Unsere Freunde von Reign of Art haben uns wieder mit einer tollen Ausstellung beschenkt! Diesmal zeigen sie Kevin Gray (*1982, Bremen).

“Seine Sozialisation als Sprüher ist auch nach dem Studium (Meisterschüler 2009) an der KH Berlin noch deutlich spürbar. In Kevin Grays Arbeiten werden scheinbar idyllische Szenen untermalt von einer unterschwelligen, bedrohlichen Atmosphäre.

Diese Gegensätzlichkeit bildet den zentralen Charakter von Grays Arbeiten. Auch der Nebel – kennzeichnend für seine neuen Arbeiten – verleiht den Bildern eine gewisse Rätselhaftigkeit. Oberflächlich betrachtet wirken die Bilder teilweise beruhigend, im Widerspruch zu bedrohlichen Themen wie Opiumanbau in Afghanistan oder die Zerstörung der Natur durch Menschen.”

Die Ausstellung ist noch bis zum 24. Oktober 2012, während unserer Öffnungszeiten (Mo-Fr, 8-20 Uhr) zu sehen.

Vielen Dank an Kevin Gray und Reign of Art!

IT HAPPENED! The first Fab Café in Berlin is launched @ betahaus!

It´s not a dream, neither an upcoming project. It´s reality and it is already happening! (more…)

Interviewed by: Lisa Hillers

Jacques-André Dupont is a french Filmmaker and VJ, who is shooting and directing commissioned works for NGO´s, Start-Ups and communication agencies as well as music videos, light installations and documentaries. He moved to Berlin 2 years ago and is now working as a freelancer here at betahaus.

How did you first get into motion design?

It began when I did my studies in post-production for movies. I was looking for references for special effects and when looking for this material on the internet, I came across more graphic-based media. I was working on some 3D projects too and I became very interested in more graphic design elements. I was always interested in using technical knowledge and special effects together, and combining it with the video. It allows you to help the video by somewhat augmenting the reality. I’m more into video than pure graphic design, animation or illustration – I come from a video background. I try to mix all of these elements together to develop my unique visual style.

Was there anyone that really influenced you when starting out?

The two biggest influences on my work are both related to music. Firstly, I was very inspired by the music videos of Chris Cunningham and his work with Warp Records. I was also a big fan of videos from Coldcut on the Ninja Tune label. They were both doing crazy things with video and it was the first time I felt like you could be a video DJ. At that point I realized how cool it could be to mix music and video together.

What are your biggest challenges working as a freelancer?

Well after my studies and 6 months of internships in Paris, I worked on motion design for vente – privee.com, an e-commerce website. We were a huge team of motion designers, some more into graphic design, others more into special effects. It was a great mix of people and I really learned a lot from my 2 years there. After this job, I came to Berlin and began my first experience as a freelancer. It was both a change of country and a change of working style. Setting up in Berlin was a big challenge because of the language and all of the administrative work you have to get through. Now that is behind me and my current challenge is getting enough paid work. (more…)

Where were you working before you got a desk at betahaus? Optionally, you were wearing a suite preparatory to making a decision to change your life completely and uncompromisingly. Or you have always been a freelancer and experienced all the hell and heaven of working wherever your lap top lands. (more…)

Interview by Lisa Hillers

There is a great deal of variables a fledgling startup has to deal with. Uncertainties, like timing and relevance of the business idea, the appeal of the solution to the customer, market awareness, availability of cash, the ability to make sufficient sales and a good many others can cause quite a headache sometimes-successfully launching a startup, whilst planning and managing all these challenges carefully, can prove to be a daunting task. Having someone by your side that helps you to keep track of the financial structuring can be invaluable at times.

(more…)

We are happy to – now even more – officially announce the second edition of our beloved People in Beta Festival on Saturday, September 22nd.

It will be a one-day-festival for the startup, coworking and maker scene. So basically for all our friends and fools! It is for free and you are invited! (more…)

Bücherwürmer aufgepasst: Seit einiger Zeit gibt es im betahaus | café eine baumelnde Minibücherei über dem großen Podest. In der neuen Leseecke hängen einige der spannendsten Bücher, die Coworker, Startups und Maker sich vorstellen können: “Program or be Programmed”,”The Shallows”, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” und “Wo die wilden Kerle wohnen” sind vier der aktuell zwölf Titel. (more…)

Interview by: Lisa Hillers

Farhad Payar is a freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker with a wealth of experience in a wide range of industries. Born and raised in Iran he came to Berlin to study Mechanical Engineering and Political Science during the 1980s. He then took on a multitude of jobs working as a taxi-driver and a social worker among other professions. Currently he is working as an actor, filmmaker, theatre director and journalist based in Berlin. More recently, he has been working on a project called “Transparency for Iran”, an online news resource designed to provide a broader perspective on current events in Iran and heighten the German public’s awareness of these issues. The goal is to support human rights and press freedom, through holistic understanding of Iranian internal affairs and local knowledge.

How does your personal background and previous experience influence your work for TFI? (more…)