Filming for an eight-part ORF series with Jakob Seeböck, Josephine Ehlert, Gregor Seberg, Emilia Warenski, Imre Lichtenberger and Luna Mwezi
Vienna (OTS) – The skis are waxed, the slopes are prepared – and the “School of Champions” is open. The shooting of the latest ORF series, which has been in production since October in the Gastein Valley and in Vienna, is in the final sprint and accompanies a year in the history of an elite ski boarding school in the mountains of Austria in eight 45-minute episodes: Ten young talents have cleared the first hurdle, but there is still a long way to go to the winner’s podium. Ten young people who are reaching for the stars and going to their limits in order to realize their big dream between the pressure to succeed, a training plan and growing up. But in order to fight their way to the top, high-performance athletes pay a high price.
A team of popular TV faces and newcomers is in front of the camera for this new TV series produced by ORF, BR and SRF: At the side of Jakob Seeböck (as headmaster, ex-ski pro with a penchant for amorous adventures), Josephine Ehlert (as head trainer), Gregor Seberg (as head of the local cable cars and co-owner of the school), Simon Hatzl (as trainer) and Thomas Mraz (as the father of a student) as well as Ferdinand Hofer, Judith Altenberger, Sonja Romei and Ferdinand Seebacher play Emilia, among others Warenski, Imre Lichtenberger, Luna Mwezi, Mikka Forcher, Moritz Uhl and Anna Thunhart. Anna Veith and Thomas Morgenstern have cameo appearances. Dominik Hartl and Johanna Moder direct(ed) for the first time in a TV series. Samuel Schultschik is responsible for the screenplays. The ORF 1 series start of “School of Champions” is planned for 2024.
Jakob Seeböck, who is in front of the camera as headmaster Mark, regarding his role: “Mark is a very interesting character with rough edges, passions and problems, someone who is under pressure on the one hand, but who is passionate regarding something on the other. In addition, for the first time I can play the role of a father, which I am also in my private life. I don’t want to reveal too much – but things will get pretty haywire there.” And Jakob Seeböck, himself a passionate skier and snowboarder since childhood, continued on regarding the series: “‘School of Champions’ is a touching story regarding several individual fates, who all have the same dream, which is to become a world leader in this sport – which also involves deprivation and sacrifice. It is an ensemble performance that I think has great potential to be successful, if only because alpine skiing is very important in Austria.”
Gregor Seberg, who is the head of the local cable cars and co-owner of the school, on the special tasks involved in filming and filming:
“One of the biggest challenges is that I’m surrounded by cold and snow, even though I’m a proven summer person. Also, I have to portray someone who only has things on their body that are insanely expensive. Otherwise I tend to play the mangy dog - now I’m someone who doesn’t wear anything that doesn’t cost an indecent amount.”
Sport climber Emilia Warenski is now demonstrating her sporting talent in the “School of Champions” in the role of Dani Strobl:
“For me, ‘School of Champions’ is an extremely cool, big project that is very close to my heart – not least because it has to do with sport. Being an athlete myself, I can tell a lot from the character. What I particularly like regarding my role is that she is very ambitious, has set herself a goal and wants to achieve it, but doesn’t lose the fun of it.”
“A cool series, for which a helicopter pilot was sought who is familiar with winter sports and who knows the area – of course I was there immediately,” ex-ski jumper Thomas Morgenstern is happy regarding his cameo appearance.
More on the content is available online at .
“School of Champions” is a production by Superfilm in co-production with Catpics for ORF, BR and SRF with the support of Fernsehfonds Austria and the State of Salzburg.
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