Schwäbische Post 3 July 2003

“And now the whole thing, once again.” While Michael Kost speaks with his team members, he rubs his little finger with his left thumb. Everybody has to be fully concentrated. The SWR team is shooting for its own cause. At the company LOBO electronic, a three-minute clip for the idea competition “Gesucht! Unser Drittes” is in production.
BY DAGMAR OLTERSDORF
AALEN-DAUERWANG • “The lasers are very bright, everything around them is quite dark – unfavorable conditions for the camera,” camera operator Ottmar Schnepp comments matter-of-factly. LOBO‘s fully black-lined studio is in complete darkness. But somehow, even this problem can be solved. After 20 minutes of fiddling and adjusting, the camera is in position opposite the stage and ready for the shoot. Sound engineer Hermann Oberender now also has full control over his boom, his ears hidden under headphones. It is hot and editor Michael Kost wipes some sweat from his face. Then, he fixates on the small screen on the floor. It transmits everything captured by the camera lens – just to be safe. Not everything on the screen looks the same as in reality.
Finally, LOBO’s Art Director Alexander Hennig gives the go-ahead to the two technicians at the mixing desks via a wireless microphone. “You may begin now.” Then, LOBO’s team shows how they have envisioned the SWR slogan “Unser Drittes” with their own means: with a superlative laser show. Out of the pitch-blackness, the slogan appears in rich pink colors, seeming to hover freely in space. Around it, shining stars flash, all in tune with the TV station’s signature theme. “I have already seen a lot of great things, but the laser presentation was truly fascinating,” Mr. Kost gushes.
Others must have felt the same way, as LOBO‘s realization joins eight other candidates in the race for the favor of SWR’s viewers. In recent weeks, the TV station had called on municipalities, associations, companies and individuals to recreate the slogan in an imaginative way. In the process, 180 participants had presented their ideas, nine of which now were included on the shortlist. They will be presented from 7 July onwards between 06:45 pm and 07:45 pm in the Landesschau. The presentation of LOBO’s team, including a three-minute long making-of, is scheduled for 8 July.
However, the team of SWR still has a lot of work to do: The laser system and the animation studios have to be captured and an interview has to be completed. Paul Pilz, the lighting technician, is the only one with less work than usual. Hence, he is at complete ease: “That’s alright for once; I would only disturb the special atmosphere with my lights.” And nobody would want that. After all, the viewers will decide the winner of the competition on 18 July via TED.