“Babylon Berlin” is the most complex and expensive series that has been shot in Germany so far. The fourth season has been in production since spring. Dozens of actors and around 2000 extras, plus producers, cameramen, directors, technicians and assistants bring the Weimar Republic to life again. The core team consists of around 150 employees. The shooting takes place under strict hygiene requirements: rapid tests are carried out daily, and PCR tests several times a week. There are also their own Covid units on set that review the measures. Since insurance companies do not cover any additional costs or economic losses in the event of corona-related rotating failures, the federal and state governments decided last year to set up a corona protective shield for the film industry, failure funds I and II,to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic in cinema and TV productions. Both funds should end on September 30, 2021, but are now being extended.

The default fund I is financed with 69 million euros by the federal government and with 31 million euros by countries with strong film locations. It is intended to cover downtime costs in the case of feature film productions and series productions. Damage is taken into account with up to 1.5 million euros, whereby the producer has to bear five percent of the amount of damage himself. As the Minister of State for Culture and Media (BKM) has now announced to the Producers Alliance, the federal government's share in this fund can be used until December 31, 2021 and, if necessary, until March 31, 2022.

The producer alliance, the countries and TV broadcasters have long wrestled over the second fund, which is supposed to secure television productions. After all, it came into force at the beginning of the year. Twelve countries are contributing 48.5 million euros to this aid package. These federal states assume up to 57.5 percent of the recognized Covid-19 failure damage, the television providers and streaming services 32.5 percent. The producer's contribution is ten percent, but at least 10,000 euros. As the FAZ has learned from country circles, this fund will also be extended until June 30, 2022.

"The film and television industry in Germany is still faced with the problem that there is currently no adequate insurance cover against impending pandemic waves on reasonable terms," ​​explains Dr. Christoph Palmer, managing director of the producer alliance, explained the importance of both default funds. The production companies are very effective, but also very costly, relying on extensive hygiene measures for their shoots, but there is no one hundred percent security in these times. With a view to autumn and the increasing number of infections, it is therefore of great importance for the industry that the failure funds I and II are continued.Only in this way could audiovisual productions currently be protected from incalculable risks due to the corona situation and considerable industry-wide uncertainty prevented, according to Palmer.

Both default fund I and default fund II are said to have been used to less than five percent, as has been confirmed by state chancelleries. Both the producer alliance and experts from the film industry attribute this to the very good implementation of the Corona hygiene concepts. “I think it's really impressive how much is shot.” ​​The use of hygiene measures was “excellent, that was an incredible achievement,” said Kirsten Niehuus, managing director of the film funding of the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, to the rbb. Thomas Schreiber, managing director of ARD Degeto, confirms this positive trend to this newspaper:“A large part of our productions - over 100 films and series annually as well as more than 400 episodes of the two ARD Daylies - were able to be produced as planned this year. Fortunately, there were no extensive breaks in shooting in the productions we commissioned. In a few productions (around six) there were shooting delays or rescheduling. Due to the comprehensive occupational safety and hygiene measures on set, based on the recommendations of the ETEM trade association, the infection rate is largely under control. We are therefore very happy that, for example, a new Thursday crime thriller from the "Commissioner Dupin" series can be filmed in Brittany. "In a few productions (around six) there were shooting delays or rescheduling. Due to the comprehensive occupational safety and hygiene measures on set, based on the recommendations of the ETEM trade association, the infection rate is largely under control. We are therefore very happy that, for example, a new Thursday crime thriller from the "Commissioner Dupin" series can be filmed in Brittany. "In a few productions (around six) there were shooting delays or rescheduling. Due to the comprehensive occupational safety and hygiene measures on set, based on the recommendations of the ETEM trade association, the infection rate is largely under control. We are therefore very happy that, for example, a new Thursday crime thriller from the "Commissioner Dupin" series can be filmed in Brittany. "Series can be rotated in Brittany. "Series can be rotated in Brittany. "