During the 66th Berlin Film Festival, I interviewed the young up and coming actor Daniel Fieber. Great grandnephew to Erich von Stroheim, Daniel is a lover of theater and film classically trained by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts living and working between Los Angeles and Berlin. He attended this year's Berlinale to promote his upcoming film projects. I was curious to ask the young actor if he found attending a film market/film festival helpful for moving towards his film development goals. Here is what he had to say:

Do you find attending a film festival and market beneficial as an actor?

DANIEL: Absolutely. It's a great place to connect with like-minded creative people who like to make things happen. It's fatal for an actor to sit at home and wait for the phone to ring.

What has been your most productive experience at this year's Berlinale?

DANIEL: I just got attached to a wonderful new script and we've had very exciting meetings this year regarding financing and finding people to help get the film off the ground.

What did you intend to do at the festival and were you successful in that plan?

DANIEL: Above all, I wanted to reconnect with old friends and meet new people to join forces on a new project. Knock on wood, but things are looking pretty good right now.

Have you ever attended a film market before? Which one?

DANIEL: Yes. I've been to Cannes, AFM, and the LA Film Festival. Can't wait to go back to Cannes this year.

If so, what was your experience there and how has it moved your career forward?

DANIEL: At my first film festival, I happened to meet some wonderful people who work in production and sales and I learned a lot about how those people work and how films are packaged long before shooting begins. As an actor, you usually only see what happens in the audition process and on set. I would definitely recommend to anyone to learn and understand how the industry works. I had a short film at the festival that year and besides getting it seen, I met lots of people during the festival that I'm still in touch with today. I actually met the writer and producer of my next film at that festival and I'm excited to start working with her. She also became a wonderful friend of mine, as did a handful of other people. We're all moving forward together now.

What are the highlights of the 2016 Berlinale for you?

DANIEL: My personal highlight was reconnecting with dear friends of mine whom I haven't seen in months or even years. Some of us work together on a new project now and we all felt like we had a little family reunion at Berlinale.

What projects are you working on now?

DANIEL: I just got attached to an intellectually and emotionally stimulating film about a girl's deepest, dark, and unconscious sexual desires. Those desires can haunt you and ruin your relationships - or you can tame them and make them your friend... The film is titled "AnimAE" and I have never seen anything quite like it before. We are in the process of packaging it and I hope we can commence with pre-production soon. Very excited! I also have a short film named "Don't Tell Mom and Dad" that I starred in and co-directed that's getting ready to have its festival run. Fingers crossed!

Daniel's most recent film is a short called: "Don't Tell Mom and Dad" (2016)

See the trailer here: