The TV crime series expert

Serial success

Florian Froschmayer. Nobody his age has filmed so many episodes.

„EXKLUSIV“ is the title of the action film, which put the Thalwiler on the Swiss film scene in 1999: fast- paced, unparalleled product placement, and a cast to remember. His second feature film, L.A. X (2002), was less successful. Froschmayer moved to Germany and was in the crime series business two years later. But he was looking for a change: in 2004, the football fan filmed a documentary about the Swiss national team for SF.

R.I.S. A new crime series on Sat 1 - of course Florian Froschmayer is going to be there. The director was closely involved in the creation of the new format. He speaks to TELE about why he still needs a change.

The Language of the Dead

Criminals don’t stand a chance when molecular geneticists, biologists, pathologists and police officers work together.

And they do - in style. There's no escape from RIS, the special forensics investigation commission. The team of scientists and police officers solve suspenseful, dramatic criminal cases using the most modern investigation methods. Violent criminals don't stand a chance. The series has been wildly successful in Italy and France. It is one of the most elaborate, what Sat.1 2007 in the series area has to offer. A special color concept (red objects everywhere) and a special camera optic with long focal lengths ensure a distinctive look of its own. R.I.S. is being broadcast in Berlin.

TELE: You're a man of the industry. You've filmed for Sat.1 "R.I.S." and RTL "Postmortem". No problem with either?

Florian Froschmayer: I don't think so. Apart from the fact that both teams solve murder cases, the formats are totally different. In "Postmortem", the cases are solved "on the scene"; in "R.I.S." it's more scientific.

After 34 episodes of crime series, it's still fun?

I am at a point where I need change, so I can be ready for the next crime series. That is why I canceled the second season of "Post Mortem" and I'm also not available for "R.I.S.". Series now have some restrictions: The actors are put there smack dab in front of you and, as director, you can't be creative, like when you do movies for example.

So you are thinking about a feature film?

Yes. The viewer in the cinema is completely focused on the action on the screen. At home, you are always distracted. Calls, pets, commercials...

Would you do a film for Swiss television?

Yes, absolutely. It had almost come to one, but it didn't happen for scheduling reasons. Obviously the rumors are true - CRIME SCENE will be on SF – and I will get right on it!

What happened with "Potz Millione", the film you planned with Birgit Steinegger and Walter Andreas Mueller?

I let it die. For me, as with food, film projects have an expiration date - at one point they start to stink. The project was at a point where it no longer felt like mine. Ideas and thoughts went apart, for me it was no longer happening. But that fits, after all 2006 was a year of conflict...

Have you taken a six-month break?

Among other things. It was a difficult year in every respect. The motto was: define and erase borders. But I believe that pain is a part of life - it's necessary in order to move forward. I am a double Scorpion (star sign and ascendant - translator's note) and must suffer twice as much.

What is suffering for Florian Froschmayer?

He just sits there and feels terrible. I'm very sensitive, sometimes I've cried all night. But in the end, I feel free. And I say to myself: better six months of big hell than two years of suffering.

What did you get out of hell?

I've learned to listen to my inner voice, to be more attuned to my feelings and sensations and decide what is good for me.

Germany also seems to have been good for you. You've lived there for four years. Have you seen the headlines...?

... It makes me crazy to read stuff like, "There are too many Germans in Switzerland"! What is so bad about it? Get past your low self-esteem and be grateful for the different view. A Swiss is very welcome in Germany.

Always?

Well, if I'm with my film crew on Tuesdays, I often hear: "Do not spit on me!" And when there is a penalty kick, I can't say, "That's in your genes, you can't score a penalty." At the end of my shoot, the crew threw a Swiss party. The whole room was decorated with lanterns and Swiss flags. There were cheese platters and Swiss Schoggi. I came in and felt at home.

How do you sustain your connection to your homeland, apart from cooking?

I read "Blick", the "Tagi" and "20 minutes" online every day.

Do you go to Switzerland often?

Recently to ski. And whenever I can, I watch FCZ matches.

Will you ever return?

The moment when I start a family, everything will surely change. I do not think my child would go to school in Berlin. But there's time. I need to find a girlfriend first...

Spring feelings?

No. My profession makes relationships extremely difficult. Actually, I want a woman who has nothing to do with the industry. A frequent combination is filmmakers and nurses. They have understanding of long, irregular working hours. And for others' aches and pains. It would certainly come in handy.

Writer: Mirjam Zollinger (journalist at Axel Springer Schweiz AG, has been working for TELE, TV STAR since 2001)

Outlet: Tele (Switzerland)
Date: April 2nd, 2007
Circulation in 2007: 200.000 (Switzerland’s premier TV-Guide)

TELE is a Swiss program magazine based in Zurich. It was founded in 1967 by Hans Ringier, then manager of the Swiss publishing house Ringier. In 2007, the Swiss media company Jean Frey AG (since November 2007 «Axel Springer Schweiz AG») took over the magazine. In addition to Tele, TV-Star, TV 2 and TV 4 are among the program media of Axel Springer Schweiz AG. Tele and TV-Star have been awarding the Swiss Television Prize since 2008.Tele is the only Swiss TV magazine that also contains the programs of the digital channels.