Guest post by Danny Thomas.
This isn’t a story of success or failure – it’s an ongoing journey.
I relocated to Hamburg, Germany, from my hometown Melbourne six years ago, primarily to be with my son. I accepted that my aspiration to be an actor had come to an abrupt end having only taken some baby steps through training and playing a role in a short film.
Standing in the rain outside a film festival marquee in Hamburg not long after my arrival, an industry professional turned to me and said,
“I am sorry. There is no need for an Australian actor in Germany or Europe for that matter. You have no chance of working here.”
As she rode into the darkness on her European bike, the voice of self-doubt within me had a party on her words. Working actor statistics are akin to those of winning the lottery, on top of that I was now living in a country where English is not the first language. Regardless, the drive to tell stories was too strong to lie down.
Within a few months, I found myself on set near the Polish border shooting an international web spot for one of Germany’s most iconic cars. Sitting in that car surrounded by lights, I realised opportunities aren’t necessarily constrained by the city or circumstances you’re in. I knew I had to keep fear at bay and continue to do the work. I went on to do hundreds of hours of extra work. It wasn’t acting but it was film school of sorts, in German. This lead to some bit-parts on a local cop show with no dialogue. People were confused enough when I attempted to speak German in real life let alone on TV.
After committing to a number of projects that taught me so much but never saw the light of day, I again began to accept I was attempting the impossible. Time is the true commodity. By keeping myself available I had the opportunity to play a lead role in an English indie film Edda Tudor being shot in Hamburg. This landed a best lead actor nomination at the recent London international film festival.
Acting is job to job and there is no linear path. I have learned the importance of creating your own content. I recently wrote and shot a web-series pilot Tippy Top inspired by my experience working for a furniture moving team so I could be flexible for auditions. It has been selected for web-fests around the globe including Miami and Bogotá, Colombia. I hope to continue to work at the craft, collaborate with good people and tell relevant stories. It’s reassuring to know that though it may not seem like it at the time, we are often exactly where we are meant to be.
Film still: Danny Thomas plays Kane Nash in the web-series pilot he wrote & directed Tippy Top – Hunt & Gather.
I think that what will have been most difficult for her is learning German, since Germans do not tend to know English, that language barrier will have prevented her from many things and it will have taken a lot of effort to break it, for example I want to see a German movie but I still can’t watch it because it’s only in German and there are no subtitles, so I understand how complicated it is to try to communicate and break a language barrier. By the way, the only idea that has occurred to me is to look for a professional translator who can translate. the movie from German to English but unfortunately I don’t know any. Does anyone here by chance know a professional translator who can recommend me?
Regarding the German movie, seeking out a professional translator is a great idea. While I don’t have specific recommendations, you might want to explore online platforms that specialize in translation services. Look for translators who specialize in the language pair you need (German to English) and check their credentials and reviews. Additionally, you can ask for recommendations from local language schools or cultural centers, as they often have connections to language professionals.
Understanding and learning a new language can really be a challenge, especially if there is no support in the form of subtitles or other resources. Finding a professional translator is a good idea to understand and enjoy German content. You can try contacting local translation agencies or translators who specialize in films. They can provide you with translation services.
Please note that video translation is a complex and multi-tasking job that requires the participation of professionals in different fields. It is important to pay attention to detail to ensure high quality translation and maintain the integrity of the content. I am sure that it is best not to waste your time in vain and use the service of https://vidby.com/video-translation/german-english professional translators who will do everything at the highest level and you will not regret it.