FALL AND NO BREAK -- OCT/NOV 2009

In Florida working on my Volker Schlöndorff project NICHT ZUSTÄNDIG (UNACCOUNTABLE) and scripts for top German producers Nico Hofmann and Oliver Berben.
In November I will be in Los Angeles with partner in crime Stefan Schaefer to continue talks over our XYZ films/AJ Annila project HUNTER'S SONG and keep the Silver Shepherd ball rolling.
Also in November, I will be headlining two events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. One is at Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center in Alabama on Nov 9, the other at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington DC Nov 12, hosted by Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Both will feature screenings of GOOD BYE LENIN, a multiple award winner I co-wrote.
German TV air date: TATORT: SCHWEINEGELD, written by Silber&Wettcke, Nov 1, ARD 8:15 pm. The film will also be screened in the "New German Film" showcase at Babylon Berlin Mitte Oct 15.

...THEN WE TAKE BERLIN -- SEP 2009

Heading back to Germany for several meetings and events.
The Tatort film SCHWEINEGELD written by Silber & Wettcke will premiere at Oldenburg Int'l Filmfest on September 18.
AUF DER SONNENSEITE, the Tatort that won us the Grimme Award earlier this year, is nominated for Best Cinematography at the German TV Awards.
Wih production wrapped on TEUFELSKICKER, I have been approached about writing a sequel. Universal is going to release a teaser-trailer in theaters across Germany this month. Family entertainment pic will open next spring.
GERMAN TV AIR DATES: Two new hour-long episodes of DER KRIMINALIST starring Christian Berkel (VALKYRIE, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS) will air on ZDF Sep 25 and Oct 2 at 8:15 pm.

NEW YORK MINUTE -- JUL/AUG 2009

With various projects in development, I'll hardly leave my desk this summer, except for some meetings at the New York office with partner in crime Stefan Schaefer (see picture). Starting up our writing label SILVER SHEPHERD INC. we have optioned our horror script THE HUNTERS SONG to Hollywood-based XYZ films and sold FIRST LADY, a comedy, to German producer Nico Hofmann.
In Production: DIE TEUFELSKICKER (DEVIL'S KICKERS), German family entertainment film starring Benno Fürmann (THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR) and Diana Amft (GIRLS ON TOP).
LIEBE IST NUR EIN WORT (LOVE IS BUT A WORD), German TV drama starring Vinzenz Kiefer (SPEED RACER) and Nadeshda Brennicke (TATTOO).

GREENLIGHTS -- MAY/JUN 2009

In development: ABERRATION, an indie thriller set for production in Alabama this fall, to be directed and shot by Bill Sweikart.
In June I will be in Cologne to work on the shooting draft for DIE TEUFELSKICKER (DEVIL KICKERS). Helmed by Granz Henman (see picture), family entertainment pic starts shooting in July to hit screens in 2010.
Later heading for Berlin to collaborate on a new project with Volker Schlöndorff, also shooting this year.

LOLA & GRIMME AWARDS -- APR 2009

NORDWAND (NORTH FACE), written by myself and director Philipp Stoelzl, won two Lolas (the German Academy Awards) for Best Cinematography and Best Sound. Earlier this year the script had earned me the German Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay.
AUF DER SONNENSEITE (ON THE SUNNY SIDE), the TATORT film I penned with Berlin collaborator Thorsten Wettcke, won the 2009 Grimme Audience Award, the highest honor in German TV. The winners also included the film's star Mehmet Kurtulus and Paris-based director Richard Huber.

AWARD SEASON UPDATE -- JAN/FEB 2009

#1 NORTH FACE won the German Critics Award for Best Screenplay during the Berlin International Film Festival! The film's recent UK release got very good reviews. The Independent calls it "a brave film... that not only offers vertiginous thrills but also probes away at an uncomfortable episode in German history."
#2 AUF DER SONNENSEITE written by Thorsten Wettcke and myself is still in the race for the coveted Grimme awards, the German Emmy equivalent.
#3 Also at Berlinale, Stefan Schaefer and I won the Special Award of the GreenMe Screenplay Contest with our project MATANZA FALLS.

DOWN SOUTH -- DEC/JAN 08/09

Overwintering at the family refuge in the Tennessee Valley, working on my long list of unread (and alas, unwritten) books. I wish everyone a splendid holiday season and a New Year of peace with lots of love and light and painless pleasure.

SWITZERLAND -- NOV 2008

On research in Vevey, Switzerland for a new project - can't say more about it yet than what the picture tells.
If you are in Los Angeles these days, watch out for NORTH FACE (NORDWAND) at the AFM festival.
Back in Germany, DIE TRÄNEN MEINER MUTTER (MY MOTHER'S TEARS) is now in theaters. I tutored first-time director Alejandro Cardenas at DFFB film school in Berlin and later became co-writer for this strong and very touching debut.

TWO PREMIERES -- OCT 2008

NORDWAND - in German, Swiss and Austrian theaters Oct 23
I co-wrote the script with director Philipp Stoelzl.
Berliner Zeitung: "Breathtaking. Dazzling images. Compelling drama."
Tagesspiegel: "NORDWAND keeps up with Hollywood, hands down."
TATORT: AUF DER SONNENSEITE - ARD, Oct 26, 8:15 pm
I co-wrote the pilot and developed this new concept for Germany's legendary feature-length crime series with Thorsten Wettcke.
Bild-Zeitung: "Extremely intriguing... Tatort re-invented!"
Der Spiegel: "A triumph for German quality television."

BACK IN BERLIN -- SEP 2008

Back to Berlin to celebrate the wedding of my friend and partner in crime, Thorsten Wettcke. Another good friend I met here is Volker Schlöndorff. He gave me his book - which I highly recommend. Moving, inspiring and very well written, it shot right up into my top ten of filmmaker's memoirs. Volker went through a lot of bashing here last year when he condemned TV networks for gorging on film funds. It's good to see him restored - the book is winning raves from critics nationwide.

NORDWAND AT LOCARNO -- AUG 2008

At last - NORDWAND (NORTH FACE), the big European period drama I co-wrote, premiered at Locarno Int'l Film Festival. Hailed by festival audience and critics, pic will hit European screens in October.

INTERVIEW -- JULY 2008

To hear me chat about screenwriting with non-fiction author and brilliant networker Gabe Lyons, go to iTunes and look for the Fermi podcast.

HOLLYWOOD -- JUNE 2008

Working in the Hollywood Hills on a family entertainment project with director Granz Henman.

SPRINGTIME IN NYC -- MAY 2008

IN PRODUCTION - Two of my German screenplays are being filmed:
AUF DER SONNENSEITE, 90 min TATORT written by Wettcke & moi.
MAUER IM KOPF, starring Christian Berkel (DOWNFALL, VALKYRIE).

ICEWIND IN BROOKLYN -- MAR 2008

My 2006 short film ICEWIND, featured at festivals in LA and Chicago, has been selected for BAMkids festival in Brooklyn. See it there on March 8 at BAM Rose Cinemas.

ITALY -- FEB 2008

Working in Italy with Terence Hill, not only a film legend but also a true mensch. Terence plans to produce and direct my screenplay MY NAME IS INGEBORG based on Raymond Kennedy's novel THE BITTEREST AGE.

BERLINALE -- FEB 2008

Back from busy Berlin. THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA by Islandic director Olaf de Fleur, co-produced and co-written by my man Stefan Schaefer, picked up a Teddy Award. Well-deserved!
LAS LAGRIMAS DE MI MADRE (MY MOTHER'S TEARS) is a film that I co-wrote. The Argentinian-German production by first time director Alejandro Cardenas won an actor's award at the Max Ophuls festival in January, and was sold to a distributor at Berlinale.

"ARRANGED" HITS BIG SCREEN ! -- DEC 2007

ARRANGED, winner of Brooklyn Film Festival and other awards, is now on screen at Quad Cinema in Manhattan. I collaborated on it as script consultant. International distribution depends on the film's success in NY. So pack the house and support a film with a message!

GUBBIO, ITALY -- NOV 2007

Who said screenwriting was a slave job? Work took me to one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Stunning views, medieval streets, no major highway near, white truffles, pigeon ragout, vino novello, the sweetest people on earth. Gubbio is where Saint Francis talked to the wolf and started his walk to Assisi. Maybe it is the spirit of the "Saint of Peace", the patron of animals and nature, that has sheltered this place from the chills and noises of today.

ROME -- AUG 2007

Spending a week in hot, sunny, crazy beautiful Rome for a very exciting new writing project. Above is Fellini's favorite café Canova on Piazza del Popolo. The city has become more chique, more globalized in some ways. But it is still Rome - and I love it.