Schloss Einstein

Infobox_Television_Soap_Opera
show_name = Schloss Einstein


network = KI.KA
genre = Soap opera
country = Germany
creator = Martin Hofmann, Katharina Rietz (ASKANIA MEDIA Filmproduktion GmbH: 1–480)
Hans-Werner Honert, Katharina Rietz (Saxonia Media Filmproduktion GmbH: since episode 481)
executive_producer =
head_writer =
senior_cast_members =
distributor =
first_aired = September 4, 1998
run_time = 25
alternate_titles =
official_website = http://www.schloss-einstein.de
num_episodes = 532+
imdb_id = 0244361
tv_com_id =

"Schloss Einstein" (SE) is a German television program for children and teenagers which describes the life of teenagers in the boarding school "Schloss Einstein". Histories will be connected to each other from the genres comedy, action, drama (first love, problems with parents and schoolmates) and infotainment (natural science) in different stories.

The first episode was aired on September 4, 1998 on the German television channel KI.KA. Originally with only 76 episodes planned, more than 450 episodes were produced up to now (December 2006). On November 2006 the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) informed that they will let produce the tenth season with 52 episodes. So "Schloss Einstein" is as a successful television program a milestone German television program — worldwide it is the longest running fictional television program with children for children. [askania-media.de: [http://www.askania-media.de/presse/download/400_Folge_SE.pdf Presseinformation – "Schloss Einstein feiert einen runden Geburtstag: Am 20. Mai 2006 geht die 400. Folge im KI.KA über den Bildschirm!"] ]

New episodes of "Schloss Einstein" will showed currently on Saturdays at 5:15 p.m. on KI.KA. Older episodes will showed from Mondays to Fridays starting at 2:10 p.m. in the afternoon program of KI.KA and around 7:00 a.m. on MDR.

The program

At the (fictional) village "Seelitz" near Berlin in the German state Brandenburg "Dr. Stollberg" realizes a dream — he establishes a private school in an old castle named "Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium, Internat Schloss Einstein". The private school bears the name of the founder of the theory of relativity because the school is a natural science school. The students abbreviate the long name of the school — and "Schloss Einstein" is born.

Dr. Stollberg like to provide an education for his students using his best strength, personal tutoring. Violence is forbidden. Problems that arise should be solved peacefully and if possible by the children themselves. Newcomers receive an older student as godfather. Of course this does not always go smoothly — but teachers, educators and students have to master their everyday life under a common roof.

Storyline

At the center of the television program is the personal responsibility of teenagers from the classes 6 to 8. Because there are no parents, the children must make decisions for themselves and be prepared for the consequences. The few adults appear as advisers or counselors. The students experience problems like grades, puberty, friendship, divorce or unemployment of the parents, envy, alcoholism, dreams of jobs, the first big love or cabals from the schoolmates. In lots of histories they experience adventures and learn how to manage conflicts — they also have fun with all kinds of tricks, jokes and tom foolery. There is a special tension between the students of the boarding school and the children living at the village. They do not really appreciate each other but they have to get along with each other. Compromise and tolerance are important in these relationships.

Location of shooting

"Schloss Einstein" was shot from 1998 to 2007 on the grounds of the Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam (Brandenburg). At this location the interior rooms of the school and additional wings were located — for example ice-cream parlor, nightclub and storage hall. The Jagdschloss Grunewald in Berlin served as wings of the building. Outside filming was done in the Klein Glienicke quarter of Potsdam and at surrounding villages which together form the wings of the film village Seelitz.

Since September 2007 "Schloss Einstein" has been filmed at the Kindermedienzentrum Erfurt and is produced by Saxonia Media Filmproduktion GmbH. Outside filming is done at the egapark ground and in the Schlosspark Arnstadt.

Conception

"Schloss Einstein" is a television program for kids which accompanies the viewers through the whole year and offers them identifiable figures. There is the shy nice girl, the handsome athletic guy, the knowledgable genius, the cabal cow, the talented practical man, the chubby wallflower, the mathematics prodigy and others. The figures can be judged by the viewers. The viewers can identify with them or reject them. Because the actors are the same age as their viewers, their actions look authentic.

In the representation of the lessons expertise flows again and again. So the television program offers entertainment and learning in a similar way; the public broadcasting fulfills its order to provide education in a relaxed way. With this concept"Schloss Einstein" is unique the world over. The television program has been the object of several scientific studies.

Awards and success

The television program has received two awards. On March 1999 a jury of 32 children awarded the Goldener Spatz to "Schloss Einstein" in the category "Fiktion kurz" (= fiction shortly) in setting of the eleventh "Deutschen Kinder-Film und Fernseh-Festivals" (= German children film and television festival). On July 1999 "Schloss Einstein" won the Goldener Telix from the TV guide "Gong" in the category "Serie oder Film mit Schauspielern" (= television program or film with actors).

The success of popular viewership does not show up only in the high TV ratings. "Schloss Einstein" is not only shown in Germany, but also in many other countries — for example in Norway, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Belgium and the Netherlands. There even was published a school book for the German schools with themes from "Schloss Einstein".

Production

"Schloss Einstein" is a production by ASKANIA MEDIA Filmproduktion GmbH by order the ARD for KI.KA under the auspices of MDR and WDR. Starting at September 2007 Saxonia Media Filmproduktion GmbH takes the production. "Schloss Einstein" is produced by scripts from more than ten famous television authors, for example Uschi Flacke, Dieter Saldecki, Michael Demuth and Dana Bechtle-Bechtinger. The directors were among other persons Renata Kaye, Peter Zimmermann, Wolf Vogel and Klaus Kemmler. Already since starting of the television program Martin Schönemann takes care of the children and teenagers at the film set.

Opening credits

Between the first and the end of the eighth season there were always new opening credits which were similar. In all opening credits the current actors who play the schoolmates are shown with the respective role name. In background the viewers can hear the song "Die Einsteins feat. Julian – Alles ist relativ". All opening credits until the end of the fourth season had a duration of 47 seconds. As of the fifth season the opening credits and background music were prolonged by seven seconds (= 54 seconds) so a few more actors could be presented. The listeners can hear a minimal difference in quality of the music between the opening credits of the first and the ninth season.

The ninth season features a completely redesigned and loosened up opening credits sequence, which lasts 54 seconds. The 19 main characters from the schoolmate generations 6 to 9 are now presented on-screen in 13 short scenes showing several characters at once. Teachers, other adults and children (e.g. the village population or guest actors) are omitted.

Current opening credits

With starting the tenth season a completely new opening credits were developed. The background music was minimal modified and the length of the opening credits were lengthened. All main characters are presented with their role names. They appear as one or two persons.

Chronology

Because the television program gave the reasons their own genre as "Kinder-Weekly" (= children weekly) there are not any experiences with such series. ARD went to yearly sequels as they knew that there is a success. Since this time all seasons of production exist of 52 episodes which are shot in 13 blocks per four episodes.

Because the school years of program are however 52 weeks long there is between the third and the eighth season an overhang into the next season. The first three blocks with twelve episodes count to the "old" school year — the other ten blocks with 40 episodes belong to the "new" school year. At beginning of the school year in the thirteenth episode of every season the actors of the new generation are presented in the opening credits for the first time.

The beginning of season starting and school year starting are set at the same episode with starting of the ninth season.

Seasons of production

Second students generation

Fifth students generation

Eighth students generation

Actors as adults

Actors as adults from tenth season

References

External links

* [http://www.schloss-einstein.de/ Official website of "Schloss Einstein"] de icon
* [http://www.askania-media.de/ Official website of the production company ASKANIA MEDIA Filmproduktion GmbH] (includes press reports for the television program) de icon
* [http://www.saxonia-media.de/ Official website of the production company Saxonia Media Filmproduktion GmbH] de icon
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