First Official German Erdoğan Atalay-Fanpage
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www.erdogan-atalay-fanpage.de/engl/
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© RTL |
Interviewed:
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Interview published by "TV DIGITAL" issue 18/2009 (August
2009)
Link to original article with hot photo
session involving the stars ot the action series è here
During a
weekend the actors of "Cobra 11" Erdoğan Atalay, Tom Beck, Katja
Woywood and Susan Sideropoulos ("Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" aka
"GZSZ") presented themselves for TV DIGITAL's cameras. Substantiated
was this spectacular photo session by eight stuntmen of the company by the name
"Perfect-Action". Our resume: The test was passed ! For our story all
four stars tested their limits. Afterwards, while interviewed, they conceded
the secrets of the series' success their projects.
TV Digital: Why
would you as a star known for "GZSZ", become eventually involved with
"Alarm für Cobra 11"?
Susan Sideropoulos: That's easy to explain! I had been a fan of that series for a
long time already. When the producers approached me and and offered me a cameo
appearence in the new season as a courageous female beat cop called Claudia, I
didn't ponder but agreed. For firstly I'd known the makers already by another
shooting. Secondly in "Alarm für Cobra 11" I've been allowed to
perform a beautiful death scene. Yet the shooting was thrilling for a second
reason. There's one scene where I can shoot for the first time in my life -
even if only at doors.
TV Digital: How
did Susan Sideropoulos make it throughout the stern action scenes, Mr Atalay?
Erdoğan Atalay: Extremely
well. Whenever she was acting in front of the camera, she was credible and convincing.
Actually we'd loved to have her for an engagement that would last longer.
Unfortunately she dies rather soon after all.
TV Digital: Mrs
Woywood, since instalment 169 you're acting as the superior of the two
detectives. But are Erdoğan Atalay and Tom Beck tameable at all?
Katja Woywood: There
is something you can trust me on about and that's me being perfect on taming.
Albeit as Kim I can hardly ever escape my office, yet the other day I was at
least also permitted to shoot for the very first time during my film career.
The shootings of "Cobra 11" are a thrilling blend of fun and
adrenalin.
TV Digital: Now
the the 200st instalment is about to be broadcasted. Mr Atalay, what happens in
that very anniversary episode?
Erdoğan Atalay: Three
things. Firstly we are in the course of the plot infected by a deadly virus
which is distributed by a worldwide operating sect. Subsequently it is a race
against the clock, since we need to save our live by getting us the remedy.
Secondly there are a lot of cameo appearences in this episode, for example
Collien Fernandes and Oliver Pocher. His role is extraordinary funny: He is
crank believing in conspiracy theories and ufos, while having real knowledge
about test with deadly virusses too. Thirdly there is a really amazing stunt
which has all chances to get the coming Taurus Award in Los Angeles!
TV Digital: The
success of "Cobra 11" remains undiminished for 13 years. Mrs.
Sideropoulos, what's from your female point of view the secret knack of being
that successful?
Susan Sideropoulos: The quality of “Cobra 11“ is second to no other series in
Germany. Moreover the two both of the principal actors are extremely popular
public figures. They impress women by their handsomeness and charme and men by
their bravery.
TV Digital: Mr
Atalay, and what is from your point of view the secret that does the trick for
the success?
Erdoğan Atalay: We’ve
never allowed ourselves any standstill regarding the evolution of the series.
Episode by episode “Cobra 11“ became a little more dramatic, convincing and
professional. In particular in comparison to the early episodes it gets
obvious. Besides that the development of the plots is given more and more
preparation time. Tom and I also do by now supervise whether the scenario’s
action appears fit to the plot and circumstances during the shooting.
TV Digital: A
number of critics deride “Cobra 11“ as “blunt and devoid of ideas“. What’s your
statement on this?
Erdoğan Atalay: If
somebody says so it only indicates that he would do better by having taken care
of his own, personal problems.
TV Digital: Do
you try to live up to any examples for action films?
Erdoğan Atalay: In
the first place there are US-American and French action films. Personally I
like to watch succesful classics such as “Die Hard“, “Lethal Weapon“,
“Terminator“ or “Rambo“.
TV Digital: This
winter “Cobra 11“ will face tough competition. Then Heidi Klum will again be
looking out for topmodels on Thursday evenings. Why should the audience keep
the faith to “Cobra 11“ in spite of that?
Erdoğan Atalay: Whatever
Heidi’s got, we’ve got it already - and more than that. We don not only let the
beauties tiptoe down the catwalk, we even let them fly across the landscape.
Any expectation of action offered by Heidi is futile.
TV Digital: Mr
Beck, what’s actually the car in which you are speeding on the highway in
private life?
Tom Beck: A
Seat Cobra that is!
Erdoğan Atalay: No
match for my Maserati 3200 GT.
Katja Woywood: Here
it is a Smart.
Susan Sideropoulos: I am driving a Mini Cooper but frequently I ride my bike
instead, unless – of course - I’ve got to use the highway. It also goes without
saying that in private life I do everything to avoid stunts.
TV Digital: Mr
Beck, as a principal actor you’ve been involved in countless stunts: What were
the highlights?
Tom Beck: A
performance during which I was hanging underneath a helicopter for two days.
While filming it we flew above a speeding car and pulled somebody out of it -
while I was dangling from the skids. That was really thrilling! I had to trust
the pilot with my life for I could only hope he would deal perfectly with the
remaining distance to the ground. Would he had gone down a little too far, I’d
ended up as mashed roadkill. The act of landing at the end of the scene was a
likewise tricky enterprise, since it was crucial that I pulled myself onto the
upside of the skid at the very proper moment.
Erdoğan Atalay: Jumping
from building remains always as well challenging. But in the first placed I am
impressed by something else: after all this years of work I’ll still find our
team every day highly motivated.
TV Digital: What
highlights will confront us within the coming season?
Erdoğan Atalay: A
whole lot of! For once we we make our way pretending in a cool manner we were
drug dealers. Also there is the really stunning episode with Oliver Pocher.
Tom Beck: Indeed.
Also behind the camera Pocher was a totally reliable supplier of laughs. Together
with him we laughed ourselves to pieces.
TV Digital: Which
stunts are you carrying out by yourself- and which you don’t?
Erdoğan Atalay: It
depends. Sometimes it looks different at first glimpse, like for example a
relaxed jump through a window. Still we might not get permission by the
insurance companies. But then you are surprised what permissions you get. In
general I like doing stunts and learned a big deal during the last years.
Tom Beck: But
at certain times it is most reasonable to acknowledge your limits. Otherwise
you can subsequently break your neck after all.
Erdoğan Atalay: Agreed.
Even falling from a ladder could end up deadly. Also you could break your wrist
once you slip.
Tom Beck: I
would never jump through glass. That I pass along to trained stuntmen. I don’t
doubt what I would look like as a result: scratched all over! Neither can we
stay in a car which is supposed to turn over.
TV Digital: How
did you like the photo session for TV DIGITAL?
Erdoğan Atalay: Extraordinary
and thrilling, for there was no posing. The effort was impressive. Everything
including the set and the ideas really demanded to invest all our skills.
Susan Sideropoulos: Especially during the stunts.
TV Digital: What
are your next projects?
Susan Sideropoulos: We have a commitment concerning the Children And Youth Aid
Fund “Die Arche“.
Katja Woywood: In
Germany there are more than two million children who officially qualify for
being regarded as living in poverty.
Tom Beck: "Die
Arche“ (“The Ark“) helps youths – each of them qualifies for that.
Erdoğan Atalay: “Cobra
For Kids“ – henceforth that will be our slogan !
* * *
© All rights worldwide by TV DIGITAL / Mike Powelz - photo shooting © Gunnar Nicolaus for TVDIGITAL
Translation by Joachim Schulz - so many thanks !
Online September 1, 2009