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!