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
Design by Pirateboy