Actor Christian Erdmann: “In this job you learn to deal with egos”

When ambitions and everyday reality meet in small city ididyll, the chaos is not far. The turbulent ZDF family comedy “A very big thing” tells of this, which will be broadcast on July 31 at 8:15 p.m.: Kristina Lurz (Silke Bodenbender, 51), freshly baked mayor of Waldsee, dreams from the political march to Berlin. Her husband Lennart (Christian Erdmann, born 1975), on the other hand, is more down -to -earth – even his own IT team at the local group seems unreachable for him. When the chance of international attention from a pilot project is approaching with Indian IT specialists, both are suddenly facing far more than just professional challenges: the village community is outraged, marriages are stuck, and personal boundaries are negotiated.

Actor Christian Erdmann, who has also been seen as Commissioner Frank Weller in the “East Frisia Crime” on ZDF since 2017 and recently also shone in a “crime scene” in a cathedral, slips into the role of the torn Lennart Lurz. In an interview with Spot on News, he talks about silent dreams, tangible resistance and the surprising comedy that arises when global topics meet a small place.

Christian Erdmann: I have already noticed that a “crime scene” gets a completely different attention because these crime novels simply have cult status. In addition, the Münster “crime scene” always achieves phenomenal odds. The team is simply incredibly popular. The feedback on my role, the false art dealer and insurance scale Jonas Präorius, was very different from many other films: the people were completely surprised at how evil and uncomfortable I can be (laughs). Many said that they would not have believed that – which of course makes me very happy as an actor. So I take it as a compliment that this page also slumbers in me and that I – thank God only at work – can show you so that it is also taken away from me.

Erdmann: I always try to combine every figure with my own person and my own life. I have to like a figure and understand why she acts like that – or as in the case of Lennart does not act. He is a striker, a young, end -forced/early fifth person who is still trying to get through life as a little boy. How long you can endure to delegate responsibility to the wife – I was very interested. Obviously it doesn’t work anymore, and he turns a lot upside down – without wanting to betray too much.

Erdmann: (laughs) to a certain point, yes. I also like to let things come to me. But I take on significantly more responsibility than Lennart – for example, as far as the children and the family are concerned. I like to be surprised, but I am much more braver than he is.

Erdmann: That’s right. Many strong, creative and self -confident people meet one set. This is exactly what makes the work there so appealing, otherwise it would probably not work otherwise. In this profession you learn to deal with egos – with your own anyway, but of course also with that of the film team members. Sometimes it is very entertaining and very rarely so annoying that you have to say something or have to avoid people and their energy. So far I have only rarely experienced that something really escalated. And if so, it was more like a cleaning thunderstorm, after which it continues because everyone has the same goal: to make a good film.

Erdmann: We already know each other from other films and to work with her is really nice because she is a very attentive and guard player. Silke is often occupied in leading roles – and this time she remembered me and proposed me as a Lennart. I already find that a kind of award and compliment. Of course, this also creates a family atmosphere and great trust.

Erdmann: I come from Rudolstadt, a very small town in the middle of a beautiful landscape in Thuringia. I like to remember my ordered and protected childhood there. After a few theater stations in larger cities, I have been living in Düsseldorf for a long time and I really appreciate the cultural and gastronomic offer of a big city. It gives me a feeling of vitality and options and I like the hustle and bustle and exchange. Of course, it is also a bit anonymous in a big city and you live side by side, which in turn makes life in a small town more pleasant. It would therefore be best to have a village near a big city. My children are now 13 and 9 – and if they are out of the house, I can very well imagine spending my last life of life in Bavarian. My wife comes from Munich. Living at the door near Munich with this spectacular landscape is really a dream.

Erdmann: First I think of digitization – which is long overdue in Germany. Some things are so delayed that it really is no longer fun, especially construction projects or official matters. In Düsseldorf, however, we are on the road. In the meantime, I do a lot of official or doctor’s appointments digitally. This really saves a lot of time and is a topic that I was happy to think about as part of this film. At the same time, the film also shows a kind of internet -free world – which I also find very charming and attractive.

The second major aspect is how to deal with foreign specialists. I see that there are still such large reservations in German society with great skepticism. Because if not foreign specialists, who should do all of this? I think it’s great that the film delivers important food for thought here. I would say: We have humorous packages.

Erdmann: I would buy a house in a Bavarian village – and I would travel from the rest. I traveled a lot before and during my studies. I have been going on vacation for 25 years now, but I am actually missing the big trips where I experience a lot and also expose myself.

Erdmann: I would like to go out of everything for five, six months or even a whole year and travel around the world. I am not necessarily concerned with jungle or beaches, but about meeting people in a different environment. And the less hotel and holiday complex, the happier I would be. I have never learned more about myself than when traveling.