„No one else gets to see these moments!“
Director and photographer Florian Froschmayer spoke to PhotoWeekly about why photography on set plays a special role in his life - and about secret moments behind the scenes.
Florian, you're actually a director. What fascinates you about set photography?
On some days of shooting, a so-called still photographer is on set, who then takes pictures of the set, among other things - as a making-of photographer, so to speak. As a director, I always have a camera with me - even before smartphones, I used to take photos from my perspective. Unique images can be captured on a film set - especially with the special lighting technology.
What equipment are you carrying with you?
By now, I'm carrying a lot of stuff around with me. I carry a Nikon Z 7 with three to four lenses. For more flexible shooting, I recently also brought along my small Leica Q2 with fixed focal length. This way I don't have to change lenses and I'm very flexible in my movement.
Are you looking for specific subjects or are you just waiting for what happens?
I'm waiting for what's coming. In film, there are sometimes really bizarre things. Where, for example, you have to ride in a car with the actors and film, but there's actually no more room and you're sitting completely cramped. This gives you insights from perspectives that you would otherwise never get.
Nobody usually gets to see these kinds of photos then, right?
Yes, that's right. These are pictures of me as a director, of actors and other contributors to the movie. For example, a colleague I hold in very high regard took insane portraits of famous people over a long period of time, which I think he should finally exhibit. But yes, these are all photos that you will otherwise only see very rarely at best.
Can you perhaps already reveal something about the exhibition you are curating?
On the film set, there are moments when you have to wait for the next assignment. The exhibition shows photos that capture such situations and provide a different view of the director's profession. Whether staged or spontaneously captured with a cell phone camera. Honest handiwork that we document - sometimes possibly less glamorous than the viewer might imagine.
How about other filmmakers in the age of smartphones and Instagram? Is it becoming more normal for actors and others to use photos and social media to give more insight into their profession?
The social media channels certainly offer a good opportunity to share one's work with others. And of course it's not to be underestimated for marketing purposes either, because actors with millions of followers reach a large audience. I'm also on Instagram myself, but the moments I capture and show there just occur spontaneously.
Before the exhibition, you must have gone through your photo collection again. Were there any very special photos or moments?
Yes, definitely! The great thing about my job is that I get to go to places that I might otherwise never have seen. Almost 20 years ago, for example, I filmed an episode of "Coast Guards" with a real submarine. For the day of filming in Eckernförde, we took the transport ship out to sea and suddenly a huge submarine emerged from the water. These are simply unforgettable moments that are very difficult to capture. But I have really fantastic pictures from this shoot. It was really a highlight that I will never forget.
Could you imagine turning it into a book one day? Or is that perhaps even already being planned?
Absolutely. A book, however, is of course one step bigger than an exhibition, but let's see.
About the person:
Florian Froschmayer is a full-time director and screenwriter. With his set photos, the native Swiss gives us a special and different insight into the work of a filmmaker.