Here is a translation into English of an interview in a German riding magazine about shooting the episode in which the Christian (actor Thore Scholermann) has his dressage exam. That originally aired in Germany last week and I posted it a little way up, but here it is again:
I cleaned up the original Internet translation from German into a little more idiomatic English:
Thore's interview in "Junge Reiter Revue Magazine"
Sonntag, 20. Dezember 2009 um 12:33
Horses on television – cool. A main-cast actor from „Forbidden Love“ who rides – even cooler! We were allowed to spend one day with Thore Schölermann at the “horse-set“. During this time we found out a lot about clapperboards, cables and extras – and about Thore's real forbidden love.
November-cold is biting, as we arrive at 8 o'clock in the morning in Kerpen at the location set of „Forbidden Love“ – a soap that airs from Monday to Friday 6 PM on the ARD network. For the last 15 years there have been stories about friendship, yearning, hate and intrigues in the world of aristocrats and rich people – and sometimes stories about horses too.
„Could you park by the bus and come in immediately?“ says one guy with a cap and radio equipment in his hands. We park our car and announce that we are there, but we are confused with someone else. „The extras can stay inside and warm up. It's taking a little bit of time until the shooting can begin.“ A mistake. We are not extras, but a team from „Ritter Revue“, which will be watching the shooting. But unfortunately this is how it is with people with another specialty: film people don't know anything about our magazine or us. Although we on the other hand also we know very little about what is actually going on.
Anyway, 20 people are running around, setting up big cameras and light equipment, furnishing the set, technical and catering tents and scrolling meters of cable. It's taking some time before it can begin, because our main cast actor, Thore Schölermann alias Christian Mann is still sitting in the traffic jam. As we find out later he already preparing for the shoot. “We couldn't got through by the highway anymore. So we left the road, I jumped with my riding clothes over the road barrier and set the pace for the others,“ he says later with a mischievous grin, when he shows up at the set. He gives a sympathetic and natural impression, when he stands by us and and chatters away. Somehow it fits the character he has been playing the last three years. As Christian Mann he is always open-minded and friendly, a loyal friend and big sports fanatic. “Of course many things melt together with the role. You are bringing your personality with you and taking something else home after work. But in reality I'm not so soft as in the series. A little more grumpy,“ says Thore, grinning, which makes it hard to believe him again. But one thing is sure: he is not into guys. Only in front of the camera does he has a relationship with a man (Olli, actor Jo Weil). This gives more than one female fan a sigh of relief.
Shooting has already been going on for a while in the hall while we were talking. A trainer and judge commission has to act again and again as if they are watching the riding of Christian Mann, a new horse caretaker in the castle Königsbrunn to decide whether he should get the job. The same scene will be filmed several times from different camera angles: the commission watches, makes notes, has a discussion. Then a glass of water gets knocked over. Clapper - “and please!“ It seems to take an eternity, especially when you are considering that from the day's work only 5 minutes will appear on screen.
Enthusiastic Rider
The trailer with Thore's horse drives up. The actor cranes his neck and looks happy. For two weeks he has been riding until his thighs were sore and he had aching muscles, together with the Trakehnen Rocker and his owner Ines Fay who provides the horses for the show.
“We were allowed to make some suggestions for the show. I said that I'm able to ride and that I would really like to do this“, Thore explains. “For a long time nothing happened. But suddenly the riding scenes were in the scripts with only a few weeks preparation time. “In 14 days time I wanted to get to the level I was on six years ago“, the actor tells us. Until his time at the “Bundeswehr“ he had been breeding his own horses and had even made it to “L-Dressur“ with them.
“If you are or were able to do something you put yourself under pressure. I didn't want to embarrass myself, especially not in front of people like my riding buddies and tournament judges who know me from former times and would see me riding in the show and say, I'm hanging on the horse like a wet sack!“
After a long break from riding it wasn't easy for the 25-year-old to get used to the sensitive Trakehnen Rocker and to get through to him with his riding aids. But he had the ambition to sit in the saddle himself and to make it look realistic.
“I worked on that scene. After all, I can't stand next to the horse at the square and tell the judges, I'll come a little later.“
The question of the right equipment also required the enthusiastic rider's advice. Because Thore knows what he is talking about. Whatever he does, he wants to do it well – and himself. Still, on the day of shooting Rocker is warmed up by his owner. Not only should Thore not be soaked with sweat, it's also for safety reasons. According to his contract, risky sports like riding and parachuting are forbidden. “Which made me all the happier that I had to go on horseback for the role“, Thore beams. He is visiting his family in the Sauerland and packs his whole riding equipment into the car. Trousers, boots, chaps, saddle and blankets, helmet... “The car smelled wonderfully like horse and leather, I was immediately hooked again“, enthuses the self-described “country bumpkin“.
Down-to-earth, decent and anything but stuck-up, that's how the star comes across. Partly, probably, due to the way he was brought up: On a small farmstead near Iserlohn with a small forestry, different animals, among others of course horses – and with two siblings. “I was really ambitious in tournament sports – only getting up early was exhausting“, he reports and admits that his mother got his horse ready for him in the morning. “But I always did the plaiting myself. Standing plaits, otherwise I'd have had trouble with my sister!“ But the TV star also enjoyed the time after the tournament very much: “Grazing break, nice country rides, just fooling around with the horse – wonderful!“ The decision to quit riding when national service and acting school came along wasn't easy for Thore: “There was only 'deal or no deal'; my self-bred horse was nine and full of life. I sold it with a heavy heart. But with right of first refusal.“ At home two brood mares he could still ride until his TV contract prohibited it, remain. He is still very attached to his home. Every time after he visited his family he brings “Iserlohner Pils“ and mustard with him. “And I love caring for our forest, making wood, driving the tractor or going hunting. That's great“, he enthuses with beaming eyes.
Dreams and dream roles
That explains why he has a particular dream role – and that's not James Bond. “I'd really like to play the forester Rombach from 'Forsthaus Falkenau'. I always thought this show was awesome! Also, a villain would be great.“ But today, it's all about his current dream role. Christian Mann. And he has to pass a dressage exam, before he can fall into the hay with his boyfriend. Turn on the forehand, medium trot and lead changes are shot over and over again. Thore is not satisfied. “No, again, that was so bad. We have to take the time, it's a horse, please, no bustle“, he growls stubbornly. Well, that surely was not in the script.
Time keeps running. An extra did not appear. My colleague Jennifer Appelbaum is allowed to fill in and to stand at the boards. Then the scene is in the can. Thore's thighs are ridden bloody again – and Rocker is knackered. They both cuddle in the stable and are bosom buddies. Before Thore has to go into the hay for the next scene, we take a few photos. He poses boldly, but then his look becomes dreamy and he reveals: “You always have to decide. At the moment, with work and days of shooting from 7am to 6.30pm I am not able to ride anymore. But someday, who knows? But then, with my own horse!“ Still, horseback riding is, appropriately for the show, his “forbidden love“. But when you see the glow in his eyes you know: Someday Thore will be riding again. Not just for the camera, but for himself!
(This episode will be broadcasted on the 20th of January).
