The short film For A While, directed by Kilian Mayer and based on a screenplay co-written with Michael J. Keplinger, is currently in production. The music single Passing Through by Michael J. Keplinger is also part of the film.
The project was featured in the April 28, 2023 broadcast of Burgenland heute on ORF Burgenland. The film is being realized as a final project by students of the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, with filming taking place at the Stadtvilla Eisenstadt.
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A bit of Hollywood flair is currently in the air – filming is underway for the short film For A While.
The film is being produced, shot, and edited by a team that includes several young filmmakers from Burgenland. The filming location is a special spot in the state capital. Veronika Berghofer stopped by the set for us.
The Stadtvilla in Eisenstadt, with its idyllic inner courtyard, is currently serving as the setting for the short film For A While. The old townhouse on Pfarrgasse provides a nostalgic backdrop for the film students’ project.
Lena Kroemer, Production Manager: Our original plan was that we needed a house with an old, haunted-house kind of vibe. Then I thought of the Stadtvilla, because it’s basically remained unchanged since 1950 and has been uninhabited. And since it’s soon going to become a museum, the city of Eisenstadt made it available to us and said, ‘Okay, go ahead and bring your art into it – and afterward, we’ll bring ours into the house.’ So yes, we’re very grateful for that.
Preparations for the film have been underway since March. Now, filming is finally taking place. The days on set are long and intense. 28 young film students are involved in this short film, which is their final project at the University of Applied Sciences in St. Pölten.
Camera, sound, and lighting must all work together during filming. Teamwork is key, as is motivation – because no one on this set is being paid for their work. But they’re well taken care of when it comes to food.
Patricia Melicha, Director of Photography: Yes, good food – we have really great catering from the city of Eisenstadt. It’s amazing. We already had great meals yesterday. And yes, it’s also about talking to each other a lot, giving feedback like ‘Hey, you did great,’ and most importantly, enjoying the work, not being too tense – but also knowing that when it’s time to focus, the work has to be done properly and seriously.
It’s a large, focused team working on the film project. Two more filming days are planned. Everyone here loves the medium of film – including director Kilian Mayer.
Kilian Mayer, Director: With a landscape, I can tell so much without saying a single word. Or I can play a bass note and it triggers something in people. And that feeling it triggers is usually quite similar for most – it’s a powerful way to speak to many people in different languages.
After filming in Eisenstadt, the film is far from finished – editing and sound design are still to come. As for how the Stadtvilla Eisenstadt works as a romantic film location – that’s something the audience will soon be able to judge for themselves, because the film’s premiere will take place in Eisenstadt.
