In January 2025, Donnie took his life. One day after his 30th birthday. We were colleagues who started our advertising journeys together - he through Jung von Matt's academy, I through Texterschmiede. He wasn't the first. Last year, another colleague died by suicide in Scholz & Friends' office. She was around his age.
A friend broke the news during my work on an AI film competition entry, Project Odyssey. Unable to continue my original concept, I channeled my grief into a new script (write and cry, boy). With film partner Axel Stasny, we completed production within a week. Not as a statement, but as my way of processing loss through storytelling.
You can watch IPSUM on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHsUsBpgEFo
Personal: If you can guess correctly what's AI and what isn't, I'll buy you a coffee.