Marusa Majer from Slovenia I found her alluring, edgy, not just her look but personality wise.
A graduate of the University of Ljubljana, Marusa has appeared in a number of films including: Driving School.
Marusa Majer
What type of roles would you like to play?
I have been lucky because until now I have played a number of different roles. I hope this continues. I do not want to be stereotyped.
What was your first acting part?
A moon in a kindergarten play.
What inspired you to become an actress?
Acting interested me from a viewpoint of standpoint. I have to reach into myself, it is constant learning.
What performer inspired you?
Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence.
What are your future plans?
I have a theater premiere in Slovenia, improve. Being a classically trained stage actress I am going back to my roots.
Career ambitions?
Auditions. All is looking bright. I have a lot of work at home.
The European Shooting Stars is a program designed to focus the spotlight on young acting talent. Each year a jury chooses 10 performers with screen experience to be presented at the Berlinale as the Stars of Tomorrow.
Esben Smed from Denmark- A bit of a cold smoldering charm, a graduate of the Danish School of Performing Arts, Esben is a regular in the television series Follow The Money.
Esben Smed
What type of role attracts you as a performer?
Not just one type but something that gets my attention. I like to research and discover a character’s traits. I like looking for the unknown.
What was your first acting role?
I had a small role in a theater play when I was 15. I got good feedback.
What inspired to become an actor?
I was interning at a theater building the scenes or sets. I saw the actors rehearsing. I read the scripts/ The theater manager asked me to go out for a casting. I did. I got the part.
What performer inspires you the most?
Daniel Day Lewis, Casey Affleck, and Joaquin Phoenix, I watch their work and I find it inspiring.
What are your future goals?
I want to have another baby.
Career goals?
More work. I have a number of projects in the works.
The European Shooting Stars is a program designed to focus the spotlight on young acting talent. Each year a jury chooses 10 performers with screen experience to be presented at the Berlinale as the Stars of Tomorrow.
Louis Hofmann from Germany A young face on the scene with a radiant smile, he has raked up an impressive list of awards and credits. Louis will star in Netflix series Dark.
Louis Hofmann
What type of roles would you like to play?
I like dramatic, characters on the edge of existence, real problems. I played a comedic role. It was a great space. So now I would like have a mixture.
What was your first acting role?
A very small role in a television series “Danni Lowinski”, I was 11. I had two words, “F*ck You! And I shot a birdie.
What inspired you to become an actor?
When I 10 or 11 I spoke to actors about what they did. The way they described it, I was fascinated. I begged my mother to sign me up with an agent. When I was 13 I got the lead in the German version of Tom Sawyer the film. Acting is self-therapy for me.
Is there a performer you admire the most?
I have three, Leo DiCaprio and Eddie Redmayne and Tom Schilling.
What are your future plans?
I am shooting the series Dark for Netflix working with Beran Bo Odar and Jentje Friese. The show will air at the end of the year.
What are your career ambitions?
I would like to mix working internationally and locally. When I worked in Denmark on a co-production I learned there was a different approach to making films.
Tudor Aaron Istodor from Romania A graduate of the national University of Drama and Cinematography, Tudor been in 3 feature films as well he has appeaered in the BBC series The Plantagenets. I found him to be optimistic.
Tudor Aaron Istodor
What type of roles would you prefer?
Any role! I want contemporary, classic, as long as it is interesting.
What was your first acting role?
It was in the 11th grade in high school, My father is an actor. I went to him for advice about a school poetry contest. I had no idea what to do. He said, “Do what you like?” I did.
What inspired you to become an actor?
I don’t want to have a work a single day in my life. I enjoy playing roles, acting. I can do different things all the time.
Is there a performer you admire the most?
John Coltrane. He found Love Supreme!
What are your professional ambitions?
I want to work in international movies and projects. I have agent in France but I want to go further.
What are your future plans?
I want to have a baby.
The European Shooting Stars is a program designed to focus the spotlight on young acting talent. Each year a jury chooses 10 performers with screen experience to be presented at the Berlinale as the Stars of Tomorrow.
Hannah Hoekstra from The Netherlands. A graduate of the Amsterdam Theatre School she has played lead and supporting roles in Dutch films and theater. I found her to be very outgoing, bubbly with an enthusiasm for life.
Hannah Hoekstra
What type of roles do you prefer?
I want to play all while broadening my horizon. I was lucky I had a role in a film where I aged from 14 to 68.
What was your first acting role?
I was in a film titled Heaven, Hemel in Dutch. I was 20. It was tough movie psychologically.
What inspired you to become an actress?
Life! I think everyone plays characters when they are young. Most people stop when they grow older but I did not want to do that. I wanted to continue.
What is your professional ambition?
Explore and learn.
IS there a performer you admire?
Meryl Streep. She brings life to everything.
What are your future plans?
I am in the National Theatre preparing for a role. I have a part in a small film then after two months I am free.
The European Shooting Stars is a program designed to focus the spotlight on young acting talent. Each year a jury chooses 10 performers with screen experience to be presented at the Berlinale as the “Stars of Tomorrow”.
Day 5 of the Berlinale. A clear front winner for in Competition category has not emerged yet. It is a hard year to second guess the jury. The direction is very unclear.
A pool of the critics standings according to Screen International are:
A whirlwind day at the Berlinale with so many interviews but a film has emerged, The Party from director Sally Potter. Stay Tuned for more.
Shooting Stars is now 20 years old. The Pan European program has been celebrated for spotting emerging talent, helping talented performers to the next levels of their careers. This year there the 14 picks are:
Shooting Star Mausa Majer from Slovenia
Esben Smed* from Denmark, Louis Hofman* from Germany, Alessandro Borghi from Italy, Elina Vaska from Latvia, Hannah Hoekstra* from The Netherlands, Zofia Wichlacz from Poland, Victoria Guerra from Portugal, Tudor Aaron Istodor* from Romania, Marusa Majer* from Slovenia, and Karin Franz Korlof from Sweden.
*Stay tuned for the Black and Paper feature on these actors.
The press room opinions are in and it looks like The Dinner is a winner. Judging by the level of applause at the press conference I would say the film was well received. With an accomplished ensemble cast of veterans, director Sally Potter made a black and white film that was light and lovely but what can go wrong when people lose touch their principals. Commenting, “my favorite films are in Black and White and this is a part of the lineage. Working with Russian cinematography Aleksei Rodionov, the film is a performance character based project. Shot over two weeks the actors had to get it right the first time. Co-star Kristin Scott Thomas admitted it was like doing a play with little rehearsal time, there was no time for many takes. German Actor Bruno Ganz, an actor not known for comedic roles, made an impression going against type.
Kirstin Scott Thomas
Directo Sally Potter
Timothy Spall
The Party stars Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall, Patricia Clarkson, and Bruno Ganz. The film screens in Competition at the Berlinale.
Arri Trinity
My first impression of the new mega Arri Stedicam Trinity was exoskeleton. Weighting in between 20 to 30 kilos the new camera mount is the latest innovation in the firm’s 100 years. Granted it is a James Cameron dream come true, an achievement in technical advancement for film production. Currently there are only 10 in available. Stay tuned for the upcoming Black and Paper video.
I had a one on one interview with filmmaker Yance Ford. His documentary feature Strong Island was well received at the Sundance Film Festival. A story of a senseless murder, except the victim was the helmer’s brother, shot because of an altercation concerning repairs over a car. This documentary resonated with me given the present climate in the USA and the continue killings of African American men.
Berlinale opening film Django received a lukewarm response according to press room feedback. Clichéd, typical, and wooden Nazi characters is how the biography feature on jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt has been described. Judging by the reactions I think I will pass.
The Dinner with Richard Gere and Laura Linney. Director Oren Moverman’s film based on the Herman Koch novel just finished the press screening. Was it any good? I am waiting for the instant reviews. The applause before the Q&A was less than enthusiastic. Attention was turned to politics with responses on the state of the US Executive Branch, Gere gave a blistering rebuke of Mr. Trump. Mr. Gere and Ms. Linney noted The Dinner is there third collaboration.
The 67th Berlinale opened with some political questions on the agenda but Jury President Paul Verhoeven stating he was here to judge the quality of the movie, not the political perspective. Mr. Verhoeven said he expects to see a lot of movies that are different and have heated arguments with respect.
Jury member Diego Luna addressed the current global political tones by saying, “I am not here to send messages but I am here to listen.” When asked about the proposed wall between the US and Mexico Luna commented, I have good memories crossing the border from both sides.
As a film festival Berlinale has always had a political edge but this year the jury seemed more pragmatic, less overtly ideological.
Jury Head Paul Verhoeven
Dora Bouchoucha Fourati
Jury Member Diego Luna
Berlinale makes an effort not to be taken over by market forces said fellow jury member Olafur Eliasson.
Addressing the issues concerning the state of Hollywood and the lack of Adult Movies, the bottom line mentality has taken control of the industry. Studios and Producers only want to invest in films with big returns. Film Director (Total Recall, Elle, and Robo Cop) Verhoven discussed the challenges of trying to get his latest film Elle produced.
Berlinale Jury: Paul Verhoeven, Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, Olafur Eliasson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Julia Jentsch, Diego Luna, and Wang Quan’an
