Sommer 81: Michael Ende signs over the movie rights to Dieter Geissler who, together with Dr.Christian, convinces him of their concept and gives him the right to veto the script. W.Geissendorfer is to Direct the movie. The first concept is that Bastian hides himself in a small suburb cinema and is pulled into the Fantasie- world by projectionist Koreander. This falsification of the book is rejected by Michael Ende.
10/81 Dr.Schneiders attempts to set up a script but gives up around Christmas of the same year as he finds it to difficult. Painter Ul de Rico (= Conte Gropplero di Troppenburg) is brought into the project to paint some sketches. The costs so far, 250,000 DM.
11/81 Discussion between Geissler, who possessed the film rights of The NeverEnding Story, and B.Eichinger, who organizes funding, ends in agreement on an allegedly 6-digit amount figure plus participation. Michael Ende objects and visits Eichinger acompanied by his publisher and lawyer. Eichinger convinces the author with his vision of a more European then American aproach and pushes Helmut Dietl through as Director instead of either Andrzej Wajda or Akiro Kurosawa as Michael Ende would have liked. Negotiation total 300,000 DM (50% for the author) plus participation.


2/82 The movie budget is set to 25 million DM and above, Helmut Dietl is to direct. The main problem is to earn back the production costs, as Germany does not have enough potential spectators (an expected 3 million if the movie is succesfull), the target is set that 40% of the gross income will have to come from the United States.
3/82 Special Effects wizard Brian Johnson signs up in New York. Johnson insists on bringing his own crew as the Germans do not have the necessary experience in Special Effects to do the job. The Bavaria Studios are chosen for the production and building on the world largest Bluescreen system is started. The budget is re-adjusted to 50 million DM and the story of the book is cut in two parts.
5/82 No script is available yet, but instead the first fabulous creature, the Running Snail, is ready.
6/82 H.Dietl finshes the script. Michael Ende is content with the draft, but it is too long and too complicated to be produced.
7.10.82 Herman Weigel finishes his script.
10.10.82 Dietl is out as Director, instead Wolfgang Petersen is brought in at the cost of 1 million DM. Production is to start in January 1983. Michael Ende objects to the change but is persuaded after a 13 hour long talk between him, his publisher, his lawyer, Eichinger, Weigel, Ul de Rico and Petersen.
Afterwards Bastian is to be an American Boy, Petersen finds the script to dark. Script-doctor John Hill and H.Weigel take a month to rewrite it. The Gmork is written in and the 'Nothing' becomes a type of storm.
11/82 Barret Olivier is casted as Bastian.


14.1.83 The final script is finished.
18.1.83 The final script is printed.
18.2.83 Michael Ende and Ul de Rico object to the script. The discussion ends with Michael Ende pulling out of the project threatening to demand 1 million DM of damages a day. The final script is approved.
14.03.83 Shooting starts with the Rockbiter in the Haulewald.
04.83 Shooting of the Haulewald Scenes end as Petersen, Jost Vakano and Hans Nikel have to fly to Amerika for the Oskar-nomination of "Das Boot". Before returning to Germany, Petersen meets Barret Oliver.
14.04.83 Petersen returns from Amerika. Production costs up to date, 15 millions DM. Warner Brothers gives an 8-digit dollar amount (approx. 25 millions DM), to bridge financing. Ul de Ricos is retroactively dismissed as his work is deemed too artistic, but its assistants under Plahuta Japl continue to draw. Shooting begins in hall 4/5, the swamp-scenes (duration three weeks), and hall 10, the ivory tower scenes with a 3m large model.
13.5.83 The last contracts are acknowledged.
16.5.83 No Childlike Empress has yet been cast.
5/83 Shooting starts on the desert scenes in hall 4/5 (duration three weeks). The end of production is targeted to April 1984.


30.6.83 The mechanical Falkor is demonstrated.
4.7.83 The first screening of all movie-material made up to that time, Michael Ende is present.
13.7.83 Shooting starts on the Ivory Tower scenes with Cairon.
?.?.83 Shooting on location in Spain under the direction of H.Nikel, the scene shot is Atreyu's lonely ride through Fantasia. In the USA, a ten day aerial photography is done by B.Johnson for Falkor's flight scenes.
10/83 The Childlike Empress scenes start in hall 6.
??? Attic scenes in hall 4/5.
??? Ruined city scenes with the turning platform (90°) in hall 4/5. At this time, it is 26 weeks into the shooting.
Afterwards For a 10 day period, Steetscenes, the schoolbuilding and the scenes in Bastians home are shot in Vancouver, Canada.
12.12.83 A raw cut (a partial incomplete film) is shown to the financial backers from Warner Brothers.
6.4.84 The movie premieres.


Text by Piratboy (thank you ;-) and Paulchen
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