German production of international calibre ‘Black Death’ is created in the Harz.
by UWE KRAUS, 12.05.09, 18:18h, aktualisiert 12.05.09, 22:36h

BLANKENBURG/MZ. The path is covered with a mixture of straw, bones, manure and animal excrements. The sun above Blankenburg does the rest of it, so that even the smell reminds one of he middle ages. In the alley, that was created at the big palace, the corpses ae piling up besides kitchen waste. The ragged creatures that drag themselves along the way, are marked with bloody scratches and boils.

“Action”, it resounds via megaphone through the alley, and at the app. 150 m long location it becomes quiet. at the castle of Blankenburg the filming goes on for the medieval-mystery-thriller “Black Death”, a “German production of international calibre”, as the crew promises. 

Andre Gast, director of the “Grosses Schloss Blankenburg GmbH”, is happy, that the international film production is for a day of filming in the bloom city. “That of course carries the name Blankenburg into the world” The film scouts had seen pictures of the castle in the internet, took notice and decided on location, that they can film here more than originally planned. Gast would have liked it even more, if they would have filmed a baroque film here. “Now it is the medieval walking way and the entrance passage” 

When the film comes into international cinemas in 2010, it might not be possible to recognize Blankenburg more exactly. “Alley in a town with plague” is simply stated in the script. Here lives Averill, the secret love of young monk Osmund, played by Eddie Redmayne. Nothing about the Averill from Kimberley Nixon reminds one anymore of her role as attractive blonde in the teenie-story “Frontalknutschen” from the summer 2008, where she did know how to use her charms to the best effect.

“Lord of the Rings” Star Sean Bean appears as unspectactular on this tuesday in the Blankenburger castle. As Ulric, boss of a group of church knights, he plays the leading part in “Die schwarze Pest”, as the german title goes. But in Blankenburg Sean Bean, the Boromir from “Lord of the Rings” has a day off. Relaxed he walks over the castle ground. Only film experts notice: This is the man, that gained James-Bond-experience in 1995 in “Goldeneye” as Alec Trevelyan and played in 2004 in “Troy”. That he is committed to the more darker medieval types doesn’t affect the character player very much. His voice on the other hand connect many brits with beer. He spoke the cult spot from”Guinness”, owns brewery shares and likes it to chat with the journalists about beer. Towards the MZ he enjoys it to take some time more to talk about history. “Of course with such a schedule there isn’t much room to roam through the landscape. But just the surroundings here fascinate me. Did you know that from your part of the country someone became a king with us? Look at the wattle and daub structures in Quedlinburg. I compare them all the time with York in Northern England.” 

That the film production will have its effect for the Blankenburgers, is certain for producer Jens Meurer (Egoli Tossell Film). “Great in itself, that 120 people monopolized the hotels here. Additionally, the actors will report in the world, how ideal it was to film here. Meurer adds: “The sound is mixed in Halle. Phantastic locations like castle Querfurt, the “Teufelsmauer” or the atmosphere here in the castle come together with optimal financing possibilties to form an interesting offer for the international film business.” 

The helpfulness here made it possible, that there was on tuesday in Blankenburg “again a really good filming day”, so Jens Meurer, who is besides Phil Robertson (Zephyr Films) and Robert Bernstein (Ecosse Films) acting as producer. Beside the big stars a lot of extras like Johanna Bernhagen and Caroline Stock from Quedlinburg play a part. The first one plays for the first time, a farmers child, the young mother, who walks dirty and ragged through the castles courtyard, has already filming experience. 2008 casted for “The Popess”, she spends her day high above Blankenburg. “It is as always, most of the day you spend waiting.” Ais if the Crew has heard this, there comes now the signal for the next scene. 

Again the emaciated figures drag themselves through the alley, that was prepared over days for this one film moment. Little Johanna Berghagen hopes now to recognize herself again in the coming year in this her first film role.