🔦 Creative Spotlight: Niklas Soestmeyer
Filmmaker, color romantic, and architectural dreamer.
"I hope my best shot is still ahead of me."
That might be the most Niklas Soestmeyer thing to say. A filmmaker who introduces himself as Nicholas, he carries a quiet confidence wrapped in curiosity. He doesn’t chase perfection, he chases ghosts—of places, of people, of memory. And he hopes he’s only getting started.
Meet Niklas
Berlin-based filmmaker and videographer Niklas Soestmeyer is someone who makes you feel like a scene is unfolding even as he speaks. He balances his creative ambitions with a sales day job, which only adds to the slow-burn determination of his practice. His work doesn’t scream; it hums. It lingers.
The Process: Flow Over Force
Niklas is the type of creative who finds inspiration in unexpected places: stress, boredom, an afternoon guitar session. Deadlines? Surprisingly helpful. Perfectionism? Not welcome. He prefers the momentum of done over the myth of flawless.
"Stress and boredom," he laughs, "those are probably my biggest creative triggers."
His practice is equal parts analog and digital. A smartphone and camera keep him nimble, but he’ll always carry a pen and paper. And then there’s the guitar: not for scoring, but for grounding.
"Writing with strings helps me think."
Through His Lens
Niklas is drawn to images that whisper. One of his favorite shots? A bus leaving a station, trailing light through the dark. But it’s not about the technical polish—it’s about the mood.
"I like when something feels like it belongs to a place. Like someone lived there before. That Genius Loci thing."
He's a self-proclaimed "color person" too, and he lights up when talking about the joys of grading footage. It’s another layer of storytelling, a way to shape feeling beyond the frame.
Dreams & Architecture
Niklas dreams big, but quietly. One vision: spending a year alone, traveling light, documenting without the weight of immediacy. Another? Filming inside the headquarters of the French Communist Party in Paris—a brutalist gem by Oscar Niemeyer. It’s less about politics, more about presence.
On Creativity, Coolness & Risk
Niklas doesn’t buy into the myth of the effortlessly cool filmmaker.
"It’s not standing around looking cinematic all day. It’s spreadsheets, group chats, missed shots, and lots of caffeine."
He says the most misunderstood part of his job is just how uncool it often feels. But that’s where the real work lives: in the chaos, the teamwork, the risk.
And when it comes to taking leaps?
"If the idea's good, I’ll risk it. Even if it looks wild on paper."
Soundtrack & Influence
His dream soundtrack is as eclectic as his inspirations: Tom Waits, young Bob Dylan, Kraftwerk, and a self-described "weird mixture" of darkwave and singer-songwriter melancholy. He loves work that isn’t afraid to be rough, raw, or real.
"The best art isn’t safe. It’s something you feel in your stomach."
Collaboration & Community
Though he dreams of solo projects, Niklas thrives in collaboration. Working with indie artists like Gaval and Mirna Bogdanovic on music videos keeps his ideas fresh and his vision challenged.
His dream collaborator? John Waters. Because why not work with someone who’s allergic to the ordinary?
To Younger Niklas
If he could send a message back in time, he wouldn’t say much. Just this:
"Make money faster. Move away. Find people who push you. And don’t overthink it."
Niklas Soestmeyer is proof that creativity isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being brave enough to keep asking better questions. And we can’t wait to see what he captures next.
🎧 Niklas’s Soundtrack
Tom Waits
Young Bob Dylan
Kraftwerk
Ma Bakdanovich
Gaval
Want to see more from Niklas?
Check out his work at niklassoestmeyer.com.
And Check our Creative Spotlight Database.
If you’d like to support our creative work, you can buy us a coffee (or a monster drink) at buymeacoffee.com/itstheorbit. 💫☕️
Love this format :-)