The Other Babelsberg Studio

[Pete Askew]

Just up the road from the real (i.e. my) Babelsberg Studio is this other bunch! Listen out for the correct pronunciation of Babelsberg from the CEO of the studio. Why the presenter and Tarantino could not take the time (and have the respect) to learn the correct way is a mystery and just plain annoying!

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29917628

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Very interesting. Although I'm a member of the real Babelsberg Studio, I'd never heard of this other one. Metropolis must be one of the greatest films of all time. I couldn't believe it when I saw the original. Amazing.

 

[Pete Askew]

The film studios are about a 10 minute walk from our apartment. They have now demolished the back lots which is a shame. These were where they filmed The Pianist and many other films that required architecture of that period. Occasionally you find them filming in the streets - mainly TV dramas though - and you get the odd call for extras. Ina is still hoping to be 'discovered' on her way to the S-Bahn in the morning!

There is also a film park (a sort of mini MGM world) that is open from April to October and a large, new expo / studio space called the Metropolis Halle. On the board outside the studios is shows what is in production and in post-production at the moment (a lot of PP is done at Babelsberg) but I haven't been past recently to see what's going on. This it the address of the competition!

http://www.studiobabelsberg.com/en/

Potsdam has a film museum as well although their best exhibits seem to have been nicked by the Berlin one now (dressing room of Marlene Dietrich and much of the Metropolis stuff). They do cover the UFA (pronounced oofa, not as the BBC managed it - morons!) though. It just been renovated and so must pay another visit. They also show films and a have a Metropolis special coming up (after I'm back in the UK though ).

Here's a shot of the backlots from the street before they knocked them down.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

That's a fine shot. I would have been scratching my head over it, if not for the context.

Cheers, Pete. Good stuff.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Rob.