KH Magazine - Charlotte Verminck
- Media
- Oct 12
- 5 min read
Visual Language
In her mind, the start signal echoes in a perfect American accent: “Rolling and... action.” Charlotte Verminck thinks, counts, and dreams in English. That those dreams would take her from quiet Middelburg to the red carpet in Hollywood once seemed unthinkable — until her short film Mind of Thoughts premiered there. We spoke with the filmmaker about dreaming big, and daring to fail just as greatly.
Text by Isabelle Vander Heyde — Photography by Charlotte Verminck - October 2025
Charlotte, how did it all begin for you?
“I was a quiet, dreamy girl with a dramatic heart — a theatre fanatic, but too shy for the stage. Around the age of ten, I discovered iMovie, and suddenly I had a voice — behind the camera, that is. Later I became creative director for Ozark Henry: I filmed concerts and helped build his online identity. Hollywood still felt like a distant dream, though America always had an irresistible pull. I chose a field that could literally take me across borders: International Communication & Media. During my internship in L.A., at Rhea Scott’s production company — Ridley Scott’s daughter-in-law — I felt it for the first time: I want to make films.”
Was working on a real film set everything you imagined it would be?
“I started as the assistant of the assistant of the assistant — getting coffee, driving people around, guiding extras. For the film WIL, I spent an entire day in Antwerp Central Station, stopping commuters during a scene.But it was all incredibly educational: being on different sets taught me how everything works — and, more importantly, what I wanted to do differently. The rigid hierarchy, the lack of safety and respect for the crew... I thought: This can be better. That’s how my own production company, Above The Nerve, was born.”
Your short film Mind of Thoughts became your first major project. What was your approach?
“It’s a psychological drama about how paralyzing our thoughts can be. We follow an artist caught in her own inner chaos, standing at a crossroads — to sink into the darkness or rise out of it. I still did a lot myself: producing, directing, editing, writing. But after years of being a one-woman band, this was the first time I worked with a full crew. It wasn’t my first time collaborating on set, but it was the first time I built a production from A to Z with my own team. It took two years to complete — an intense process, but I’m proud of the result.”
Dance plays a striking role in the film. Why that choice?
“I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and tell something without words. When I was little, my grandmother used to take me to dance theatre — I never forgot the impact of that. In the film, the protagonist’s thoughts are embodied by five dancers. Choreographer Rebecca De Kempe, an old school friend, was immediately enthusiastic. We wanted to experiment with the power of choreography, sound, and image.It turned out to be a form of storytelling that moves me deeply — one I want to keep exploring in future work.”
Your film was selected for the Beverly Hills Film Festival in L.A. How did that happen?
“By doing everything myself. Big productions have PR teams, but I pitch my films independently.Since you pay to submit your film, you have to choose carefully where to apply. Mind of Thoughts fit the profile of the Beverly Hills Film Festival — they support independent filmmakers.Thanks to them, the film premiered in Hollywood. Festivals like Cannes or Toronto are, for now, less accessible to filmmakers like me who aren’t backed by large funds or established networks. As a self-taught filmmaker, I’m still outside those structures. So for me, it’s about carving my own path through the woods.In the meantime, the film has been awarded Best International Film in Los Angeles and has gained international recognition with selections at festivals in Long Beach Island and New York. Perseverance pays off.”
What keeps you going?
“My passion for deep, honest stories. I want to move people, make them think — especially through female characters who are allowed to doubt, fall, and rise again. My biggest inspirations are women like country singer Lainey Wilson, who drove to Nashville in a camper, and director Chloé Zhao, who shot the triple Oscar-winning Nomadland in the desert with a small team and minimal resources. I deeply admire that kind of courage. On the first day of filming Mind of Thoughts, I thought: Whatever happens, at least I’m here. And that, in itself, was already a victory.”
What comes after Mind of Thoughts?
“I’ve been incredibly busy promoting the film and creating a behind-the-scenes series, which is now available on YouTube. Now I finally have space to write again. My dream? To shoot my next production in the U.S.”
You still seem deeply rooted in Belgium. Is that visible in your work?
“Absolutely. European films tend to be more psychological, more layered.In the U.S., the line between good and evil is often clearer; here, stories are more about inner journeys. Even though I work with an international crew, my narrative tone remains distinctly European.”
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
“From nature. My dog teaches me simply to be. The simplicity of being present is incredibly powerful.Walking, breathing, standing barefoot in the grass — that’s when my ideas arise. Poetry and music inspire me too, but it’s the earth that grounds me.”
You grew up in Knokke-Heist. Do you feel creativity is alive there?
“Definitely — culture is really encouraged here!Theatre, lectures, art: it’s a fertile ground for young creators.During the filming of Mind of Thoughts, I received a lot of help from the teachers and management of the MAAK art academy — I even got to use their materials as props. That support made a real difference.”
Last word to you: what message would you like to leave readers with?
“I partly made this film to break the shame surrounding the idea of failure.We’re taught to hide the difficult parts of life.On social media, you only see perfect images, while behind the scenes so many intense — but necessary — things happen. My film shows that failure doesn’t have to be an end, but simply part of the journey — alongside effort, the unknown, and perseverance. Every failure, to me, is a chance to grow stronger. That’s also why I started my Substack, where I openly share my experiences in the film world.I’m not a beginner anymore, but I haven’t yet reached the success I hope for. Often people only speak about their struggles after they’ve made it — I want to talk about them now, during the journey.Glitter, glam, and triumphs — but also tears, sleepless nights, and doubts.I hope my stories encourage a community that embraces both sides of the road toward a big dream.”
