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LMGI COMPASS
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Summer 2021
public service. Shortly after midnight, we got full control of the
station for two hours and the final prep could take place.
The old historical trains had been stored during the day on a siding
two minutes away and were now moved in. Time was short and
ticking. No matter what, the tracks had to be clear for normal traffic
in two hours. We spent two nights filming there, and everything went
well.
In the end, many complicated scenes usually look so simple on
screen. But in this case, there was a lot of attention on these pictures
and anyone who knows Hermannplatz was really amazed. Afterward,
we had to explain how it was possible to do it. Basically, it was just
the meticulous planning on our part that made it work, along with the
joy of breaking new ground.
Another place which is worth mentioning is the Alexanderplatz in
the middle of Berlin. This large square in front of the "Rote Burg,"
the police headquarters, was quite a show. Historical trams were
involved, along with a few hundred extras, picture vehicles and
horse-drawn carriages—the whole thing with cranes and drones.
It was the biggest setup of the first two seasons. We asked about
the availability of this location very early on, knowing that this place
is often blocked. Unfortunately, there is a limited contingent of days
that the historical Alexanderplatz can be used for events. If this is
already allocated, you don't get the permit. First come, first served,
very simple.
We were unlucky and lucky at the same time. The Alexanderplatz
was available, but only for exactly one day in our shooting period,
matching with the constellation of actors' availability—the last
Sunday in September. This is a day that is circled in deep red in our
calendar every year. The Berlin Marathon always takes place that
day.
Nobody I know from the location world is filming anything in town
on that Sunday. Of course, that was the reason why it was available.
The entire city center is closed to traffic from around 6 a.m. The
lockdown takes place in sequence and everything is closed by 8 a.m.
The marathon starts at 8:15 a.m. This is a very serious thing for the
city, the sports event of the year.
When it was clear that this was our only possible day to film on
Alexanderplatz, which is of course, also directly next to the marathon
route, it was clear we had to prepare very diligently. At the end of a
very extensive minute-by-minute planning, we actually made it.
At 6 a.m. on a very sunny day, around 300 extras and 150 team
members were working on Alexanderplatz. The logistics were in
place. Everyone was so happy that it worked out and the rehearsals
began. The last missing piece was the historical trams. It was only
possible that the trams came in in the morning because the place
was still used for local passenger transport overnight.
Around 7:40 a.m., the trams finally arrived and everything seemed
to be good just shortly before the complete lockdown would start.
