Our regular host René Mioch is handing over the baton for a few shows. He is working on his recovery following heart surgery this past summer. This means he won’t be on stage with the CineMusic orchestra for the first shows of the upcoming tour. But we have a fantastic replacement! Patrick Martens is temporarily taking over the honors, and we couldn’t be happier about it!
How did you end up at The CineMusic Experience?
“I got a text from René asking if I was available in October, November, and December. ‘Because,’ he wrote, ‘I might have something really fun.’ I was immediately curious to find out what it was.”
Were you enthusiastic right away?
“Yes, I thought it was amazing. Look, the reason behind it isn’t nice at all, of course. But I find it such an honor. The fact that he thought of me is something I really appreciate. I’m also a big movie lover and I feel right at home in the theater.”
Were you already familiar with The CineMusic Experience?
“No, to be quite honest, I wasn’t yet. I think film music lends itself very well to the theater. It’s a very intimate evening, while iconic film music is played by a fantastic orchestra. I’m very curious to see what it will be like.”
What was the reason for you to say ‘yes’ to René’s request?
“Well, when René Mioch asks you, you can’t say no. I’m a big film fan myself. I also act and have appeared in a few movies. I think the concept of The CineMusic Experience is very special. It fits so well in the theater. Emotional pieces are played, and in the theater, you share that with each other. I love that intimacy.”
Will you take a different approach to the presentation?
“I’m no René Mioch; he’s a legend, of course—a walking encyclopedia when it comes to film. He has met all those big stars and knows them personally. René has a wealth of stories that I don’t have. I have stories too, but in a very different way. People coming to see the show for a second time will experience a different evening. But I’m going to do my absolute best to come close to René’s level, just in my own way.”
What are you looking forward to the most?
“There are some really cool pieces of music in there… Old pieces. My father didn’t care much for movies, except for Westerns. He thought Once Upon a Time in the West was fantastic. He showed me that movie once and it became my favorite film too. He passed away recently. I don’t think I’ll be able to keep a dry eye when the orchestra plays that music.
And I’m looking forward to the interaction with the audience. Because while I might be on stage in a suit, it’s a very relaxed evening. I also want to have a nice chat with the audience. It’s bound to be a beautiful, cozy atmosphere.”
How important is film music in your eyes?
“Sound and music are such a huge part of a film; that’s still underestimated sometimes. Music determines the atmosphere of the movie. For example, I don’t really like horror—it’s not my genre—but sometimes I watch it because someone else enjoys it. If the movie gets too scary, I mute the sound. Then it’s manageable, because that music is what makes me feel stressed. That’s why I think it’s extra special that film music takes center stage at The CineMusic Experience.”
You are an actor and a presenter yourself. Which came first?
“Acting. I was doing that from a young age as an amateur when I still lived in Brabant. In 1999, at the age of 20th, I ended up in GTST. I was studying in Antwerp before that, but three months before I was due to finish my studies, I thought ‘no, I’m stopping. I just want to act.’ Then I started taking some courses and eventually ended up at a youth theater school in The Hague. During the week I worked at a plant nursery, and on the weekends I had theater and acting lessons. One day Harry Klooster stopped by, who ran the casting agency where all the soap actors came from. He was looking for a young guy. After some auditions, I got that role in GTST. In 2004 came Zoop, for which I eventually played in three movies. That’s how I got in touch with Nickelodeon. And in 2005, they asked me if I’d like to do some presenting as well. Over the course of seven years there, I was able to experience pretty much every facet of television work.”
When did you notice that you had a talent for acting?
“At GTST, it was just about survival. By the time Zoop came around, I had come out of the closet and was much more focused on who I was. I think that was the first time I could really enjoy it, because I understood what it was all about. That’s when I noticed that I really love it, but I’ll never say I’m great at something.”
Do you come from a creative family?
“Yes, but I only found that out later. I come from the countryside and didn’t grow up with culture or anything like that. My father and all his brothers and sisters were very good at drawing and painting. My mother’s side is very musical; my mother always played the accordion. And she used to make all our clothes—hats, coats… So there is a lot of creativity in the family, it’s just that no one did anything with it. Back then, you just had to learn a trade, and drawing… that was a hobby. But where my fascination for acting comes from, I have no idea.”
What did your parents think of your choice to quit your studies and start acting?
“They were shocked, but they soon realized they couldn’t talk me out of it. And they certainly tried! My aunt would come over and say, ‘hey, finish your studies first, then you can go acting.’ But no, I was very firm and knew this was the moment. Before that time, I wasn’t that firm at all. I think that’s why my parents were a bit shocked. ‘What is he doing? What, why?’ But once I got the role in GTST, they were super proud. They are the biggest supporters ever.”
Do you play an instrument too?
“No, and I feel that’s a great loss. I think it would be wonderful to play an instrument. I have the feeling that musicians can lose themselves in their music. They can really step into their emotions. That seems like such a wonderful outlet to me. But I don’t have a musical ear. I’ve had piano lessons before, but that wasn’t a success.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“I think Björk’s music is very beautiful. I think many people think ‘oh, how hysterical, how much’. I understand that too, but she also has albums that are really very calm. One of them is with a classical orchestra. I find that beautiful. She touches me with her music. Of course, I have to be in the right mood for it. I also really enjoy classical music. When I run, I actually want music with a beat. And I like country too. I’m very diverse when it comes to music. I used to play more music than I do now. I enjoy silence now too.”
Patrick Martens will temporarily replace René Mioch starting October 12. Check the tour dates to see which theaters you can find him in.