That was very fun. Its very simple. It's a highly rewarding if not particularly easy viewing experience, being at times hilariously confusing, especially if you're not a German speaker and are busy reading subtitles while new faces appear on screen. So, but Im not going to tell you whether were going to or not.. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. It isnt just a big green screen where you have to imagine a ship in your head, but you actually see the waves, you actually see the ship. And then we try to find a world of symbols that all ties into our theme," she says. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, A strange mystery sets sail in beguiling sneak peek at, showrunner discusses the Netflix adaptation's story changes, The best crime movies on Netflix right now. All this we sort of incorporated into our story. They have something almost like emoticons at the end of every sentence, in order to understand how that sentence is meant. Then, of course, just like in Dark, we have a big philosophical theme at the center of it all about perception and reality. You know it by the emotional state, how they are addressing you, their body language and everything. Of course, thats just a tiny part of the hook of Season 3s new alternate reality, one in which Marthas younger brother never travels back in time and never becomes Jonas father. What do all the triangles and pyramids mean? We have to do this? But then they loved it, too. Some will in Episode 1 understand its a simulation. That was a challenge I really loved. 2023 Emmys Predictions: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie, We actually mirrored all the images that take place in a mirrored world, which means you mirror the sets. Just opening Final Draft took like five minutes because of all those script notes. WithDark, the story is really so much about time, about using something linear and then making lots of knots, throwing it at the audience and getting them to figure out how to untangle it back into a more linear logic. The actors had to act like they are in a mirrored world. Then at some point, when I feel stronger or happier with whats there, I put it down in pencil. We wanted to be fair and just to each of the characters, but obviously some of the endings needed to be cut out or just arranged in a different way, Friese said. I went out with my large format camera and I was taking pictures of those locations like a fan. She also doesnt want viewers to expect to learn everything when the show ends. [This story contains major spoilers for the final season of Netflixs Dark.]. So, yeah, that was my personal gift that I wanted to give, but obviously still trying to be entertaining while giving it.. Make sure to check outEW's Fall TV Preview cover story as well as all of our2022 Fall TV Preview content, releasing over 22 days through Sept. 29. In German, its so negative. Its just a nice nuance with which to end. Baran bo Odar & Jantje Friese | Netflix Dark Season 1 Exclusive Interview Do you already have the world of 1899 built out in your mind for the potential next two seasons? Teases Friese, "There's definitely a core theme in the center of 1899, as well, and it's basically looking at that core theme through a narrative, but it's not time travel. When we got to the second season, we changed it again. The ultimate example of that is Season 2s epic revelation that police chief Charlottes (Karoline Eichhorn) mother is actually her daughter Elisabeth (Carlotta von Falkenhayn) through more time travel shenanigans. We wanted it to be something that everyone can relate to: dinner with family and friends. How composer Ben Frost creates dream-like sound design. Hopefully it feels like something really fresh and new, while still [being] exactly what Dark fans would like to watch." Netflix series 1899 was shot entirely on a virtual LED Volume production stage at Studio Babelsberg. Describing the premise of the series feels almost impossible. [The German meaning is closer to unlikely to succeed.] When we got the notes back from Netflix on Dark, they said: Such an ambitious project. We thought they hated it. When we started with the show, obviously we werent sure whether we were going to get any audience because its just such an unusual narrative, said Friese. That was the biggest structural issue: when do we reveal what? 'Tyll' Series From Dark & 1899 Creators: Everything We Know He almost reveals what happens before hes interrupted. In Season 1, one of the biggest revelations once time travel is introduced is that teenager Jonas (Louis Hofmann) realizes that the young boy Mikkel (Daan Lennard Liebrenz) who disappears from Winden in 2019, has actually gone back in time to 1986 where he then met and eventually married Jonas mother. With that being said, is there still a story to tell in the universe of Dark, or do you feel closed at this point? [Editors Note: The following contains spoilers for Seasons 1 and 2 of Dark.]. Thats already in minute 10, 11. I had phonetic scripts, and I was constantly looking at the monitor and reading along, trying to follow the dialogue, which is hard in French, because theyre so fast, and is super hard in Cantonese, because that language feels like its from some other world. And in that script note, there would be a meta-conversation about language. Honestly, the most difficult people to find were women [older than middle age]. For me, its a very happy ending, realizing its not just about you all of the time. When we got to the second season, we changed it again. But of course, the number is also very magical: 1899. What happened in that period is that modernism clashed with old beliefs. Dark creators tease the mysteries behind their new Netflix series 1899 They have to realize that, yes, we suffer and we have pain and desires, but we two are not so important that we must exist so someone else cant be happy. Much to the disappointment of diehards who might venture to Berlin in the hopes of visiting the shows most pivotal location, the Winden cave doesnt actually exist. We have three age groups, and once you find one, then everything needs to relate to that person. You can actually do something good by not being there so someone else can be lucky and happy. We added a glitch to it. Note: This article contains major spoilers up through Dark's Season 2 finale, and some mild spoilers for Season 3. How much room do you give for people trying to figure it out and when do you push them into the right direction? In the series, a boy goes missing in the small German town of Winden, and as the series unspools, viewers learn that secrets, time travel, and a metaphysical battle between good and evil are behind that mystery. We realized that was insane to do on costs. We already have ideas for a second and third season on 1899, and it gets complicated. So every riddle we put in there, we feel we have to solve it, she said. One frustrating mystery that still hasnt been answered over the course of the first two seasons is what happened to Torben Wllers eye. Baran bo Odar Definitely. At first, you think everything is possible, but its not. What we did is construct a turntable so that we can spin the set around in a few minutes. In terms of how long 1899 might run, Friese says the pair are trying their best to make it a multi-season show, but notes that "it depends on the viewers", as well as Netflix. Then if you know something about simulation or content creation in that space, maybe youdo understand what that means in our context. 'Dark' Co-Creator Talks Season 3 Plans, Casting - IndieWire 1899just has a different structure. "When I read it, I was like, 'I finally got it!' Andreas Pietschmann plays Captain Eye Larsen in 1899. ", If all goes according to plan, fans have many more episodes to look forward to. It creates such a powerful illusion that, in the beginning, the crew and actors were actually getting seasick because the horizon was moving on the volume screen. Did you learn anything surprising working across so many different languages? Jantje Friese - Wikipedia Was that deliberate? Those visual changes are built on the foundation of a braided narrative that stretches out across all three seasons of Dark. Ideas planted early in the series run return as the show moves toward its poignant ending. Netflix's Dark, the streaming service's first German-language original series, follows four families in a small town who become engaged, sometimes unwittingly, in a time-traveling battle between seemingly good and evil forces. Thats why, for me, its a very happy ending, even though it feels very sad. Weve talked to a lot of people whove had the opportunity to see the first six episodes, and its kind of half and half. No, we just forget them immediately. What did you learn using the new tech? How Ben Afflecks Air Makes the Case for Movie Theaters to Build Buzz, How Succession Trapped the Roy Family in a VIP Room of Grief in Episode 3, Movies Shot on Film 2023 Preview: From Oppenheimer to Killers of the Flower Moon and Maestro, How Gene Kelly and Singin in the Rain Taught John Wick to Fight, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. Succession Reveals Logan Roys Successor: Who Is in Charge of Waystar Royco? I put a lot of thought into it: What kind of information and when do you explain certain rules? You know if something is urgent or not important. The casting director did a fantastic job. People write stories about the relationships between Aleksander and Regina, and stuff like that. It was something to give to the actors. "And we wanted to do a multilingual show that you treat all these different cultures with respect, and you don't just do it in English, or whatever language, and just pretend that they're all from these different cultures. What were the biggest challenges in establishing the parallel world? Wheres he going? We asked creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar as many of those questions as we could. But everyone now has seen all three seasons, and it gets really complicated. We wanted to end on something that looks normal. It's just the camera trick. So its really that in going through the makeup process and trying to find out what you do with the hair and face. It was a really awkward feeling that day, Odar said. You have to open doors with your left hand. Its a very long and also very complicated process. How does it feel to be almost in a prison, because you cant get out of yourself? It felt like unified Europe was slowly breaking apart, like every country was doing its own thing. bo Odar:When we spoke to the guys behindThe Mandalorian, we asked them what worked and what was really complicated. You might have an answer, and its very personal. As with every character in Dark, when youre sure you know who the villain is or whos doing the bad thing, you should be open for what made them that way because. How do people cope with situations when theyre not able to speak the same language? Even if the hair color is lighter or if they have freckles, then that kind of a hint. Sometimes its just a table or a column in the dining room, or in a landscape, maybe a hill, to create depth. In the end, the whole language thing was much easier than we all thought it would be in the beginning. You can only stand here. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Dark is a show that certainly invites a certain kind of theorizing. Mind still blown by that out-of-this-world ending to1899? I personally feel that a lot of very great philosophers came out of from German history. Friese and Odar have been otherwise tight-lipped aboutthe series so far, buta teaser revealsall of the cryptic clues, strange symbols, and dark imagery fans of their work will recognize. And also why would they like weird German-language things? Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. "We worked on a database where every scene is broken down under certain circumstances. Dozens of questions swirling around your brain about what actually happened? 1899 also has a unique sound because, fitting with the theme of Europe you were talking about, you decided to have all your actors speak in their native languages. And we love to play with tools, because I think as a filmmaker, especially, you are like a child. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Friese knows the reason for his injury and eye patch, but wouldn't reveal what happened. And yes, Martha and Jonas, thats the big centerpiece of it all.. Everything is planned in that one holy book. Were moving through a story, and we want to know how it will be resolved in the end. Thats not what we wanted. Wllers eye isnt just a mystery, but one of the running jokes that makes Dark so rich. Related "[It's] definitely not easier, really," he says. Those were a key reference. Your past is always pushing you into the direction you're going, while at the same time the future is pulling you. Friese and Odar said that they were able to keep the raincoat, the St. Christopher necklace, and the recreation of the Rubens painting The Fall of the Damned thats the centerpiece of Adams Sic Mundus hall. And thus, fans of this science fiction series can be found discussing Nietzsche and other philosophers, trying to unlock the shows themes of free will and fate, alongside the physics of time travel. The 25 Saddest TV Character Deaths of This Century, According to Variety, about 90 percent of Darks audience comes from outside of Germany, and after the release of Season 1 in December 2017, Parrot Analytics noted that the show actually increased its viewership in its second week, mimicking the word-of-mouth viewership success of Stranger Things and Maniac., Its something you hope for, but it actually hit us really hard, said Friese. Science and religion clashed a lot. All Rights Reserved. Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar have earned patience. Finally we could do whatever we wanted with them. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Because if you cannot express certain emotions through your language then theyre almost non-existent in that culture. Its not every word but you learn how a language sounds and, especially if you do a lot of takes, you get really used to it. It definitely has a new look: Not like green screen but also not the same as a classic set, something very much its own thing. Dark couldnt cast people who were too distinct though, in the interests of the mystery. 'Dark' Final Season, Explained: Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese Offers may be subject to change without notice. Odar revealed on his Instagram in a behind-the-scenes featurette that filming for the series took place in a newly custom built virtual production stage known as the Volume. One may be desperate to see the world the duo has created for 1899, the teams new Netflix series, but could also be slightly worried their brain might not be able to handle it. "India just picked up that show a couple of months ago, and now it's really huge in India," Odar said. And more of your Drive to Survive questions, answered. Others will take more time because they might think its about the Bermuda Triangle or whatever. There are different sections in there in the beginning, I just put Post-its in so I can still rip them out again. "We prepped a year to get there, because it is a beast that you have to understand. Even 24 frames per second, creating motion from still frames, thats the first illusion you create as a filmmaker. Odar: We always wanted to plant computer wording. If you turn that around, it's the infinity symbol. Netflix took over that idea and build another Volume set in Mexico using a turntable tool. Dark only really got complicated in seasons two and three. Hannah reveals shes thinking about Jonas as a name for her unborn child. Its the same with Blade Runner, and how there are still people thinking Harrison Ford is not a replicant; where Im thinking, How can you think hes not a replicant? Thats the beauty of that story, that theres a question amrk. Movies. It was originally a photo that we found. It evokes images of the 19th century but combines them with almost science fiction technology and pop tunes on the soundtrack. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. I think its a very individual thing. I think its an individual experience. Theyd shoot in one direction on the first day, and then basically turn the whole set around overnight and shoot the other direction. Anything else would have felt like stretching it unnecessarily and making it more complicated on a narrative level. So it was finding out which puzzle pieces need to go in there so that we have the feeling of the characters really going full circle. We were actually really afraid of what was going on. "In every season there is what I always call a bridge. Could bruiseless avocados, sugarcane plastic and carbon-capturing concrete actually exist in real life? You can do a lot of things with it. ", Odar explained that, if you're looking to keep track of everything, follow the symbols. It's a lot to keep track of, and a feat of brilliance that Odar and Friese have made it work so seamlessly, especially since the show never shies away from introducing the actual quantum theory behind parallel universes and God particles. The first season is actually very simple: Its a small town, with kids disappearing, and then theres some time travel events in the cave. The 225 Best Horror Movies of All Time "I gave that to a couple of actors and they all had the same experience. Jantje Friese: What we really liked about 1899, not 1898 or 1897, is that it's on a threshold. On set, Odar had phonetic scripts to reference as he directed scenes, and language assistants would be standing by to make sure nothing got lost in translation. So where does the show go in Season 3? 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. And Odar has a bit of advice to viewers: "We do love to play with genres and expectations. We get that question a lot. 'Dark': Season 2's Insane Ending and All the Burning Questions Season 3 Needs to Answer Odar:Every episode [when] someone wakes up, you hear almost like a computer voice. We looked at all the characters and tried to find out whats really important, what we need to deliver.. And I dont want to spoil the meaning of that yet. They will never be able to overcome their inner longings, their ego. And they love that show! "And it helped us see that we can trust our instincts, and there are people out there that are actually interested in our voice and what we have to say and how [we] tell stories.". Were just consumed 24 hours a day and never take the time to sit down and just think, oh, I am. There are so many ideas and concepts out in the world, said Friese. Odar: Its really up to the audience to answer it. But we stumbled upon a picture of a man in a white shirt covered in blood, with a hammer in his hand and a really weird look on his face, standing on top of what looked like an old boat. We always knew we wanted to save Regina. Jantje Friese was born in 1977 in Marburg, Germany. Youre crossing into a new century, stepping from something that feels old school to something new the future. Narratives or stories are always about human behavior and human connection. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. ' Odar said in a recent interview with IndieWire. Studios, is getting another shot at an adaptation from Netflix. It was so easy for them to just react. What other Easter eggs did you plant throughout the season? I makes it very difficult.. Netflix Unveils Latest Trailer For 'Dark' Creators' '1899' - Deadline That was the thing Claudia wanted to achieve. But I dont want to fill those gaps. Two weeks after the release of Season 1, I was on Twitter honestly 24 hours a day. You can follow the Back to the Future kind of way where you can actually change stuff in the past that will affect the future which with my very personal more deterministic view of the world is nonsense, said Friese. When the crew decides to board the Prometheus, things take a horrific, and decidedly weird, turn. This time travel paradox of creating a closed causal loop, where the origins of something cannot be determined such as the chicken and the egg, is introduced in Season 2 to set the groundwork for such mind-blowing revelations. Friese laughed and added, "'For a short moment in time, you visited a parallel world where you actually had success!'". Thats where we basically put the groundwork, going for deterministic time travel rules. 'Dark': Creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar - IndieWire When Jantje Frieseand her partner Baran bo Odar created their German-language science fiction series "Dark" for Netflix, they had no idea that it would become an international hit. Thats how we appreciatedLost, and completely got lost in that mythology, Googling everything about these numbers and trying to find out what does it mean?. It always sounds to people like its easier to do a last season when you know where you going. At the same time, the refugee crisis was happening in Europe [around 2015/2016] and it was a very unstable phase. 1899 Netflix TV Show Creators Interview - The Hollywood Reporter How difficult was it for you, Baran, given that I assume you dont speak all, what, 10-12 languages your actors do? IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. ', John Mulaney's New Netflix Special Is a Critical Reminder About Celebrity, 2023 Emmys Predictions: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie. Back in 2020, Jantje Friese revealed in an interview that Tyll is planned as a six-part miniseries: "Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann is designed as a six-part mini-series. The success of that show enabled Odar and Friese to tell the story they wanted to tell over three mind-boggling seasons, and also provided a bit of a blessing and a curse when it came time to work on 1899. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. People are constantly moving in the frame than rather the very stiff mise-en-scne we used inDark. Whats this all about? Friese and bo Odar spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about how the European refugee crisis inspired the show, designing meta-puzzles for hard-core fans and why Volume technology represents a new era in visual effects. But you can create huge worlds with it." And what I just found so interesting about that, or what became even more clear to me, is that through language youre actually expressing culture. Its not the kind of story that can be reworked and improvised on the fly with each passing group of episodes, as Friese can attest. And that's the same here again, now with the pattern pyramid and the triangles. In the next phase I actually put it in pen.