Developing Talent: The Baden- Württemberg Film Academy

Photo: Baden-Württemberg Film Academy

Daniela D. König knew all her life that she wanted to be in the film business. When she was five years old, she acted in a TV series; later, she interned with TV productions and finally enrolled at a drama school to become an actress. Soon, however, she wanted even more.

“I always had a weak spot for writing, and I then noticed that I think in images more than other people do,” she says. “So I decided to apply for the script-writing program at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy.”

Maximum challenge

Today, the 29-year-old is in her fourth year at the Academy, preparing her thesis — a concept for a TV series based on a female main character. Over the past three years, Daniela, like all other students, has gotten a firsthand glimpse into what it means to be working in this industry. “You are challenged to the maximum and you really have to want it, but it’s great,” she says.

During their first two years, the students are learn the basics about filmmaking: from film history to the right lighting to camera work, scripting, directing and production. Then it’s about specializing into different categories — for example, sound design, scripting, directing or producing — and learning from the academy’s teachers, who are all experts from the industry hired to teach students the latest skills in a series of workshops.

“These instructors have a totally different mindset,” Daniela says. “They come into a room, sit down and at first tell you what’s new in the industry. They’re totally up to date and can tell you what’s really awaiting you out there. For us, that’s very exciting.”

To become one of those students, you have to demonstrate a certain talent and a passion for filmmaking. Roughly 900 young people apply each year, with only 100 of them accepted. Once you’re in, you’re on track for a first-class education using cutting-edge technology and production means.

In the Animation Institute, for example, each student gets his or her own PC workstation and is able to really explore the world of animation filmmaking, Academy officials say.

From pencil to computer mouse

“We still have students creating visual animation films at the drawing board or filming self-made Plasticine figures, and at the same time, we have our state-of-the art equipment at the Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction and teach them the latest in digital animation,” says Sabine Hirtes, who is Projects Supervisor at the Animation Institute. “From the start, we have focused on including in our school cutting-edge technology.”

The Academy also honors its cinematic roots: The cafeteria Der Blaue Engel, which is open to the public, pays tribute to a Marlene Dietrich film that caused headlines in the early 1930s. Another school building is named Metropolis, after the visionary masterpiece by Fritz Lang from 1927.

Several Academy alumni have followed the footsteps of the likes of Lang: School films have won more than 100 awards, including the Locarno Golden Leopard for The Longing by Iain Dilthey, student Oscars for Rochade by Thorsten Schmidt in 1998 and NimmerMeer (Nevermore) by Toke Constantin Hebbeln in 2007. The Film Academy also received a ‘real’ Oscar nomination in 2003 for Das Rad (Rocks) in the category of Best Animated Short Film. Another Oscar went to teacher Volker Engel, who won for the special effects he created with a group of Academy students for Roland Emmerich’s box office hit Independence Day.

Besides being able to boast about awards won, most students also take advantage of the many exchange programs the Academy offers — with schools in Poland, France, Canada and even Cuba. Further partnerships with film schools in Chile, China, Turkey and also the Tisch School of the Arts in New York City are in the works.

Moreover, Academy students are highly sought after in the international film industry. Students have worked at Digital Domain, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic and other famous visual animation studies.

Given this impressive list, it’s no surprise that Academy students have no trouble once they leave school. “Ninety-five percent of our Animation Institute alumni find employment very easily,” Hirtes says.

http://www.filmakademie.de