European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Its a teutonic Tinseltown and gis Are in demand Steve Taylor Slaff writer when a movie producer needs men who can look and act like trained american soldiers where better to turn than the . Army it so happens there Are a few soldiers around who jump at the Chance to be part of a movie even though their names will never appear in the credits. About 150 army soldiers were called last month for that particular Volunteer duty. A West Germany film company making a movie Rama Dama about the capture and cleanup of Munich during the last Days of world War ii needed some authentic looking soldiers. For staff sgt. Carlos Negron an administrative no at the foreign language training Center in Munich West Germany it is Likely to be the Only time he Ever captures German soldiers. His claim to Fame May be the line a get out of he yelled it As he and three comrades in arms captured the War weary German soldiers played by German actors. A we had to throw one on the ground and search him Quot Negron said. The Chance to play More than a background character also came to to sgt. Mike Westby assigned to the 103rd military intelligence in in Wurzburg. He got Lucky one Day while in Munich stumbled into the interview process and was hired for the part. In one scene Westby said his character got to argue with a couple of other characters about what they were supposed to be doing in the War Effort. Quot whether or not they re going to Pul that scene in i Don t know Quot he said. It does t happen often but when film companies need americans to serve As extras or stand ins they la advertise through the military communities. That was How Negron Learned of his Chance at the part. The interviews were conducted at the local Burger King in Munich. But a they really weren t interviews Quot Negron said. A the needed 150 bodies so he took the film company Marathon bused the aspiring actors to their location in Southern Bavaria for the shoot which included world War ii equipment i Lull director Wolfgang Petersen left and cameraman Jost Vacano lean in to film a cramped scene in a the provided by the Kinsmen museum. For the two Days each extra was paid 150 Marks about $90 the hours were Long a beginning at 6 . And lasting until 8 that evening but As they say. That s show business. And around Munich there s a lot of show business Munich officials estimate that about every 10th business is Media or Media related with 6,000 enterprises employing More than 70,000 people. But what really makes Munich a european Hollywood is the Bavaria studios a 92-acre film lot in the Well to do suburb of Geisel Casteig. Founded 70 years ago it is now estimated to be the largest studio in Europe with 1,700 employees and freelancers. Revenues exceed $100 million a year if you be never heard of Bavaria studios you be heard of the movies made there. From the boat to the never ending Story Bavaria studios has become the powerhouse of the German film and to Industry. A a producer working at Bavaria does no to have to leave the lot once from first draft to final print Quot said Bavaria studios spokesman Bernhard Kock the studio has seven sound stages 40 editing rooms and Complete facilities for set design and construction music publishing and sound mixing As Well As Europe s largest prop department. The studios have drawn Many producers and directors to Bavaria Over the years a some 400 directors make Munich their Home Wolfgang Peterson directed the boat there and also used Bavaria to Shoal enemy mine i $25-million production Lor then Lielah Century i of Elia Kazan s Man on a Tightrope Stanley Kubrick s paths of glory starring Kirk Douglas and Billy Wilder s one two three with James dug Ney were All shot at Bavaria hot Fosse s cabaret even won an Oscar for its set design Walt Disney Columbia. Abc Abc and have All been guests on the Bavaria Tot Alfred Hitchcock made his first two movies Mountain Eagle and pleasure Garden at the Munich Loca Tion. Bavaria is a production facility Tor television advertising and music videos it s a Busy place recently on one Day three movies including the sequel to the never ending Story six in productions a to series a German feature film a music video and an advertising clip were being made. The studio is also popular with tourists one Lour a Day at differing times is in t Naghsh if you re in Munich Call 089 6499 2304 or 089 649067 Lor information f ii let r Lilly k Kim americans from left John Fortys Mike Westby and Jim Dirkse out on the . May 20, 1990 to plus c Page 3
