Share the Vibe: Tom Elswijk

The latest Share the Vibe is made by Tom Elswijk. A film about Eindhoven as a center of travelers and traders. About newcomers, locals, and the place where everyone has been meeting since the Middle Ages: the pub.

A bit short

A film of fewer than forty seconds was 'een bietje kort' (dialect for 'a bit short'). When Tom Elswijk starts talking, some words are pronounced with an unmistakable local accent. Originally he's from Waalre, but after high school, he left for the HKU in Utrecht to study film. For years he lived in Hilversum, home base to many media companies, where he gradually started to build up a network. But still, whenever he'd visit Eindhoven, it felt good. Riding his bicycle through the city, meeting his old friends, who were now working in a wide variety of sectors. It hit him: 'Together with all these great people, we can definitely make some cool films.' He decided to return to Eindhoven.

You're welcome (if you bring something to the table)

‘Hoe dan ook, één ding is zeker; Ge woar en zijt altijd welkom hier’ (‘However, one thing is certain; You will always be welcome here'), says the voice-over in the film. The setting is a medieval inn, with people from all over the world. 'Eindhoven has always attracted travelers and traders, and even now, the number of expats in the city is large. I hope they feel welcome here', says Tom. 'That's what this story is supposed to carry out.' The short film does contain a subtle hint. When a strange hunter enters the inn, everyone initially looks at him suspiciously. People open up to him only when he brings out the pheasant and shares it with the others.

Funny jokes

The first part of the film was shot in preHistorisch Dorp. For the second part, he went to Soul Kitchen, a place at Strijp-S where he likes to come and meet people from different cultures.

'When I think of Eindhoven, I think of the cozy pubs.' As a high school student, he worked in café Wilhelmina for a while, where he got to know the Eindhoven humor. 'There is a special mix of conviviality and creativity in the language of many people in Eindhoven, crazy jokes but meaningful at the same time.' He also tells about his mother, who recently opened a B&B with guests from all over the world. 'An enrichment of her life; every week, she tells new stories about who she has met this time.'

Tom now works full-time for BigFish in Eindhoven, a creative company that makes animated films. There is room for free work in the evenings, including this Share the Vibe. He is proud of the end result, even though forty seconds was 'een bietje kort.' 'Maybe we should make a longer version too.'