Photographed by **Nicky Angelina**
Over the years, the film industry has continued to attract more and more attention from stakeholders and audiences. Although the Covid 19 pandemic has affected the industry, it is slowly starting to pick up the pace with many films lined up. [Regerry Gravenbeek](https://www.instagram.com/reggerygravenbeek/?hl=en) is a Dutch filmmaker taking the Dutch and global film industry by storm with his epic work.
Despite having a rough childhood, Gravenbeek continues to defy all odds on his path to greatness. Growing up, Gravenbeek was introduced to drugs at the young age of 17, and before he knew it, he was deep into street life. At 20, he was involved in a shooting spree with a rival and was sent to prison. From there, Gravenbeek says his life took a drastic turn.
While in prison, Gravenbeek took the time to reflect on his life on the street and made a vow to himself to not only make a positive change in his life but in the lives of other young people as well. Through his films, he now helps create awareness of street life and crime while also urging young people to take the right path.
According to Gravenbeek, one of the major reasons most people find themselves indulging in crime or drugs is peer pressure and lack of support. They find dealing drugs as an escape route and an easy way to make money. Together with the Team Ankle Band Foundation, Gravenbeek tours different schools and youth groups to talk to young people so they understand the perils of street life and why they should not get involved.
When a person has already entered into the life of crime and drug use, Gravenbeek says it is important to have patience as you help them. A major challenge as they try to live on the streets is the negative perception towards these individuals. Together with his team, Gravenbeek works to help people give up their bad habits and create an environment where the community will warmly receive you.
In his words, Gravenbeek aims at helping young people see how things can go wrong with one wrong choice, just like he experienced. Speaking about his passion for film, Gravenbeek says he always was passionate about film and the film industry from a young age. After he was released in 2012 for good behavior, coincidentally, he was offered a job by a friend to fill in as an extra for a certain film.
From there, he started being offered other roles in films. As he continued to act, his passion for filmmaking started to blossom, and he switched to working behind the cameras. He has, so far, co-produced and initiated De Druk, a leading film in Dutch, among other films. His journey with filmmaking is far from over; in his words, he is just getting started.
As the industry continues to evolve, Gravenbeek notes the impact of modernization on the industry. With most people connected to the internet, accessing films through social platforms has been made easier. His advice to aspiring filmmakers or actors is to follow their passion and learn to create their own opportunities.
With so many people lost in uncertainty, it takes one person to light up the path. To the Dutch people, Gravenbeek is a source of empowerment and inspiration and is their shining ray of hope.
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