A perfect Monday night

At the bus stop in Coogee, Sunday afternoon a 1pm

L: Is this the bus that goes past our house?
S: The 370 to Leichardt? Yes.... I still haven't been to Leichardt. We always wanted to go there.

L: Yes, we should go. We should go out for dinner at Bar Italiano.

S: Yeah.

L: Let's go tomorrow.

S: Mmh, yes. Cool. I don't have to work tomorrow night.
L: Great.
S: Oh, and there is a movie on at the cinema in Leichardt. A German one. I saw half an hour out of it at a uni discussion on Friday. It seemed really good.
L: Cool.
S: Yeah, I think you'll like it. It's about troubled thirtysomethings who are searching for the a sense of their lives... and love, well all kinds of relationships really.
L: Okay.
S: It's very European.

At "Gusto" café in Coogee, Sunday 2pm
L: Hey Steph, are you working tomorrow night?
St: No, not before Tuesday.
S: Cool, so you can come to Leichardt with us.
L: To have dinner at Bar Italiano...
S:...and see a movie at the German Film Festival.
St: Yeah, why not?
S: Here's the summary.
St: Okay... why did you pick this movie. Why do you wanna see exactly this one?
S: Because I don't have to work tomorrow.... and because I went to a discussion about that movie on Friday.

In Sara's bedroom, on the phone to Kerry, Sunday 4pm
S: Hiya, how are you?
K: I'm good. How are you?
S: Good...good! I'll have tomorrow night off.
K: So?
S: So, we could finally go to see a movie at the German Film Festival and do a few vox-pops and stuff...
K: Yes, when and where is it?
S: It's at 6.30 in Leichardt, and the director is going to be there, so we could interview him.
K: Wow!
S: Yeah, and he's really sexy.
K: We're not doing video anymore! It's radio, it doesn't matter what he looks like.
S: That's true, his English is maybe not so sexy. Anyways, should I book the equipment for 4 o'clock tomorrow and we meet in front of Fisher.
K: I'm free after 3, so that's fine.
S: Cool, see you tomorrow then, bye.
K: Bye!

In front of Fisher library, Monday 4pm
K: Thank God, this is not so heavy as the video one.
S: And not as embarrassing as the big yellow case. This one looks more army style.
K: So, what kind of movie is it?
S: Well, it's based on short stories, so it's five different episodes of people in their 30s travelling. So, it's set in five different countries: Germany, Italy, Iceland, the US and...
K: I love movies like that.
S:..and, I always forget one country....
K: It sounds very European.
S: It is. Ahhh Jamaica. Jamaica is the fifth country.
K: Wow.
S: Yes, it was pretty good, what I've seen so far.
K: Sounds great.
S: Yeah, and we're gonna go out for Italian dinner after. Because Leichardt is famous for all its Italian restaurants. And I've never been there.
K: Me neither. I didn't even know there was such thing as "Little Italy" in Sydney.

In the kitchen with a mulled wine each, trying to figure out how the recording equipment works and brainstorming for interview questions, Monday 5pm
K: This thing looks so weird. I don't think it's professional. I've never seen a radio reporter running around with one of these.
S: Mmmh, but then what do they have?
K: Not these...
S: So, let's charge the battery.
K: Should I unplug the toaster?
S: Yeah. Just there.
K: Actually, I don't think this thing has a battery!
S: What?
K: It's too light. There is no internal battery. Not like the video camera.
S: How annoying! Thank God, I've got batteries upstairs. I'm gonna get them in a sec. Shoud we ask how he likes Sydney so far?
K: Yes. Definitely.
S: So, we get some Sydney connection.
K: Yeah and ask him how he likes the uni?
S: The uni?
K: Yes, because it's a campus radio station.
S: Mmm. What about the audience vox-pops? We ask them why they came...
K: ...how they know about the festival, that's really important.
S: And if they've got any German background. That should be enough.
K: Can you get the batteries?
S: Just a sec.
K: The mulled wine is so good...

In Lisa's car, one the way to Leichardt, Monday 5.30pm
K: Oh, you brought your German Film Festival bag.
S: Yes, I'm such a show off.
L: It's gonna take us ages in this traffic.
K: So, how old is he?
S: 38, I think.
L: Didn't you say 39.
S: Yeah, don't know. Born in 69.
K: That's not that old.
S: What?
K: I thought he was really really old. Like 50 or 60.
S: Bäääääääh. No. Still, he's 16 years older than me. That's too old for me!
K: 16 years is not too bad.
S: What?
L: You've got a boyfriend anyway.
S: Yes.
K: That's multi-tasking.
S: What?
K: Nowadays, everyone is multi-tasking.
S: I think, you mean multi-manning.
Giggling......
S: I can't believe I am already so pale again that I have to use rouge.
L: Rouge?
S: You don't call it rouge, do you? ... It's blush.
L: Blush or rouge.
S: Anyways, I hate it. I lost all my tan.
L: But, that's just what your skin is like. You are pale. You better get used to it.
S: I was used to it. But then I got so tanned here and I looked so much better.
L: No.. What?
S: Everyone said I looked better with a tan.
L: Really? No. I like you better in pale.
S: Mmmmm. I don't know.

In the foyer of the Norton Palace in Leichardt, 6pm
S: Ok, is it recording?
K: Yes, but the volume is to loud.
S: Turn it down.
K: I have. It' s still too loud.
S: Maybe I need to speak lower... but I can't!
K: It's okay. Just go ahead!
S: Why did you come to see the movie tonight?
L: I read about it in the paper and I thought "why not?", and my flatmate is German.
S: Do you have any German background?
L: Well, I've got friends in Berlin, and I've been there a few times.
S: Ok, thank you.
L: Or did I have to mention you in the second answer again?
S: No, that's great. Did it record?
K: Yes, let's go to that lady over there.



Audience voxpops

S: Why did you come to the German film festival?
-I love German culture and language. Germany is just so cultured!
- I went to the discussion about the film on Friday and the director was really nice.
-His grandparents were German. They came to Australia in 1850, to the Barossa Valley. They established a winery there.
-I always come to the festivals, I live near here.

S: Have you seen any German movies before?
-Yes....Das Boot....and...Der Hauptmann von Köpenick..and..M!
-Yes, we've been to the opening film. And I went to see "The Counterfeiters" which was brillant. It's got Stockinger was the star in it, Stockinger from Inspector Rex in it. You probably won't know. But he's the one who Rex never wants to follow.

The Star enters the building
S: Hey, can we interview you?
Martin Gypkens: Who are you?
Klaus Krischock, director of the Goethe-Institut: Go ahead. The more interviews, the better.
K: Please.
MG: But who are you?
S: We're media students..
K:...from Sydney uni.
S: It's for an assignment.
K: A radio project.
KK: Look, you're a celebrity. You better get used to it.
MG: Well, I just wanted to know who I'm talking to.
S: It's not gonna be broadcast.
KK: Go ahead.
MG: How long is it gonna take?
K: Not long.
S: No more than five minutes.
MG: Ok.
S: Cool. Wow. Oh, I'll just get my questions. How exciting.
K: He really is cute!

....

S: So, how do you like Sydney and Australia so far?
MG: It's great. Only the weather hasn't been so good.
Girls giggling.
S: Yeah, that's been the same when I first came here in July.
K: It's not a good time to come to Sydney now.
S: We've had our first mulled wine today.

...

S: So, you're off too Melbourne next, right? You'll like it. It's a great city.
MG: So, you're from Melbourne?
S: Ähm, no. I'm from Berlin.
MG: What?
S: Well, not really. Originally, I'm from Hamburg.
MG: What?
S: Hamburg.
MG: So, what are you doing here?
S: Studying.

....

S: So, have you seen any Aussie movies?
MG: Since I have come here or in my life?
S: In general?
MG: Muriel's wedding!
S: Yes. Anything else?
MG: I don't know. You never really no whether a movie is Australian when you watch it in Germany. Was "The Constant Gardener" Australian?
K: No.
MG: Really? I thought it was. Was the director Australian?
S: Who was the director?
MG: I don't know. Maybe they should have an Australian Film Festival in Berlin.
S: Good idea.


To be continued...