Early morning on set at Der Seewolf, a German TV movie production shooting on location at the Bahamas Film Studios in Grand Bahama Island. Here The Bahamas Weekly got to see the cast and crew arrive and prepare Ghost for a day of filming out at sea. Photos: Robbin Whachell
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Grand Bahama Island - On May 8th, The Bahamas Weekly News Team was invited out to the set of Der Seewolf, now in film production in Grand Bahamas Island out at the Bahamas Film Studios. The production team chose The Bahamas for this two-part, made for German television movie for various reasons, but the main one being the warm beautiful waters and weather. Another draw was the Collyer Tank at the Bahamas Film Studios. There are only a few other water tanks like it in the world.
We arrived out on location VERY early! It took me back to my days working in production for
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean II and
III a few years ago - I do NOT miss the early long hours!
The reason we were invited out so early was to be on hand for the morning arrival of the cast and crew prior to their departure on the vessel, "Ghost" for a day of filming out on the gorgeous Bahamian waters.
We were invited to take photos and video, and were fortunate to interview the lead actor, Tom Kretschmann; lead actor Florian Stetter; director Christophe Schrewe; Executive Producer, Karlheinz Ganzer, the Bahamas Film Commissioner Craig Woods; Donna Mackey, Sr. Manager; Jonathan Jones, Bahamian film trainee. This video will be released soon - so check back!
Other actors in Seewolf are: Vinzenz Kiefer, Jaymes Butler, Gennadi Vengerov, Simon Licht, Robinson Reichel, Stefan Gbureck, Martin Eschenbach, Henning Baum, Mac Steinmeier, Alexander Horbe, and Paul Fassnacht. The screenplay was written by
Holger Karsten Schmidt.
Watch The Bahamas Weekly VIDEO - Behind the Scenes of Der Seewolf
SevenOne International distributes ProSieben series “The Sea Wolf” with Thomas Kretschmann (Munich, February 2008):
German actor Thomas Kretschmann, famous for international blockbusters such as “King Kong” or “The Pianist”, will be playing the lead role in ProSieben’s new event series “The Sea Wolf”. As the ruthless Captain Wolf Larsen, he will rescue the shipwrecked Humphrey van Weyden (Florian Stetter). In the middle of the ocean, a deadly quest for survival ignites between the two men. SevenOne International will be distributing the high budget production.
Filming for the modern remake of one of Jack London’s most acclaimed novels will be starting in March under Director Stephan Wagner on the Bahamas and in Berlin. The event movie is produced by Hofmann & Voges
Shipwrecked and lost, the intellectual Humphrey van Weyden is rescued by Wolf Larsen, captain of the seal-hunting vessel “Ghost”. Larsen, a brutal and ruthless man, refrains from bringing van Weyden back to shore. Gradually, the situation on board deteriorates when a shipwrecked woman, Maud Brewster (Petra Schmidt-Schaller) joins the men on board. Feeling a strong attraction towards Maud, the two men find themselves fighting each other.
Only one man will survive.
Jens Richter, Managing Director of SevenOne International was quoted in saying: “Once again, ProSieben has come up with a gripping adaptation of a world classic. After ‘Treasure Island’, Jack London’s ‘Sea Wolf’ makes captivating television, thanks to a great cast.”
Christian Balz, Head of German Fiction, ProSieben: ”With ‘The Sea Wolf’ we are bringing to the screen one of Jack London’s most thrilling adventure novels. It is the dynamics of power and self-assertion that especially appeals to our younger audiences.”
About SevenOne International:
SevenOne International is the international programming sales company of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, one of the largest pan-European media corporations, which owns 26 free TV channels and 24 pay TV channels in 13 countries. SevenOne International offers an extensive portfolio of TV events, TV movies, telenovelas, prime-time series and miniseries, as well as magazine shows and light entertainment formats. It also markets and co-finances programming made by third-party providers. It is headquartered in the Munich suburb of Unterföhring, and managed by Jens Richter.
Production Manager, Sarah Hamilton; Executive Producer, Karlheinz Ganzer; Sr. Manager, Film Commission, Donna Mackey; and Craig Woods, Bahamas Film Commissioner stand in front of Ghost on location at Bahamas Film Studios for the German production, Der Seewolf. Photos: Robbin Whachell
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Read a related article HERE
German film, The Sea Wolf, gives back to the community of Grand Bahama Island
Director, Christophe Schrewe; Bahamian film trainee, Jonathan Jones; and lead actor, Tom Kretschmann. Photos: Robbin Whachell
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Actor, Jaymes Butler; Bahamas Film Commissioner Craig Woods; actor Henning Baum in full makeup; and Bahamian film trainee Jonathan Jones. Photos: Robbin Whachell
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Some of the Cast of Der Seewolf, taken the same day out at sea. Back row, left to right: Robinson Reichel, Stefan Gbureck, Simon Licht, Martin Eschenbach, Vinzenz Kiefer, Henning Baum, Mac Steinmeier, Alexander Horbe, Florian Stetter. Front left to right: Jaymes Butler, Thomas Kretschmann, and Paul Fassnacht.
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The Ghost gets an about-face by the tugs and sails out for a long day filming at sea. May 8th, 2008. Photos: Robbin Whachell
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The Sea Wolf (Der Seewolf)
A modern interpretation of Jack London's famous novel
The adventure begins in 1906 in San Francisco, as the literary critic Humphrey van Weyden boards the ferry to Sacremento. Soon thereafter, in the heavy fog, the ferry collides with a freight ship and sinks instantly. Difting in the water, more dead than alive, van Weyden ispickedup by the schooner "Ghost".
The seal-hunter "Ghost" is under the brutal command of Wolf Larsen, who is sailing toward his favourite hunting grounds in the Pacific. The cruel captain, who has no time for sympathy, angrily refuses to put the sophisticated van Weyden ashore. If he is to survive, he must quickly adapt to the relentless laws of the rough seafaring world. Far away from home and virtually at Larsen's mercy, van Weyden must face up to the challenge.
Unconcerned for his crew's welfare, the captain savagely forces the ship through the ocean on the hunt for the seals. There exists no storm or sea battle that can stop the man. The slightest sign of resistance or laziness on the part of the crew is instantly and brutally crushed. One of Larsen's favorite punishments is towing an offender behind the ship, a punishment they may - or may not survive.
Wolf Larsen, though, is soon to find van Weyden a difficult adversary. When after a storm they take aboard more shipwrecked people, among them the attractive poet Maud Brewster, an open rivalry breaks out between the two men. For van Weyden, Maud's presence onboard represents a desperately needed element of humanity. After spending time with her, his growing attraction to the woman prompts h im to consider taking some kin of action against his antagonist, who is as well drawn to the good-looking poet. The dangerous situation rapidly escalates, and van Weyden and Maud decide to attempt a virtually impossible escape - reaching the distant coast of Japan in a small boat. Strengthened by their will to survive, the two defy angry seas and Larsen's pursuit and eventually beach on a desert island.
Although it is not Japan, it is still a temporary haven. They set up camp and explore the island, all the while growing even closer.
Unfortunately, the enjoyment of their newfound intimacy is short-lived, because during their first night on the island, the badly damaged "Ghost" washes up on the beach. The crew have mutinied and abandoned ship. Only Larsen remains onboard - in chains. Finally, the last, decisive battle between the two mane begins, a battle from which only one may emerge alive...
