In conversation – actor Sebastian Stielke on the film city of Potsdam
In conversation – actor Sebastian Stielke on the film city of Potsdam
2020 was a tough year for actors. You used the time to write a book. Tell us about your project.
Indeed, 2020 brought us all an unexpectedly high degree of time spent at home. The idea had been brewing in my mind for a few years, but I hadn't had the time to put it into practice. Now, however, the moment was right. Potsdam is the film capital of Germany. No other city of comparable size has produced more film and television productions in the last hundred years than Brandenburg's state capital. In addition to its remarkable film history, Potsdam boasts film tourism, research, the training of young filmmakers, and above all, a very active and successful film industry, ranging from small media companies to major film productions.
Most people don't even know that hit series like "Babylon Berlin" or "Dark" were filmed in Babelsberg. And numerous feature films, too. It's less well known that Alfred Hitchcock took his first steps as a director in Babelsberg and that the countdown was invented there. With my book "100 FACTS ABOUT Babelsberg," I want to reach film buffs and newcomers alike. The publisher calls the book "entertaining and surprising." If it achieves that, I'll be very happy.
Are there any advantages to being an actor living in Potsdam, the cradle of film?
Several. I enjoy unwinding after a day's work on set or a long day in the recording studio: with an after-work drink by the water, in the countryside, or in the baroque city center. Another advantage is the short distances: whether for castings, rehearsals, meetings, or filming in Potsdam, Berlin, and the surrounding area. It was great to be able to get to the set of "SOKO Potsdam" so quickly. And Potsdam offers countless opportunities to recharge after a long day of filming, whether canoeing or exploring the palaces, gardens, museums, cinemas, and theaters. Our city offers an incredible abundance.
Do you think the city has a certain "film spirit"?
Of course, you're constantly "breathing in" the film industry here. The city boasts an incredible number of attractive locations, and the state capital makes it very easy for filmmakers when it comes to filming permits and production support. And you see this every day in the cityscape when you cycle through Potsdam and suddenly stumble upon filming – whether in the historic center, in the various districts, or in the parks. The media city of Babelsberg teems with creatives from all fields, students from different institutions, and industry professionals.
Potsdam is a UNESCO Creative City of Film. How did the city earn this title, and what exactly is behind it?
Since October 2019, following an intensive application process, Potsdam has been part of the Creative Cities Network and is the first and only UNESCO City of Film in Germany. Founded in 2004, the network aims to promote international collaboration between cities and to place creativity and the cultural economy at the heart of their development plans. We are in contact with the other German Creative Cities, as well as with the other international Cities of Film. We exchange information on specific topics, issues, and questions, such as "What are your projects related to sustainable film production?", "What research are you currently conducting?", "What's new at…?", and so on. We want to network and learn from each other. And we want to expand the presence and accessibility of film locally. A concrete example is the "Boulevard of Film" currently being developed on Brandenburger Straße.
What does this look like?
Brandenburg Street will receive new paving in the coming years. Granite slabs will be embedded in the paving, drawing the attention of passersby to the important theme of film in Potsdam. The "Walk of Fame" in Los Angeles and the "Boulevard of Stars" in Berlin are well-known examples, honoring individual filmmakers. The approach here is to initially recognize 50 films produced in Potsdam, regardless of whether they are blockbusters or arthouse films. The "Boulevard of Film" reflects the full spectrum of filmmaking in Potsdam: from "Metropolis," "The Blue Angel," and "Die Feuerzangenbowle" to "The Story of Little Muck" and "The Legend of Paul and Paula," and on to "Sonnenallee," "Inglourious Basterds," and "Bridge of Spies."
What would you recommend to visitors of Potsdam to immerse themselves in the film city of Potsdam?
As already mentioned, filming is part of the everyday cityscape of Potsdam. You might stumble upon a film set by chance, or experience – independently or on a guided tour – the original filming locations: the Dutch Quarter, through which Claire Danes walks in the series "Homeland," or the steps of the Orangery Palace, which Matthias Brandt descended as the Emperor. Or you might even see Keanu Reeves and Neil Patrick Harris, who filmed "Matrix 4" in Babelsberg, eating pizza at Otto-Braun-Platz. Of course, you can't visit the film studios themselves as an outsider, but next door there's the "Filmpark Babelsberg" adventure park with numerous themed attractions. In the future, you can stroll along the aforementioned "Boulevard of Film." Explore the stars' quarter, the villa colony of Neubabelsberg… I can also definitely recommend a visit to the exhibitions at the Potsdam Film Museum. Highly interactive and using many original props from film productions, you learn how the various departments of film work, what a moving film history we have, and what a fantastic, historic location with a future surrounds the world's oldest film studio: Studio Babelsberg. And for preparation or follow-up, I can recommend a special book…
My tip: On the guided tour "And Action!" – Potsdam as a Film Location," you'll visit original filming locations, both old and new, in the historic heart of the film city. Potsdam experts will share stories about film and television productions shot in the city center. The tour ends in the foyer of the Film Museum, whose permanent exhibition "Dream Factory – 100 Years of Film in Babelsberg" you can then visit.
