Project Project "Antarctic": Finally, there was still a penguin

Mobile phones are specifically allowed at this movie premiere. At least after the three filmmakers patiently answered questions from the audience. They ask viewers to turn on the flashlights from their smartphone. "This gives an incredible effect," says Tim David Müller-Zitzke, 24. He and his two friends turn their backs on the public by photographing themselves. In the background, more than one hundred bright stars.

With Michael Ginzburg, 30, and Dennis Vogt, 25, Tim is touring Germany. Hanover, Bremen, Rostock, Leipzig, Berlin: almost every day, the three visit a different cinema. "You'll see a movie like it never was," Tim promises to the public. "Project Antarctica", they named their company.

Those who expect stories of Antarctica alone, whales, dolphins, penguins, frozen beards are fake. The plot of the film is composed of the three friends themselves: a journey that starts in Bremerhaven, continues in Frankfurt, is almost completed in Buenos Aires, leaves for Ushuaia and culminates in Antarctica. But in turn.

The project is threatening to fail

The film – which is really unusual – is told in chronological order. Tim is shown shortly before returning home to Bremerhaven, eating a plate of rice and talking on the phone with his grandmother. Michael does his business. Shopping in the outdoor store. Tests with the camera: "Should I look in the camera or miss it?" Dennis asks the invisible cameraman. And we learn: much is happening differently than expected. Like the stopover in Buenos Aires.

In reality, the three want to change only to the Buenos Aires International Airport and fly to Ushuaia, where they want to enter the Ortelius expedition ship, which will take them to Antarctica. But the customs recover the luggage. Not the suitcases with the clothes, but almost all the photographic equipment that they carry all three from Bremerhaven to Antarctica. "We had properly recorded the import," says Michael.

But the customs officers do not speak to themselves. Only Monday, it is possible to clarify the question, we say to all three. So: search for a hotel, make phone calls, change flights, wait, shake, call a broker, wait again, change the flight. Then the message of redemption: the three can recover their luggage. Just in time, they take the last plane to enter the Ortelius.

Whales have unfortunately missed

"We were euphoric, we thought we'd done it," Michael says. But the trip disturbs them. You cross the Drake Pbadage, known for its waves of metropolis and its violent storms. You can see how the boys are suffering. Dennis with a bandage behind the ear to protect him from travel sickness: "But this also has a different effect – you can not see clearly anymore," he says in the movie.

Many things do not work as they should. When whales are seen in the sea, the three are too late on the bridge. Missing important images for the film. Can they fly to the emperor penguin colony? Due to the storm, the helicopter can not start. Then the relief: it starts. They approach the penguins and make great pictures: "It was hard to believe," says Michael.

As a polar explorer, Michael has already participated in numerous expeditions. All three have the chance to move alone in the ice without a guide. The three are euphoric, but have to fight several times with failures. They prepared the trip for a year – but one thing was not taken into account: the fact that they could get sick. But Michael gets the flu, Tim is infected. In addition, the many waves, the storm, the Reiseübelkeit. The mood in the group sinks.

130 hours of footage

When cameras fail because of snow and wet, it seems over. The movie project is threatening to fail. Was the goal of making a film about Antarctica too ambitious? But in the ice comes enlightenment: we have enough material! We have enough to tell! About us, the trip, Antarctica!

Michael, Tim and Dennis brought 130 hours of footage from Antarctica. A team has been created for publishing, marketing and sales. A script did not exist before. And that's probably what makes the movie so nice. Not all the images are carefully planned, some have been left to chance. And that they did it. The promise made to sponsors to bring the film into German theaters this fall, they held.

Tim, Michael and Dennis seem to be unable to believe it themselves. What is the next big project, ask the public. "We do not have any concrete projects yet," Dennis says. One thing: The Bachelor's Thesis in the Digital Media Diploma Program is for Tim and Dennis. This should be a child's play after these experiences.

"Project: Antarctica: The Journey of Our Life" continues in the cinema since October 25th.