Filmmaking
Sandder doesn’t have an educational background in film. After breaking of a philosophy study, spending his time painting, watching television and having 3000 different jobs, he gets admitted to the Rietveld academy, studying graphic design and photography. He transfers to Cooper Union in New York and as soon as being completely settled, finds out the school is to conservative for his taste and decides to finish the Rietveld back in The Netherlands instead, only to return immediately to New York right after that. This doesn’t happen as planned; after graduating the Rietveld (he makes a vinyl record, containing his own music, photography and design, which is sort of a soundtrack for an imaginary film) he gets in touch with directing and concept design for moving image. First through record sleeve design for movie soundtracks (like ‘The discovery of heaven’), shortly after that through directing music videos, commercials and other small films. The first video he directs (for Bastian’s ‘You’ve got my love’) ironically makes it to a variety of international museum shows, which closes the circle after the art academy. Void of any rules in directing or cinematography, Sandder is free to make his films from a designers mentality. So disapproval of set standards, combined with a firm believe that an audience who, like him, probably grew up watching television and movies, can’t be idiots on the visual part, inspires him to make his films.
Graphic design
Having always been interested in art and imagery, graphic design comes almost naturally. From punk graphics at age 10, through window graphics and grafitti to record sleeves, ads, t-shirts and flyers nowadays, an urge to shape and design things has always been present. Music has always been a strong influence.
Photography
Photography is basically just framing your perception, so purchasing a digital camera has been a great way to document things previously unnoticed. The set-up photography has been a great way to get prepared for directing film and video, as well as shaping music imagery. A collection of photography in book-form is still a work in progress.