Please tell us about the projects you worked on before making ‘Untersberg’. How did you start, and how did you learn to make films?
When I was younger, the first thing I did after school was rent 3-4 movies and watch them. I quickly started to get involved in photography and tried to create emotions through photos. As a result, I found myself in front of the camera and was hired as a model for commercials. At some point that led to acting and, in 2020, even writing. Since I'm actually studying law, I couldn't start a second degree. So I started reading tons of books about dramaturgy and filmmaking to educate myself. I think you can never learn enough and education is very important. One of my most recent projects is the romantic drama Soulstrip, which is currently in post-production. I co-directed and wrote the script. The film is expected to be released in German cinemas at the end of the year. And on September 19th, a comedy that I also co-wrote and co-associate produced will be released in Germany and Austrian cinemas
Tell us about ‘Untersberg’. How do you describe it?
Anyone who finds mysteries and myths exciting should definitely watch Untersberg. Of course I can't reveal too much, but you can rely on fear, tension and scare.
Please tell us about your favorite filmmakers.
I don't have an exact filmmaker that I like best. For me the film is crucial. What is its genre and what does it bring across? Well, the person who has always impressed me is Steven Spielberg. For me, he managed to conquer several genres. That man did Schindlers List and Jurassic Park in one year! That’s amazing! Many of his films have touched my heart. But there are also many other filmmakers who did that. The important thing is that you must never give up. Otherwise you have lost.
If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?
Untersberg. This short film has already won several major awards and deserves to be a feature film. In addition, the crew is a gift. We all worked great together. My actors are simply phenomenal. I still remember watching Isabella Schmidtke's casting tape. Michael Wacht and Isabella met specifically to film the scene together. In a moment I got goosebumps. Then I knew it was them. I had to pick them.
If we have the right budget together, then nothing stands in the way of a feature film.
Describe how you would ensure that production is on schedule. What steps would you take?
In film it is generally rare that everything goes completely according to plan and schedule. It’s like you have to hold a big circus together and keep a cool head. When it’s not according plan, you have three options. To stay on schedule, you either have to do a few fewer takes, or ask the crew if they can go overtime, or add another day of shooting. The latter is not desirable, as a day of filming can quickly cost a fortune. The solution therefore lies in pre-production and rehearsals. A good pre-stop and a good production team help create a good schedule. Of course, during filming you have to make sure that you are on schedule and maybe time says that you can't do a third take anymore.
What was the hardest part of making ‘Untersberg’.
The hardest part was shooting Untersberg at night. This forest really caused a lot of fear. Sometimes we heard strange animal noises. Then when I was editing the film I noticed that a light reflection could always be seen in the same place in some takes. When I zoomed in, it wasn't a reflection of light, but two eyes that were watching from about 20 meters away the whole time. A shiver immediately ran down my spine. So I decided to let the eyes in. Anyone who watches carefully will definitely recognize them.
If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?
There is a heartbreaking love film that I have been writing since 2020. Working title The Bridge. It´s Meet Joe Black with Brad Pit meets Ghost with Demi Moore. A completely different genre. But I love it. It’s a very emotional film, with twists and turns and a love that lasts until after death. In any case, I always cry when I even think about the script. So I would like to concentrate on this after Untersberg.
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