Teuton biz shows signs of optimism
German Federal Film Board says revs in year's first half rose 9%
According to figures recently released by the German Federal Film Board, box office revenues in the first half year rose by 9% over the corresponding period in 2005 to 384 million euros ($490 million).
German productions accounted for 20%, which is the highest share for local pics since 1997. The trend is likely to continue in the second half, given the upcoming starts of highly anticipated films such as Tom Tykwer's "Perfume -- The Story of a Murderer" and "Seven Dwarves -- The Forest is Not Enough," the sequel to the hugely successful 2004 fairy tale spoof starring comedian Otto Waalkes.
The inspiring figures have been accompanied by an upswing in the mood of normally gloomy Teutonic producers, according to a recent poll of 480 film and TV companies carried out by Ernst & Young.
The vast majority, 84%, expects revenue to rise this year. While some 6% expect job cuts, a whopping 30% plan to increase staff. This would mean the first growth of personnel since 2002, when some 101,000 people worked in the industry. At present, some 9,000 companies employ around 96,000.
Looking at the top three media hubs, Munich tops the rank with 15,800 film and TV employees, followed by Cologne with 14,500 and Berlin with 13,600. Probing the individual feeling of wellness, Ernst & Young found that satisfaction and optimism is highest in Munich, but comparably modest in Cologne.
Apparently, working for the bigscreen is presently more satisfactory than working in TV, which is where most of Cologne's producers earn their living.
"The development of the mostly smaller operations is dependent on the development of the large broadcasters," says Ernst & Young partner Sonja Moser.
"This sounds like a reasonable explanation," concedes Hans Joachim Mendig, CEO of Odeon Film, but denies that one city is more desirable than the other. Odeon, primarily a TV production company, has offices in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Wiesbaden.
