European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Just a Little film a that won a big Oscar by Randy Mcclain staff writer Kassel West Germany a Christoph Lauenstein a 28-year-old film student and Academy award Winner does t think of himself As an overnight Success. After All he and twin brother Wolfgang an Oscar co Winner have been making Short animated movies in the basement of their parents Home in Hildesheim since they were 17. This year the duo struck the right balance of form and Content with a Short animated film appropriately titled balance. Their allegory of life on a Small planet won an Oscar and made Christoph and his look alike brother a sensation in West Germany. No other germans have Ever brought Home an Academy award. Quot we were thinking this is the Best thing we had done up to this Point but we did no to think the film would have such Success Quot said Christoph who has one More year to go before completing his studies at the Kassel general College. His brother studies film in Hamburg. Christoph and Wolfgang worked two years on balance splitting time Between their studies and production work in what used to be their family a Hobby room. Wolfgang worked on puppet design and sets. Christoph handled the camera and lighting. For every second of filming the Brothers had to reposition their 10 puppets arms and legs 12 times to give the illusion of movement. Quot with All the figures moving we were Lucky to finish three seconds of filming in a Day Quot said Christoph. Quot you have to be a Little bit crazy to work in  Christoph said he and his brother considered live action filmmaking at first but chose animation As their Art form because production costs Arentt High and a directors imagination can run wild. Balance shows a vivid imagination. Ten puppets a few at a time Are shown learning to Cope with the ups and Downs of life on a tiny floating platform. The Law of physics that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction was never More in evidence. As the puppets prance about and at one Point struggle for Possession of a big Box the platform threatens to Tumble. It All works out in the end but not before a few close Calls. Christoph thinks viewers should be allowed to interpret the Story for themselves but he said he and his brother believe their tale has depth. Quot it says that people Are interdependent and that individuals can to do every thing they want. People Are not As free As they think Quot he said. After winning the Oscar Christoph and his brother Are finding out that Fame also takes a toll on Freedom. When a director is unknown no one cares what he does. With an Oscar comes the question Quot what do you do for an encore Quot Paul Driessen a dutch animated filmmaker and Christophe a teacher said he s seen Oscar winners especially Young ones stumble in the past. Quot people overreact a Little bit to oscars Quot Driessen said Quot and they let expectations from the outside control  Christoph thinks he and his brother will be Able to keep their feet on the ground. Quot we see it All very realistically Quot he said. Quot the Oscar has one effect for us. It Means doors will open More  already Christoph and Wolfgang have met with new Urgo film Coop. Hamburg /1tv executives and record producers about the possibility of doing animated music videos Unyong the artists Christoph said they a like to Vork with Are Miles Davis Peter Gabriel sting ind Prince. Another possibility is to design an rated logos for mtg that could be used at the let work a commercial Breaks. Christoph said such work would t be his first Ove but it would help pay the Bills. Head also like o make More animated shorts with his brother ind perhaps live action films on his own. Quot with animation you decide to do these films not or Money but out of desire a he said. Quot you have to mow that with animation you can t get  Driessen said his Pupil must also understand hat he can do better even though he s already in Academy award Winner. Quot the Oscar is not necessarily the top Quot Driessen said. A and balance is not necessarily the Oest film Christoph will Ever make. I Tell him he an make much better films and he won t win any oscars for  Germany a second program Adf Channel will air a a balance at 6 50 . Monday. A amps l. Emmott Lowis or Christoph Lauenstein ponders a question. Above a scene from his and his brother a Oscar winning film  sunday june 3,1990 to plus c Page 3