News

COLOGNE, Germany -- Germany's long-running advertising slump is forcing local action genre producers to set their sights on the world markets if they want to survive. The country's stunt and action producers have gained a reputation internationally for action sequences in locally produced cop shows and TV movies such as Alarm for Cobra and The Blood of the Templers. Now German action producers say the economy is dictating that they expand into English-language productions. A German made-for-TV movie, Good Girl, Bad Girl, which wrapped production in Cologne last week, is a perfect example of the trend. It was shot in English with British actors Graham McTavish, Nick Brimble and Michael Culver alongside German TV stars Julia Stinshoff and Hendrik Duryn. The drama is part of the production group Action Concept's growing slate of English-language actioners, which also includes Dark Ride, a Speed-style chaser featuring Charmed star Drew Fuller, and martial arts title Lasko, starring Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy).