Berlinale Talent Campus
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I’ve always been into scenarios involving a historic-obscure carnival. And I really enjoy the music of the wonderful Nordic band Poets of the Fall. Check out their great music video to the song “Carnival of Rust” … you’ll know what I mean.

Finally it’s getting a little cooler in Zurich today. And it’s raining. Wonderful weather change. And I mean that! Love the rain!

Ted Chung, who also directed a flick at this years Berlinale Talent Campus (ON TIME – awesome!), has created his next little masterpiece. It’s called A THOUSAND WORDS. A five minutes shortfilm without one word being said. Ted again crafts very slow and tender moments and a wonderful atmosphere. Just brilliant, that guy.

Even in Switzerland people create shortfilms. Voltafilm is a group of young and coming producers, directors and cinematographers from diverse swiss art schools who present their shorts online and for all of us folks to enjoy. Not all of their films are subtitled in English, but this one is: check out GRAVE DIGGER – a weird musical.

Two years ago Tom Harper created a wonderful short film called CUBS, that not only tells a delicately crafted story, but also presents engaging and interesting characters. The most impressive moment of the whole film is the ending of the film, just seconds before the picture goes to black. It shows the protagonist reflecting on what just happened – and through subtle acting this young actors tells so much in such a wonderfully reduced way. A strong moment, that makes a perfect ending for a perfect short.

At the BBC Film Network one can also watch a short interview with the director Tom Harper.

Another great little short you should watch to get your week started is the film GOODBYE, CRUEL WORLD. A little kid says goodbye to an old man – just in a bit of a different way.

You have seen THE STRING PUPPET on YouTube in bad picture quality? Then you watched it on this site in great quality?! Wow, that is some commitment to the film! Thank you!

To celebrate your wonderful dedication, my DoP Dian was nice enough to upload the film for you to enjoy in HD now! Go here and watch it in all it’s visual beauty.

THE STRING PUPPET, the film that was created on the Berlinale Talent Campus, can be viewed now in full on the filmography page. And if your are interested in watching some impressions from the set, check out the Making Of, that has been created by the Berlinale Talentcampus.

Information on child soldiers and why we all should be more aware of this world wide human tragedy can be found at the Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers.

If you would like to follow the production of my new short film THE STRING PUPPET, you might want to check out the production blog on a regular basis. There you can read all the most important communication of the team and stay informed about the project, which is created for the Berlinale Talent Campus. Plus, this is the place where the film will have its premiere on Feb 14!!!

I’m happy that my core creative team for the Berlinale Talent Campus project THE STRING PUPPET has been selected.

As DoP Dian Zagorchinov from Bulgaria will create the visuals for the film. One can find more information on his previous work at his homepage.

Tal Brog from Israel will edit the film. I just adore her work sample, so be sure to check that out.

Responsible for the score, Ruth Chan from England will be our composer. She’s already working on it and I can’t wait to hear what she will bring to the project.

As soon as I have more information I will inform you right here at the journal. If you want to follow this project more closely you might want to check out the STRING PUPPET blog at the Berlinale Talent Campus. This is the place where you can read the team’s communications, where you can follow the most important work steps and where I will be posting most of my preparation information on this project.

You need to go and see this little, wonderful film The Band’s Visit. It tells the story of an Egyptian police band which travels to Israel to play at an opening of a cultural center. They end up it the wrong village and thus have to stay the night there with Israelis. The film tells these little episodes and moments in long shots and slow rhythm and therefore opens a wide room for the characters and their moments. Just beautifully done and in it’s essence it might just make you leave the theatre with a smile on your hearth afterwards.

German cinema in the meanwhile decided to take on two popular youth book adaptations. KRABAT will be out in October 2008 but an intriguing teaser can already be seen right here. THE WAVE will be released soon in Germany. I enjoyed both books a lot. Let’s hope the films can keep up with them.

I have been invited to the Berlinale Talent Campus. This is a wonderful opportunity for any young filmmaker to get in contact with people from all over the world inspired to tell their stories in the same media: film.

Also, my short film THE STRING PUPPET will be produced in the Garage Studio of the Talent Campus and you all can be part of it by reading our production blog which will be online soon. The film will have it’s premiere on the internet in February, so stay tuned for more information on this. I will post more information as soon as it gets available.