How Two German Filmmmakers Conquered Los Angeles
Not only for businesses, but also for filmmakers the cultural differences between the USA and Germany can stand for opportunities. Whether you’re an American doing business in Germany, or a German artist creating your work in the US - the other culture might inspire you to see beyond what you know.
Open Doors to New Creativity
Anna-Maria Hora and her husband Markus Adrian are up-and-coming German filmmakers who learned first-hand that a scholarship at a Los Angeles’ cultural institution can open doors to new creativity. During their time as artists-in-residence at the Villa Aurora, the couple shot their latest film, a documentary about ex-gangsters turning artists. Day after day, Hora and Adrian took to the not so harmless streets of Watts and interviewed young creatives who used to be gang members. “After the Violence” will be shown in Los Angeles and in Germany when it’s done.
Beyond the Typical Hollywood Folks
In an interview, the two Germans admitted that if it hadn’t been for their scholarship at the Villa Aurora, they would have missed out on a career-determining opportunity. It was not only the fact that they had the chance to shoot in the streets of LA. It was, moreover, the experience of meeting American people beyond the typical Hollywood folks and learning about a completely different side of California living - a side that’s marked by struggle, danger, and the fight for survival. And yet, there’s room for creative freedom and beautiful art on the other side.
My hope is that Hora and Adrian’s experience is an inspiration for other German artists who’d like to test the waters in Los Angeles and vice versa. That’s why I interviewed the German filmmakers during their stay in LA. The entire 3-series interview with Anna-Maria Hora and Markus Adrian is available in German on YouTube. You will find an English transcript of a part of the interview below. Enjoy and be inspired!
Hora and Adrian Filming in Watts
“People on the street meet you with an open heart”
Interview with Hora and Adrian
Nina Grenningloh: When you’re going back to Germany after a three-month stay in LA, what do you take back with you from your experience?
Adrian: Our time in LA was like a second life. We could forget everything German for three months. We were only speaking English, meeting people who had stories to tell. We learned a lot about this society. We gained an insight into the Hollywood glamour world, but we also saw the other side of this city, which is much bigger. The poor districts, the poverty, and the life struggle that people who’re living there are trying to cope with. In three months LA, as much happened as in six months Berlin. We did it all: parties, dinners, filming, night shoots in Watts, encounters with the police… It was so much to take in that we will probably need a good amount of time to process everything.
Hora: People in LA are much more open. Maybe it’s the weather, I don’t know, but people on the street meet you with an open heart. If I went into the grocery store in LA, not being in my best mood, out of the blue shoppers would start singing and dancing to the music that was playing over the speakers. I was at first irritated. Then, I went to the register, and the cashier made me a nice compliment on my earrings. Her flattering remark immediately put me in a better mood…
Adrian: Now, just imagine a cashier at a German supermarket would pay you such a compliment. You would probably be very confused. What’s very common in Los Angeles, would be perceived as a strange act in Germany. In Germany, you would probably be annoyed and think: Why is she talking to me?
Yet, this kind of small talk that’s part of daily life in the US is actually really good. Coming from Germany, I have forgotten how to converse like that. In LA, people seem to be aware of the fact that that’s part of who they are as humans. They need to talk. So they meet as strangers and start talking about anything that comes to mind.
Hora: Life here is characterized by this kind of openness and friendliness. It’s not superficialness. They rather use this kind of talk to check out their similarities. And if there are none, that’s not a big deal. Then it’s just “Have a nice day!” But you will never feel bad.
Adrian: And that’s what it’s all about. The good feeling that I have shapes the quality of my lifetime. In result, I spend more time in LA with a great feeling than in Germany. And that’s a great plus for my life as a whole, as well as for the moment. I can walk down these steps, find out that I have brain cancer and die soon. But I know I’ve had a lot of happy moments, whereas in Germany, I sit around and fret about something.
Hora: I’m sure we will take this home with us, this prejudice that Americans are superficial. We did not experience that at all. And we will spread the word in Germany.
NG: Do you have any plans to come back to the US to shoot?
Adrian: Certainly. We will no doubt come back and film again in the US if the opportunity presents itself. They have great professionals and a fantastic film industry in the US.
Hora: Concretely, we have a documentary in preproduction in New York. On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, we are planning to shoot a documentary about this photographer who took pictures and filmed the catastrophe in Manhattan in 2001. We will start filming this year, and the film will be ready in time for the anniversary.
Exclusive Interview with German Director Marc Rensing
Ever thought about watching a movie that deals with Parkour, the physical discipline of training in which the traceur has to overcome obstacles within his or her path? Well, German director Marc Rensing made a film that not only captures breathtaking Parkour scenes; the movie also tells a captivating story of friendship, love, and jealousy. The talented young German filmmaker takes the audience into a world of physical and psychological challenges that continue to heat up over the course of the film and end in a dramatic test of friendship.
Talking About PARKOUR
Parkour won 2 European film prizes and was selected as opening film at the 43. Hof International Film Festival. The Goethe Institute Los Angeles showed Marc Rensing’s film for the first time in the United States, and I had the chance to interview Marc after the screening. The interview (see video below) is in German. However, I translated Marc’s answers for all of you English speakers who are interested in what he has to say. Enjoy!
Nina Grenningloh: How did you get the idea for the movie?
Marc Rensing: I read a newspaper article that talked about three friends. Two of these friends ended up killing their leader in a very dramatic and terrible way after he became psychotic. It was a true story that took place over years. The leader threatened his buddies more and more over the course of the years until his friends were so scared of him that they executed him in the open street. I then thought about what could hold this friendship together and came up with the idea of Parkour.
NG: The film was initially produced for television. How did it make it into the cinema?
MR: The Hof International Film Festival selected Parkour as their opening film. We then won two prizes with the movie. After that, distributors became interested and started contacting us. The movie will come out in German cinemas on March 11.
Marc Rensing
NG: Any chances we will be able to see your movie on the International screen, for example here in the USA?
MR: We are currently working on that. It’s a little bit difficult though because no one wants to invest money right now due to the economic crisis. That’s a pity.
NG: You currently reside in Los Angeles as one of the fellows at the Villa Aurora. Are you working on new material?
MR: Yes, that’s right. I’m working on new stories, and I’m writing.
NG: How did you find your actors in Parkour. They’re all unknown faces in German cinema.
MR: I did not want to work with known actors because the audience would not believe that this person is really doing Parkour. I also intentionally wanted to work with fresh faces and up-and-coming actors and actresses because in Germany you often see the same artists on the screen, and that can get a bit boring. And I’m very happy that I found all of these amazing young actors - they were all great.
NG: Thank you, Marc!
European Golden Globe 2010 Winners
Christoph Waltz
It was a successful night for German and Austrian filmmakers and actors at the Golden Globes 2010! Viennese actor Christoph Waltz won Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture for Inglorious Basterds. Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke was happy that his film The White Ribbon was awarded Best Foreign Language Film. And Sandra Bullock, who is half German, won Best Actress Motion Picture, Drama for The Blind Side. If this is an indication for what’s to come at the Academy Awards, then European filmmakers have all reason to celebrate.
Sandra Bullock
Michael Haneke
But all jubilance aside, the Golden Globes like everything else these days is overshadowed by the terrible news about the earthquake victims in Haiti. Therefore, I wanted to take the opportunity and list some websites of organizations that provide information on how each of us can help. Please join me in making a donation!
* Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.
* UNICEF
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