Over the past five years, Lionel Moerch was always one of my favorite movie makers. His projects had a unique aesthetic and feel. This year I was really missing a new Journal movie, so I hit him up to find out what happened to that project…
Hey Lionel, What’re you up to these days?
Hey! I’m doing great. Just back from a trip to Sweden following the Man We Need A Cam crew with my camera und das isch huere geil gsi. Love them <3 ! I’ve also had many sunny days snow/splitboarding around earlier this season, so a lot of quality time these days :)
Are there any plans for another Journal movie?
Actually no, our last film, Bloom, was very intense and I feel that we’ve reached our limits. After we shared it, it felt like a beautiful ending, and we wanted to try something else, I guess. I’ve always promised myself that I’d be able to stop, rather than continue without a true reason.
That’s admirable… You were wearing so many hats — Riding, filming, editing, art directing, producing, premieres, merch… the list goes on. Looking back, what was your favorite part of it all?
Hhhhm hard to say… I feel that with projects like Journal, the whole process is what makes it special. I really love to bring a project to life, finding the way you want to tell your story, finding your DNA and your own way of doing it, far from any trick lists. We’re not pros, so we can push everything but performance. Not sure if I answered your question properly… haha but that’s what I can say for now.
Makes sense. Let’s take a look back on some of your favorite Journal moments. What was your favorite trip?
Finland for Bloom 200%. That trip had so many ups and downs, and that’s what made it memorable. No snow and no boardbags the first days… then we decided to leave our Airbnb to move up north from Helsinki to Kuopio, hoping for snow up there. That’s when the trip finally started properly. Mav was back in the streets, and we witnessed the birth of a new stair-set addict named Eliot Golay. It was great to watch him discover street snowboarding. I loved every minute of it.
How about a Favorite clip?
Raah… I don’t like this question haha. If I had to pick one, let’s say the bs boardslide from Eliot on the elbow to elephant rail that we called the rollercoaster. Nice spot, nice trick, nice dude = nice clip.
I know that Maveric’s accident hit you really hard. How did that experience change your relationship with snowboarding and film making?
True, it was probably the toughest time of my life after that accident. I started to hate the things that built me my entire life. Since then I always analyze why I love something. It helps me to have a reason to keep pushing myself and it’s easier to accept it when I sometimes lose, or fail.
No Journal, no Escape… is this the end of an era?
We have more crews and movies than ever these days in Switzerland, so let’s say that it’s the beginning of a new era? :) I already love my position as a supporter. They’re all so good and dedicated to it.
What advice would you give to an aspiring film maker?
I still try to look for advice myself, but I’d say to always keep pushing creatively, enjoy meeting people, learn new things, live experiences, and don’t only focus on the result.
That’s solid advice for anyone. I think I’ll try to take it myself…. What’s next for you?
More and more diverse projects I hope :) Joining a bigger project for a brand movie as a film maker, would be super sick! Public, Salomon, Vans… reach out if you’re looking for someone haha.
They’d be lucky to have you. Anything else that you’d like to add before we wrap this up?
🌹 Flo forever 🌹
Thank you, Ahriel, for what you bring to the Swiss snowboard scene <3
