Film, edit, film, edit, film… and so on

My days are packed. For the new show Rbbum4, I’m on the road for a whole week once a month. Every day somewhere different, every day with different people, every day learning new things, asking silly questions. Seriously, I’ll keep saying it—it’s just a really fun job. My only constraint: Filming between 9 a.m. and noon (and definitely no later than that), then finding a spot (preferably with a nice lunch, a power outlet, and of course a table and a chair). And then editing until 3 p.m., because that’s my deadline.

 Then I rush outside with my laptop, often standing outside with the editor-in-chief who reviews my report, and then quickly hop into the SP1 car (no, I don’t know what that means either, but there are three people and a whole bunch of buttons inside) to upload it to the system. Then I put on my headset with a microphone and record the voice-over—and in this car, it has to be done right the first time.

Last Friday and today, I wandered around Grüne Woche this way—Germany’s largest food and agricultural trade fair, and perhaps the largest in Europe as well. Let’s just say, at least ten huge halls packed with food from all corners of the globe. Then I trudge through the halls with my full, heavy camera backpack and my tripod. These days, I’m also wearing my thick winter coat and long underwear, because, well, it’s -3 outside and you have to be prepared for anything.

Fortunately, there are always friendly people around. Out of sheer necessity, I immediately latch onto them to ask where I can leave my gear. I hand them a small microphone and start filming right away without any fuss—preliminary interviews? I don’t have time for that. Halfway through filming, I’m usually relieved to realize that I’m actually right on schedule. Then I’ll sit down and just chat—without the camera—with the cook, the stablemaster, the butcher, the furniture maker, the farmer, the student, the historian. After two or three hours, I usually say goodbye, but these are lovely, intimate encounters that yield those small, charming portraits.

Tomorrow is another day. And another story.

Broadcast from Friday, January 15, with Hendrik Haase about Grüne Woche (RBB, link no longer works) (starting at approx. 8:00)

Broadcast from Monday, January 18, summary of the Brandenburghalle at Grüne Woche (RBB, link no longer works) (starting at approx. 9:15)

(Broadcasts are usually available for seven days)

(The signal that no one is allowed to come in, because then I’d be reading the voiceover)

DO NOT ENTER! (but people do anyway)

By now, I’ve already been in some (too) crazy editing spots. In a little room on a farm, in the university library, in a fancy Italian restaurant, in the stable manager’s office (which has a bed), in a biologist’s office, surrounded by plant specimens. And I almost never know in advance where I’ll end up. So I’m curious to see what tomorrow will bring.