Well, this was planed differently. I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in quite a while - just when all the action started. But that's just it, I'm so super busy just as it should be. It's an internship after all, not a trip for pleasure.
I will try to give you a quick rundown of the past few days now.
Thursday, February 5th
My first 'real' day of working... What did that mean? Hanging up all the posters that fell down over night again :D The rest of the time I basically sat around in the office, printing reservation signs for our three premieres.
The two interns who had the evening shift had a bit more fun. They were able to sit in at the live streaming of the Opening Gala.
The first few days, there was a lot of just sitting around, because my supervisors really needed to find their place in this whole chaos and didn't really know what to do with us.
Friday, February 6th
Same procedure as before: checking posters, printing signs, filling the brochure displays and slowly, slowly starting preparations for the premiere, like checking the placement of the robes which are supposed to keep the normal folks away from the reserved seats.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Pop-Up Office
Just a few pictures, so you can get some visuals where I spent my day :)
This is the office:
And my desk;
When you sit there, doing interny stuff, you feel like you are in one of there busy pop-up campaign offices that presidential candidates have when they run for office.
The backstage area - 'Linke Nullgasse':
Not to be confused with the other side of the stage, the 'Rechte Nullgasse':
And just in case the celebrities forgot where they are (and to 'hide' the fact that they are in some ugly halls), we put poster everywhere:
I don't even want to think about how many times a day I have to walk (we are not allowed to run) along these halls, sometimes in heels...
This is the office:
And my desk;
When you sit there, doing interny stuff, you feel like you are in one of there busy pop-up campaign offices that presidential candidates have when they run for office.
The backstage area - 'Linke Nullgasse':
Not to be confused with the other side of the stage, the 'Rechte Nullgasse':
And just in case the celebrities forgot where they are (and to 'hide' the fact that they are in some ugly halls), we put poster everywhere:
I don't even want to think about how many times a day I have to walk (we are not allowed to run) along these halls, sometimes in heels...
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
In which I had to pretend to be a Hollywood actress
I just got back from my first day at Berlinale and I can officially say, that I now know my way around the world's largest show stage in the world. The Friedrichstadt-Palast is just as I imagined: very beautiful for the audience with long, long halls (that all look the same at the beginning) for the backstage crew.
I like my team (except maybe one) and can't wait to get into the daily work which will begin on Saturday (maybe Friday if I have to work late) for me. Our days will be different than these of the interns in other locations, as the Palast has its own workers for admittance and their own ushers. My main task will be watching the movies (in the best seats of the house) and writing screening reports: When exactly did the film start (was it on schedule)? Was the sound okay? Was the subtitle in the right language? How did the audience react? Did something unexpected happen in the hall during the screening?
Of course there is also regular intern stuff like checking the brochure displays if they need refilling, printing the 'Reserved for *put actor's name here*' signs and putting them on the seats and a job I only ever knew from the other side of the barricade: keeping the fans that are waiting at the Red Carpet in the area in which they are supposed to be.
Today, we learned our way around the house, 'decorated' the halls, through which the filmmakers/actors will be walking to get to the stage, with Berlinale posters and put red spots on the floor, so they know which door and staircase to take to get where they are supposed to be.
The most fun today though, I had during the Tech Rehearsal. As it's the 'Gala Coordinator' & 'Event Manager's' first Berlinale in this house, we did a very detailed Gala rehearsal with the whole tech crew. We had to practice who says what from the off, when the host goes on & off, when and from where the filmmakers and actors will get to their seats, on stage and off again, how long the music needs to be, where the spotlight had to go and so on. It took us almost two hours to get everything right, so the Gala Coordinator felt secure in the procedure. I had a lot of fun, pretending to be an actress, slowly walking down some stairs while she is wearing heels and a ballgown. Standing on such a stage is a real thrill, even if you are not doing anything. I totally enjoy being backstage too though. Getting everywhere with your key and ID with your walkie-talkie in hand.
The walkie-talkie will become my new best friend anyway. I will have to run around with it all day long, headset at the ready.
I'm sure it will become a very interesting festival. And I'm still holding my breath for Max Irons to appear on Monday - don't leave me hanging, dude! I put these spot on the floor with you in mind. I can even let the Bartender know to have the Vodka ready!
I like my team (except maybe one) and can't wait to get into the daily work which will begin on Saturday (maybe Friday if I have to work late) for me. Our days will be different than these of the interns in other locations, as the Palast has its own workers for admittance and their own ushers. My main task will be watching the movies (in the best seats of the house) and writing screening reports: When exactly did the film start (was it on schedule)? Was the sound okay? Was the subtitle in the right language? How did the audience react? Did something unexpected happen in the hall during the screening?
Of course there is also regular intern stuff like checking the brochure displays if they need refilling, printing the 'Reserved for *put actor's name here*' signs and putting them on the seats and a job I only ever knew from the other side of the barricade: keeping the fans that are waiting at the Red Carpet in the area in which they are supposed to be.
Today, we learned our way around the house, 'decorated' the halls, through which the filmmakers/actors will be walking to get to the stage, with Berlinale posters and put red spots on the floor, so they know which door and staircase to take to get where they are supposed to be.
The most fun today though, I had during the Tech Rehearsal. As it's the 'Gala Coordinator' & 'Event Manager's' first Berlinale in this house, we did a very detailed Gala rehearsal with the whole tech crew. We had to practice who says what from the off, when the host goes on & off, when and from where the filmmakers and actors will get to their seats, on stage and off again, how long the music needs to be, where the spotlight had to go and so on. It took us almost two hours to get everything right, so the Gala Coordinator felt secure in the procedure. I had a lot of fun, pretending to be an actress, slowly walking down some stairs while she is wearing heels and a ballgown. Standing on such a stage is a real thrill, even if you are not doing anything. I totally enjoy being backstage too though. Getting everywhere with your key and ID with your walkie-talkie in hand.
The walkie-talkie will become my new best friend anyway. I will have to run around with it all day long, headset at the ready.
I'm sure it will become a very interesting festival. And I'm still holding my breath for Max Irons to appear on Monday - don't leave me hanging, dude! I put these spot on the floor with you in mind. I can even let the Bartender know to have the Vodka ready!
Mein Haus, mein Block,...
Just some quick pictures of the apartment I'm staying at while I'm on my way to my first day of work :)
We are just meeting up for a few hours though to get to know the theater and to be told what we will actually be doing all day long :D
But here is my room:
and the kitchen:
The girls I'm sharing the apartment with are super nice. They did want to take me out clubbing/bar hopping but luckily I am actually here to work, not party (not that I would ever go anywhere to party - except to my room with a bar of chocolate and a good TV Show).
Monday, February 2, 2015
Never thought people from Berlin would be this nice...
I might be having a bit too much fun with this blog thing. It's not like you actually care that I'm sitting at McDonalds right now, studying for my exam tomorrow as my train back to Heidelberg won't leave for another 1.5 hours. In case you do care (do you have nothing better to do?!) here is a picture as proof:
But back to the main topic of the blog: My time in Berlin at the Film Festival. We had our info meeting this afternoon and it was super fun. The people working for the festival full-time are real nice and they actually treat us like we are worth something and actually really seem happy to be working 'with' us. I can't wait for the actual work to begin on Thursday.
Of course there are some rules:
#1 Do not get sick! Door handles are your natural enemy!
#2 Be nice. Always. The filmmakers paid a hefty sum of money to be here (and to get the actors here "They don't even think of flying here if the seat is anything less than First Class.")
#3 You are working & the actors/directors are working. Do not bother them als long as you are wearing your ID. As soon as you finish work, hide you ID and join the rest of the fans.
#4 DO NOT GET SICK!!!
Perks: Watching the movies of course. We are treated the same as press and if there are some seats left (get there early!!!) you will totally have the chance to watch some pretty amazing films.
Another perk: If you get invited to an After Party - Go! But consider your work schedule for the next day.
I met up with the girls and the one guy on my team and I really am happy with them. We are mainly working on our own, but sometimes our schedules overlapp, so we will see each other from time to time.
I really am certain that I will have a great time here and Berlin is really growing on me :)
"Like Hamburg, just bigger..."
Okay, I arrived and took a look at my accommodation. I'm sure there will be a lot of posts about the people I'm sharing the flat with - it's my first shared apartment after all. It seems like everyone and their boyfriend lived there.
I have a way better impression of Berlin this time than I did four years ago when I was here last. I did manage to get lost though. Thanks to Google Maps and Underground Stations every few blocks, I did find my way to the 'Friedrichstadt-Palast' though. This is the place I will spent the next two weeks working at:
Fancy, right? I like it! They were really busy getting everything ready for the Berlinale inside.
A quick pit-stop to get food and coffee, a walk along the spree and 'Brandenburg Gate', I arrived at 'Sony Center'.
(Of course I had to take a picture of the Gate - you HAVE to when you get to Berlin.)
In 30 minutes, we will get our contracts and IDs. Until then I'm trying to fit some studying in (Geography exam tomorrow) and work my way through the courses offered next semester. No slowing down for me today.
ICE 694 towards Berlin Ostbahnhof
It's time for my trip to begin. I'm sitting at Mannheim Central Station, freezing my buttocks off, waiting for my train to Berlin.
The night was short - like it always is right before a trip, but I'm exited to get to Berlin.
After five hours on the train, I will take my luggage to the apartment I will stay at during my two weeks there and then it's time for the real action.
If everything goes well, I will check out my way to work and then take a walk past 'Brandenburg Gate' to the Sony Center on 'Potsdam Square' to attend the welcome reception. Can't wait to hold my very first 'Berlinale ID badge' in my hands :)
As if that wouldn't be action enough, I will catch an overnight train back to Heidelberg around 10pm. There are exams to write after all ;)
I will keep you (and me - as this is mainly for me, so I won't forget stuff after a few weeks) posted on what is going on :)
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