The Story of Net

This digital feature is Living Films first full editing of a feature film.

THE STORY OF NET is the result of a community project which Nielsen 
initiated in Thailand.  A group of young people in a small Thai 
village were encouraged to tell stories from their own life and the 
lives of other villagers.  From these stories, Nielsen wrote a 
screenplay, and then directed the movie, using only people from the 
village as both actors and crew. The co-director/cameraman, Bancha 
Khemngeun, is a village man with no previous film experience.  He also 
plays the role of the Father.  Original music and songs for THE STORY 
OF NET were composed by Chiang Mai university student, Danaikrit 
Inthurit.  This is his first film score.
 
The entire film was shot on a consumer Sony HDV camera with minimalist 
accessories. A photo tripod without fluid head. Sound was recorded 
with a cheap shotgun mike attached to the camera. For Living Films 
Post it was an interesting challenge to take on the online edit, color 
correction and sound design. The resulting master is surprisingly 
clean and cinematic.
 
Lasse Nielsen: “This film is proof that the technical side of film 
making is hugely overrated. What it actually comes down to is the 
ability to tell a story.” And this is a talent that Lasse has 
perfected in his early career in Denmark and that will stay with him 
for the rest of his life. “It’s like riding a bicycle - once you 
mastered it you will never forget.”
 
Lasse Nielsen’s first feature film, LA’ OS VÆRE (LET US BE), was 
nominated for a Golden Bear at the 1975 Berlin Film Festival.  That 
film was followed by MÅSKE KU’ VI (Maybe We Could) in 1976 and DU ER 
IKKE ALENE (You Are Not Alone) in 1978 - all written and directed by 
Lasse Nielsen.

The project was initated by Lasse’s long time friend, film producer Gerry Herman. Meeting up with Lasse during a visit to Thailand in Early 2008, Gerry realized that it’s time to put Lasse’s talent back into use. He bought a little camera, gave it to Lasse with the words: “Make a film”. While Gerry expected a short film, Lasse went on to write, produce and direct a full-length with a budget so low that we don’t even want to mention it.