How to gamble with Artists
and Cards in Poland. And try to make another Movie.
It goes to the Polish province, a place called Slupsk. An expression that seems like a Pokémon from my brain, a blue water Pokémon that uses its tongue to attack and then makes this sound. We received a relatively unfriendly welcome in Sklurps, which may have been due to the weather. Communication was difficult, but two city mice managed to find the right bus, get on it and be lovingly complimented out. How good that we knew that our stop was the final stop. Welcome to Łeba, a small town by the sea, famous for its dunes, its national park and memories from my childhood. When we arrive at our little residence, it starts pouring with rain. This is exactly how we imagined the girls' trip would be. But what the heck - we pull out the Italo playlist (as we all know, the sun always shines in Italy) and toast with a rosé. Nothing spoils our mood here. God had mercy on us because the sun came out in the evening and we sat in the spa castle hotel for a sundowner at sunset while a couple celebrated their love right next to us.
The national park is well worth a visit, impressive - nature! And when the rain got the upper hand again, we sat comfortably in the restaurant with an espresso martini and halibut and - as is often the case with close friendships - chatted about God and the world and didn't even realise how quickly time can fly by. The waiter recommends the bar that belongs to his friends, where they play my favourite card game ‘Peter’ into the night. You get to know the village youth and suddenly feel old among all the 18-year-olds, for whom a Saturday is what a Saturday was for me back then: too much make-up, a night out in the bar and off to the nearest club (in Łeba's case, there's only one).
The way back turned out to be an adventure, because there is NOTHING on Sundays - we heard that from all the neighbouring federal states, but now we were able to experience it for ourselves. ChatGPT is not much help here, by the way. Chat simply says: Dohoooch, here, I said, it runs 3 times a day - and then you say: No, man! Not on Sundays. And then he says: Dohoooch!
Back in Sklurps, big, short film decisions are made before we head back to the capital, where the ice age has arrived in the meantime. Thank you Poland for a very nice short trip.
9 June
The body of a woman in her mid (late) twenties feels a 10-hour Flixbus trip. The grey in Berlin does nothing to replenish your energy levels, so you do the only sensible thing to feel a little productive: You clean your flat and sort through drawers. At least then you'll feel like you've got something done.
Music
You find a new comedian on Netflix and immediately become friends with them. Why I hadn't come across Mike Birbiglia before, I now blame the friends who might have been responsible, but I'm delighted with my new discovery.
Hot Chocolate is the unification of the summer groove, and I'm looking forward to it.
Other Inspirations
Randomly being asked if you're good at being angry. A couple apparently had an argument to settle when they were briefly interrupted to ask for a lighter.
Not really, I don't think. And when I do, I try to shake off the feeling as quickly as possible.
Music
For example with my bad mood playlist.
Movie
Instead of delving further into Tom Cruise's filmography, I continue watching ‘The Americans’.
10 June
You invite people to an audition and don't feel particularly comfortable in this position. Suddenly there are people who are supposed to read my script first and then bring it to life, and I have to decide. I nervously open the door to the first person - a person I thankfully already know. Three weeks travelling around the world on a cruise ship brings you closer together. It clicks magically and there is no doubt that this was a good idea with the crew. Then a complete stranger comes into the flat and I was already shockingly in love at the first ‘hello’. If filming is always this easy, then I'm the happiest person in the world.
We sit around my almost table-like table in the kitchen with coffee and lemon water and read what I've written together. I could jump for joy and this present talent.
Music
The Velvet Underground is playing in the background. A little Andy vibe on the side.
Other Inspirations
After casting and tidying up the flat, you sit on the S-Bahn to Moabit, your former home. Your thoughts are racing: you're so inspired that you can't stop juggling ideas and writing things down in your notebook. Once you arrive in Moabit, you embark on your second favourite project: you meet up to operate. Which could be a nice play on words, but doesn't make sense yet. We rehearse for the opera taking place on Sunday, also written by me. It's great. And everyone is so well prepared - all except two, but they can be forgiven for having travelled straight from India to the rehearsal room.
The last stop of the Berlin trip takes me to my beloved Schöneberg - the champagne is popped and a toast is raised to a loved one in the Victoria Bar.
Without going into great detail, as a German super-potato, I rarely realise the problems on the outside. When someone wishes for peace to return to their home country and for human rights to be respected on their birthday, it gives me a lot to think about. In any case, I go along with this wish - not just for the birthday, no, actually for every day.
11 June
I prepare for the last casting with great vigour, full of curiosity and anticipation from the day before.
Music
The Wicked soundtrack is a great spiritual support for this.
Other Inspirations
... and then not all hopes are realised immediately. For example, one person didn't fit in with the written character and was dismissed. Well, that's how it can go. This was my first experience with it. Fingers crossed, the cast lead actor and director went out into the sun to talk in depth about the project and about being an artist - and then came the call from God, who turned out to be the perfect cast for the last character. We are complete, we can start filming. I love every single one of my actors and they all seem to be on board with the script. So, clapperboard 1.
12 June
A little digression into the past: I was allowed to see the first pictures of our dream ship Bora Bora. I left the house with great excitement and entered the recording studio with greater nervousness - post-synchros have always been easy for me, but the last one was several years ago. How will I feel about myself when I see myself on the screen again? Will I be disappointed? Will it have worked? Is the dream over as soon as the microphone is placed on my shirt?
No.
After an hour, I'm beaming - and my heart and soul are beaming. I was in Bora Bora, I got to take on a fantastic role and it all looks so insanely, insanely cheesy. I can hardly wait for Christmas now.
The rest of the day: you take care of sponsoring - another new thing you've learned - and for the first time you seriously toy with the idea of a feature film. The time is right, the inspiration is coming, it's summer in Berlin...
Music
It's been almost exclusively my Italo playlist or ‘Wicked’ all week.
Movie
I watch ‘This Is Us’ to fall asleep. I really like ‘This Is Us’ now.
13 June
It's Friday, Friday the 13th, which used to be the title of a newsletter - about six months ago. There's plenty to do. Not just today, but also at the weekend. We're busy rehearsing, performing and hopefully just lazing around in the sun.
This week has gone by so quickly and my creative battery is charged to 100 per cent and looking forward to everything that's to come.
I'll keep you up to date.
Take care, Bussi Baba