Bestselling author Klaus-Peter Wolf
Why his corpses lie in “beautiful places”
Crime author Klaus-Peter Wolf talks about the film adaptation of his novels and gives insights into his creative process.
In April, three novels by Klaus-Peter Wolf (71) celebrate their premiere on television: “Ostfriesen Curse” (April 5), “Ostfriesenhölle” (April 18) and “East Frisian dead silence” (April 25). Born in Gelsenkirchen, who is considered the most clamped novelist of German, has created a universe in his adopted home of East Frisia for years, in which tension, profound characters and social issues are interwoven.
In an interview with the news agency Spot on News, the bestselling author gives insights into his creative process and the transformation of his stories from paper to the screen. But what exactly does it mean for a writer if the figures he created suddenly live in a completely different medium? How does cooperation with filmmakers influence his own work? And above all, what makes his crime novels a unique experience? In conversation, Klaus-Peter Wolf not only gives answers to these questions, but also reflects what a big role a small café in the north of East Frisian plays for his creative process.
Mr. Wolf, three of your novels celebrate TV premiere in April – how does it feel when your stories awakened on TV?
Klaus-Peter Wolf: It is an adventure for me. Figures that I invented suddenly become alive in a different way and sometimes I scare what I did to you. Excitement arises from the fact that I put people under pressure and we see them act in crises. People only develop in crises. In the meantime, I often see the actors in front of me when writing. That inspires me enormously.
What role do you play in the films?
Wolf: I have a consultant contract with the film company and I really advise you. I’m talking to the screenwriters, the directors and of course with the actors. We are in a lively exchange, I also speak to the locations scouts and scenes. Film is teamwork. If you are not able to work in a team, you don’t belong there. I don’t determine what is happening, but I influence it.
They are the most touched novel writer of German. What do you attribute to this enormous success?
Wolf: When I write, I go into the characters, see the world from her point of view. Then everything turns for me. I have other favorite dishes, a different taste of music, a different political opinion, yes I become another person. Later, the actresses and the directors notice that the roles are not lifeless sleeves. They do not act as puppets, they can really feel the roles and play from their inside. I think my novels are so happy to be filmed.
Do you look at all films? If so, which of your figure is particularly dear to your heart?
Wolf: I already see the raw cuts, then the fine cuts and before the film is broadcast, I saw it umpteen times. Some things can be changed for the better in the tailoring room. The figure Rupert is particularly dear to my heart. Barnaby Metschurat plays great. When I write, I sometimes have the feeling that he looks over my shoulder and whispers to me dialogues.
“East Frisian Curse” begins with a dramatically staged woman’s corpse in the rapeseed field – how did you get this opening scene and what symbolism is for you?
Wolf: Place a body in an inhospitable place, in a dark garage entrance or a dilapidated dandruff, I find boring. I don’t expect anything good in such places anyway. But when the rapeseed fields bloom, wakes up the landscape and life celebrates itself when the sums of the insects sound like its own music, a body is the greatest conceivable contradiction. Art lives from contrast. When I started with my series of novels, I said that I will put my corpses in the most beautiful places in the world. A few of them are in East Frisia.
Where do you generally find inspiration for your stories?
Wolf: I always have to know the places exactly, ate in the bars and hiked my area. Only then will it be the places of action for me. I talk a lot with crippled people and also make readings in prisons. So I know both sides. I also have talks with victims of crimes. I think that shapes my texts.
In their stories, there is often more than just tension, they also draw a picture of social abysses. How important is that to you?
Wolf: Really good crime novels are not a photo, but an X -ray. The crime novel is the actually relevant social literature of our time. I can climb into the mental abysses and explore the cracks that go through our society.
What would your personal “East Frisian curse” be – a small quirk or idiosyncrasy that you never really let go?
Wolf: I go on long tours and read from my novels. I love that very much. Before that, I still go back to Café Ten Cate [in Norden, Ostfriesland, Red.] breakfast. This is also an important place of action of my books. The first novel, “Ostfrieskiller” [2007]I wrote completely there. If I got local ban there, that would be a disaster for me. I hope that doesn’t happen, because in my new novel there is a shot for the owner, Jörg Tapper. May he and his wife forgive me. Incidentally, Jörg Tapper plays himself in the films. He is one of the real figures from my books.
The crime thriller “East Frisian Curse” will be broadcast on ZDF on April 5 at 8:15 p.m. “Ostfriesenhölle” and “East Frisian dead silence” run on April 18 and 25. There is also replenishment in book form: Klaus-Peter Wolf’s most recent novel “East Frisian Nebel” was published at the end of January and “Murderous Pair. The fall” will be released on May 21.
Spotonnews
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
