Hollywood strike
Short-time work at Studio Babelsberg
Short-time work is popular in the film studios in Babelsberg. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa
Screenwriters in the US are on strike, as are actors. According to the Babelsberg studio, this is leading to a drop in orders in the world-famous film production facility, which has consequences.
The traditional film company in Potsdam is planning short-time work for some of its employees due to the poor order situation and the Hollywood strike on September 1st. The works council sees about 40 out of 100 employees affected. Studio Babelsberg is considered the cradle of German film. In the spring, the management went to a company that belongs to a US real estate investor.
The concerns of the drama association go beyond the current development. The recent entry of the American Cinespace studio group was viewed critically, “in this respect, the new investors and owners of Studio Babelsberg now need a clear commitment to the Babelsberg production site”. In addition, for attractive production locations in Babelsberg and Germany, an improvement in the framework conditions for film productions and the funding conditions is necessary.
The company in Babelsberg justifies the short-time work “to secure jobs in view of the current production standstill in streaming, television and film projects, which has occurred worldwide as a result of the ongoing strikes by the US screenwriters and actors’ union”. Co-CEO Andy Weltman said, “We remain committed to the people of Studio Babelsberg, the company and its future as a premier content production hub.”
Babelsberg is one of the oldest large-scale film studios in the world. That’s where “Nosferatu” was filmed. Successful feature films such as “Bridge of Spies” or the series “Babylon Berlin” were later made. The historic film production facility handed over management to Cinespace Studios, which belongs to US real estate investor TPG, in March.