: a pencil sketch to establish proportions and structure, based on photo references and film stills. I then paint the director’s portrait in watercolor, and hand-illustrate the film scenes. Once all the elements are finished, I scan and digitally combine them. The analog stage gives the work a human, textured feel, while the digital stage helps with composition and cohesion. It’s a balance between organic detail and polished execution.
Paul Preston: I always say that the visual aspect of a film is carefully crafted and designed to work on you whether you’re aware of it or not (part of my ongoing case that movies need to be seen in a theater). How does your portrait art do the same? No doubt, it includes choices that are meant to make you feel a certain way that may be working under the surface, no?
Julian Rentzsch: Absolutely. Like cinema, I use visual cues —style, contrast, composition — to create a mood. The text and images I weave into the portraits aren’t just decorative; they’re meant to evoke emotion and memory. Ideally, someone looks at one of the portraits and is transported back into a scene, a feeling, or even the smell of popcorn in a dark theater. It’s subtle storytelling through design, the same way a film scene might use lighting or framing to guide emotion.
Paul Preston: I’m sure you can’t sit and watch all the films of all the subjects you’ve decided to showcase in this series, but were there any films you were inspired to watch that you hadn’t seen before that really stuck out?
Julian Rentzsch: Definitely. Sometimes I already know a director’s work well, but when starting a new portrait, I dive deeper — through watching films, trailers, clips, or reading reviews. In some cases, I’ve watched films for the first time and been completely captivated. It’s not always possible to watch every single movie, but I do make an effort to absorb the director’s visual and narrative language. That process often surprises and inspires me.
Paul Preston: What directors do you look forward to portraying in your future works?
Julian Rentzsch: There are quite a few still on the list! Jim Jarmusch and Steve McQueen are coming soon. I’d also love to create portraits of Spike Lee, Orson Welles, James Cameron — and many others who’ve shaped the language of cinema in powerful ways.
Paul Preston: Spike Lee! A+ choice, there. Do you take requests? If someone commissioned a portrait of their favorite director, would you take it on? Even if it was some indie director no one’s ever heard of?
Julian Rentzsch: Yes, I do commissions and actually enjoy when someone introduces me to a lesser-known filmmaker. It’s rewarding to create something personal and unique — especially when it means something deeply to the person requesting it. Sometimes these custom works also lead me to explore new genres or styles I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.
Paul Preston: Where can film lovers view and purchase art from the Movie Director Portrait series?
Julian Rentzsch: The series is available at julianrentzsch.de, and you can also find my work on Instagram @julianrentzsch.
Paul Preston: Obligatory, but necessary, question. Perhaps the worst (or best) question ever — what’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
Julian Rentzsch: That’s always tough! But I grew up on ‘90s mafia films like Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, and of course The Godfather. Those films, along with Tarantino’s early work — Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Reservoir Dogs — really shaped my visual understanding and sense of composition.
Explore Julian’s art at julianrentzsch.de/prints and see more at julianrentzsch.de.
