Melodies of Barking Dogs
2K DCP | 5.1 surround | 1,77:1 | 08:36’ | 2023
A group of young people spend the evening in the clubhouse. One of them is Toni, who, as usual, keeps to the background. In the stuffy air of the wood-panelled room they drink, gossip and embarrass each other, while pop songs play in the background. Business as usual. As the night goes on, Toni watches an older couple dancing and starts to wonder what he really wants.
Writers Note
by Nicola Jakobi
by Nicola Jakobi
It took me way longer than my teenage years to realize that trying to be cool did not make me happy. What makes me happy is trying to be warm and gentle and figure out what I really like. It is not always easy to do that in a surrounding that has very specific opinions on what people should be like. And it is even harder to cope with the disapproval when that is not who you want to be. That goes for every kind of community.
I don’t think in small villages people are more or less judgy than in big cities, but it is harder to escape the gaze of the others and there are less options to choose from. For me, dance is the opposite of the paralysis that I experience when I feel ashamed or observed. Therefore, I told as much as possible through movement in that story.
I don’t think in small villages people are more or less judgy than in big cities, but it is harder to escape the gaze of the others and there are less options to choose from. For me, dance is the opposite of the paralysis that I experience when I feel ashamed or observed. Therefore, I told as much as possible through movement in that story.
Directors Note
by Daniel Huss
by Daniel Huss
I remember very well the day I went to school for the first time with my new oversized wool jumper when I was 17. I was afraid that my friends would make fun of me because I no longer wore the white v-neck t-shirts like all the other boys, but after a few days they accepted my jumper. On the one hand, there is the desire to belong; on the other hand, there is the need to be authentic.
After accompanying Nicola in the script development, this fundamental conflict was my starting point in the collaborative working process with director of photography Kim Hausner, production designer Martha Brenner, main actors Elias Maria Burkhardt and Valentin Oppermann, music supervisor Joel Brüning, editor Frederik Bösing and sound designer Timo Kleinemeier.
Bringing amateurs and professional actors together and spending some days with them to discover the dynamics in the group, was an important element of our concept, which included spaces during the shooting to improvise with them and to let unexpected actions happen. In the end, we captured playful moments between the characters in the village pub that helped us find a rhythm in the editing and getting closer to the characteristics of the film.
After accompanying Nicola in the script development, this fundamental conflict was my starting point in the collaborative working process with director of photography Kim Hausner, production designer Martha Brenner, main actors Elias Maria Burkhardt and Valentin Oppermann, music supervisor Joel Brüning, editor Frederik Bösing and sound designer Timo Kleinemeier.
Bringing amateurs and professional actors together and spending some days with them to discover the dynamics in the group, was an important element of our concept, which included spaces during the shooting to improvise with them and to let unexpected actions happen. In the end, we captured playful moments between the characters in the village pub that helped us find a rhythm in the editing and getting closer to the characteristics of the film.
Proucers Note
by Rebecca Hartung & Alexia Wallemacq
by Rebecca Hartung & Alexia Wallemacq
While meeting during the first week in the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris 2022, both of us immediately shared the same vision of cinema and movies we admire. When Nicola and Daniel presented their project, we naturally felt deeply attracted by "Melodies of Barking Dogs".
We all share the experience trying to fit into a group, especially when we are 17 years old. Nicola depicts in a poetic way the story of a boy searching for his authenticity. Besides, Nicola manages to talk about the village atmosphere with a truthful and strong sensibility. Daniel’s approach to this story by doing researches together with a teenager group, and his idea of using improvisation rather than staging, supported Nicolas perception of young individuals in the village. Nicolas and Daniel’s vision of their project inspired us, as well as their strong and very unique duo’s dynamic.
We all share the experience trying to fit into a group, especially when we are 17 years old. Nicola depicts in a poetic way the story of a boy searching for his authenticity. Besides, Nicola manages to talk about the village atmosphere with a truthful and strong sensibility. Daniel’s approach to this story by doing researches together with a teenager group, and his idea of using improvisation rather than staging, supported Nicolas perception of young individuals in the village. Nicolas and Daniel’s vision of their project inspired us, as well as their strong and very unique duo’s dynamic.
Production
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
in Co-Production with ARTE & SWR
Awards
German Shortfilm Award 2024
Screenings
Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis 2024
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen 2024
Kuki Interfilm Berlin 2024
Kurzfilmfestival Köln 2024
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
in Co-Production with ARTE & SWR
Awards
German Shortfilm Award 2024
Screenings
Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis 2024
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen 2024
Kuki Interfilm Berlin 2024
Kurzfilmfestival Köln 2024
Cast
Elias Maria Burckhardt
Valentin Oppermann
Mieke Schymura
Mikke Rasch
Tristán López
Zlatin Stoychev
Crew
Screenplay by – Nicola Jakobi
Director – Daniel Huss
Producer – Alexia Wallemacq
Producer – Rebecca Hartung
Director of Photography – Kim Hausner
Production Design – Martha Inés Brenner
Editor – Frederik Bösing
Sound Design – Timo Kleinemeier
Costume Design – Florian Hackenberg
1st Assistant Director – Judith Quast
2nd Assistant Director – Eva Wojas
3rd Assistant Director – Fanny Matena
Gaffer – Marcel Reiter
1er assistant Camera – Leslie Lopez Nsudila
2nd assistant Camera – Viktoria Polok
Best Girl – Muriel Wolf
Assistant Production Design – Bianca Bluhm
Constructions – Felicitas Puels
Constructions – Madeleine Badayei
Editing Assistant – Pia Van Den Bruck
Dialog Edit – Timo Klabunde
Color Grading – Jonas Thibaut
Music Supervisor – Joel Brüning
Composer – Robin Kallenberger
Elias Maria Burckhardt
Valentin Oppermann
Mieke Schymura
Mikke Rasch
Tristán López
Zlatin Stoychev
Crew
Screenplay by – Nicola Jakobi
Director – Daniel Huss
Producer – Alexia Wallemacq
Producer – Rebecca Hartung
Director of Photography – Kim Hausner
Production Design – Martha Inés Brenner
Editor – Frederik Bösing
Sound Design – Timo Kleinemeier
Costume Design – Florian Hackenberg
1st Assistant Director – Judith Quast
2nd Assistant Director – Eva Wojas
3rd Assistant Director – Fanny Matena
Gaffer – Marcel Reiter
1er assistant Camera – Leslie Lopez Nsudila
2nd assistant Camera – Viktoria Polok
Best Girl – Muriel Wolf
Assistant Production Design – Bianca Bluhm
Constructions – Felicitas Puels
Constructions – Madeleine Badayei
Editing Assistant – Pia Van Den Bruck
Dialog Edit – Timo Klabunde
Color Grading – Jonas Thibaut
Music Supervisor – Joel Brüning
Composer – Robin Kallenberger
