Film director Reinis Ūbelis becomes new head of Latvijas Radio 5
Film director Reinis Ūbelis has recently taken over as head of Latvijas Radio 5, and in an interview for the show "Monopols" he discussed the differences between filmmaking and running a radio station. Ūbelis stressed that radio demands real-time responsiveness, while films can be developed gradually over a long period.
Film director Reinis Ūbelis has recently taken on a new role, becoming the director of Latvijas Radio 5. In an interview with Latvian Radio's program "Monopols," he shared his thoughts on what filmmaking and running a radio station have in common — and where they differ.
Radio as a living organism
Ūbelis explains that radio fundamentally differs from other art forms, including film, because of its live nature. Filmmaking, he notes, allows creative decisions to be postponed, reconsidered and developed over an extended period of time. Radio offers no such luxury — it demands constant presence in the moment and the ability to react immediately to what is happening.
This reflection captures the transition Ūbelis is currently navigating in his career — moving from filmmaking, where the process can be drawn out and deliberate, to leading a radio station, where decisions must be made on the fly.
The interview came in connection with Ūbelis's appointment to his new position at Latvijas Radio 5. In it, he discusses how creative thinking from the world of film can also serve him in broadcast management, while acknowledging the fundamental differences between the two fields.
