Feature | Documentary

A feature film is something like the pinnacle of filmmaking.

Many very talented artists make their contribution to its success, but what's really crucial for the success of a feature film project is storytelling. Unfortunately, Wolfgang Ritzberger has seen many good stories be a failure on screen, but he has hardly ever seen a bad script being turned into a good movie.

First, a sucessful movie requires craftsmanship from all those involved, and that, of course, includes the producer. That means it’s definitely beneficial that Mr. Ritzberger himself has extensive experience in the technical side of film-making, and even today he can still be found behind the camera or at the cutting table. He is also trained as an actor and studied economics.

Second, being creative helps. Nothing really works without new and creative ideas. Therefore the challenge is to come up with something new repeatedly, whether it is arts or business-related.

Third, everything depends on the staging, but not just of the movie itself, it's also important to set the stage for the movie. The point is that it should not only be the director who can stage himself and his movie; the producer too, should be able to stage his movie well. This sounds almost too simple, but that’s the way it is. And that’s the reason why not everyone can do this – because it is that simple, or it seems to be that simple.

Documentaries have developed into a film genre of their own.

Recently documentaries are being produced explicitly for cinema showings. Just like a feature film, a documentary tells a thrilling story, portrays remarkable people, and can lead us to galaxies where no one has been before. The only difference is that those stories, those people, and those places are real and not fictitious. Ideally, documentaries are as fascinating as feature films, with the audience being captivated by impressive scenes, touching destinies, and exciting personalities.