A look behind the scenes at the making of the documentary.
Working on the documentary “The Star Lawyer: Christian Schertz and the Media” for Hessischer Rundfunk was a creative and logistical challenge that put our team to the test. Filming for this documentary began last November and lasted seven intense months. During this time, we accompanied Christian Schertz, as well as his friends and opponents, over a total of 21 days of filming.
Flexibility as the Key to Success
Planning the documentary was complicated because Christian Schertz had very limited availability due to his professional commitments. This required the utmost flexibility from our camera crew. We often had to decide on the spot when we could shoot, which posed significant challenges for the production of the documentary. The close collaboration between director Nora Binder and cinematographer Felix Landbeck was crucial to the project’s success.
Authenticity Through Unstaged Scenes
To ensure the documentary’s authenticity, the director and cinematographer made a conscious decision to avoid staged scenes. Almost all of the documentary footage was shot with a handheld camera to capture reality in an immediate and unfiltered way. The elaborately staged shots of documents and archival material—filmed in a studio setting with high-quality camera movements and lighting—provided a stylistic contrast.
Diverse Filming Locations and Prominent Protagonists
In addition to Berlin, the main filming location, the documentary film crew traveled to Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, and Leipzig to meet prominent figures such as Günther Jauch, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, and Giovanni di Lorenzo at their respective locations. This variety of filming locations helped paint a comprehensive picture of Christian Schertz and his influence on the German media landscape.
Special Challenges During Filming with Christian Schertz
Filming with Christian Schertz himself presented particular challenges. Since he is a lawyer and bound by attorney-client privilege, many aspects of his work could not be shown. Furthermore, Schertz is someone who likes to maintain control over every situation, which made it difficult to capture authentic and unplanned moments for the documentary.
Efficient Post-Production Despite Simultaneous Filming
Post-production of the documentary, which was also handled by Hessischer Rundfunk, began at the same time as filming and continued uninterrupted until completion. This parallel editing process helped overcome time constraints during production and ensure that the documentary was completed on time.
The documentary's goal: to reflect on law and morality
The goal of the documentary was to encourage viewers to reflect and to highlight the importance of careful consideration when addressing legal and moral issues. German case law requires clear evidence before judgments can be rendered. This central message runs throughout the entire documentary, which focuses on the complex interplay between law, morality, and the media.
Watch it now on the ARD Media Library
Watch the documentary “The Star Lawyer: Christian Schertz and the Media” now on the ARD media library. We hope you find it both engaging and thought-provoking! Click here to watch the video.
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Inhaltsverzeichnis
- A look behind the scenes at the making of the documentary.
- Flexibility as the Key to Success
- Authenticity Through Unstaged Scenes
- Diverse Filming Locations and Prominent Protagonists
- Special Challenges During Filming with Christian Schertz
- Efficient Post-Production Despite Simultaneous Filming
- The documentary's goal: to reflect on law and morality
- Watch it now on the ARD Media Library
- Our Showreel