GERMAN WORLD MAGAZINE » People

Nina Franoszek is starring in Easy To Assemble

GW Editorial Staff — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:29:38 +0000

German actress Nina Franoszek is starring opposite Ray Wise as Gala, a modern Good Witch of the North in the third season of Easy to Assemble -Finding North.

Easy to Assemble is an award winning web series created by and starring Emmy-Award-Winner Illeana Douglas. A Hollywood actress trying to quit acting and working for IKEA. The online sitcom earned multiple awards and was featured in the NY Times for it’s massive following of 1,5 million viewers each month.

The show, and it’s spin-off Sparhusen, features such Hollywood talent as Keanu Reeves, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Pollock, Robert Patrick, Glee’s Jane Lynch and in this season the comedy stylings of Craig Bierko and Corey Feldman, amongst many others.
Easy to Assemble, written and produced by Illeana Douglas (pictured on the left with Nina Franoszek by German photographer Volker Corell), directed by Michael Kang, starring Illeana Douglas, Corey Feldman, Craig Bierko, Justine Bateman,Patricia Heaton, Jason Butler Harner, Michael Hitchcock, Michael Irpino, Eric Lange, Wallace Langham, Robert Mailhouse, Mia Riverton, Fred Willard, Torsten Voges, Ray Wise and Nina Franoszek.

Watch Nina Franoszek online in Episode 4: Road to Uppsala & Episode 5: Almost Happy in the 3 season of EASY TO ASSEMBLE – FINDING NORTH:

Nina Franoszek is a German/ American actor of film, television and theater. She is a member of Deutsche Filmakademie, Germany’s Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and served as a juror for the international Emmy Awards in 2007 – 2011. She has won an Adolf Grimme Prize (Germany’s Emmy Award) and played a wide range of roles from tragedy to comedy in 19 feature films, and over 45 television movies & series. She is best known for her role in Buster’s Bedroom starring opposite Donald Sutherland & Geraldine Chaplin, The Pianist by Roman Polanski, and her guest star role Greta in the TV series Mad Men. Nina Franozek recently starred in “Scharfe Hunde” a German TV Comedy and is currently playing psychologist Ute Dannowski in the outstanding German Mini Series Weissensee in Berlin. Watch a clip of “Weissensee”

Weissensee is a cold war ‘Romeo and Juliet’ drama that grips Germany today. The tale of a Stasi officer who falls in love with a dissident in 1980s East Germany is hailed as the first TV show to truly reflect life in the GDR.

Trailer “Scharfe Hunde”

Nina Franoszek lives in Berlin and Los Angeles.

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Austrian Musician Ludwig Hirsch is Dead

GW Editorial Staff — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:22:48 +0000

Austrian singer Ludwig Hirsch, (February 28th 1946 – November 24th 2011) famed for his morose, laconic, critical, macabre, reflective songs has taken his own life at age 65. He was reportedly being treated for lung cancer and jumped from the hospital window of Vienna’s “Wilheminen Spittal”.
The beloved singer appeared to sold-out audiences of over 200,000 and his studio album Perlen (pearls) achieved gold status in Austria and he was Awarded the Amadeus Music Award.
In 1993 the Austrian Post honored him with a stamp and in 2001 he was awarded the silver medal for service to the City of Vienna.

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Swiss Composer Kurt Oldman scoring in Hollywood

GW Editorial Staff — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:54:51 +0000

German speaking composers have a long tradition in Hollywood with Max Steiner, Erick Korngold and Hans Zimmer to name just a few. Now add multifaceted Swiss born composer Kurt Oldman to that list. Kurt has already received critical acclaim for a number of his film scores. He recently signed on to score the upcoming horror thriller, “Killer Holiday”, starring Michael Copon (”One Tree Hill”). “With horror films I can really go wild. I always like to see how far I can push it musically”, says Kurt. He is also working on a new HBO pilot called “Elwood” and has another feature film in the wings, “0000″, a terrific SciFi film directed by Eddie Alcazar.

Kurt enjoys living in Southern California, he says: “It’s nice to not have to dig my car out of snow every winter, although I miss skiing in the Swiss Alps.” We totally agree!
If you like to follow Kurt check out www.kurtoldman.com

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Stefan Raab vs. Will Smith

GW Editorial Staff — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:19:23 +0000

In the US every TV Station has one or maybe even two genius entertainers, in Germany that kind of talent and space for the talent to develop is harder to come by. But we have one, the one and only Stefan Raab from his TV-Show TVTotal. Honing his craft since hosting his first show Vivasion in 1993, he started his late night TV-Show TV-Total in 1999.

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Hedy Lamarr from Vienna to Hollywood

GW Editorial Staff — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:54:06 +0000

Hedy Lamarr is one of the most fascinating movie stars in film history. Born November 9th 1914 in Vienna, she was the first naked woman on film, played for MGM alongside Clark Gable and also invented a guidance system for torpedoes to support American troups during World War II.

Read the article in the Austrian magazine: “Die Briefmarke” – The Stamp

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Kaisers Geburtstag – Emperor Franz Joseph

GW Editorial Staff — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:32:38 +0000

Born on August 18th 1830 in Schönbrunn Palace, Emperor Franz Joseph would have been 180 years today. He reigned during difficult times and his passionate marriage to Empress Elisabeth filled countless books and inspired movies.

Lesser known facts: His brother Archduke Maximilian was Maximilian I of Mexico and Austria turned into a empire in which the sun never sets.
Many things were named after the Emperor, also Russia’s Franz Josef Land Archipelago. See some impressive pictures

Listen to the hymn with lyrics below. Sounds familiar? Well, nowadays Austrias old “Kaiserhymne” is Germany’s hymn.

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Google honors Josef Frank

GW Editorial Staff — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:17:59 +0000

Josef Frank is an Austrian-Swedish architect and designer, who was known for his innovative designs and distinct patterns. Born July 15th 1885 in Baden bei Wien he helped found the Vienna School of Architecture.

July 15th Google Doodle is an artistic tribute to Josef Frank’s 125th birthday. To celebrate one of Frank’s patterns, The Vegetable Tree, was rearranged to shape the word Google.

“In honoring architect Josef Frank, we’re continuing a tradition of celebrating individuals from all walks of life who have had a lasting impact on people around the world,”Anne Baxter from Google Australia told the Brisbane Times.

See how to get a nifty little tool if you surf with Chrome or Firefox to see you favorite Google Doodle every day.

To celebrate his birthday on July 14 (today, US time), one of Frank’s patterns, The Vegetable Tree, was rearranged to (for a trained eye) shape the word Google.

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Giles Hoyt Receives Germany’s Highest Civilian Honor

GW Editorial Staff — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:47:26 +0000

Giles Hoyt, Professor Emeritus of German and Philanthropic Studies and past Director of IUPUI’s Max Kade German-American Center in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI is the recipient of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the Federal Cross of Honor, which is the Federal Republic of Germany’s highest tribute for services to the nation.

Dr. Hoyt has been a pivotal figure in the field of German and German-American Studies, reaching far beyond the academic sphere. An internationally recognized scholar, his service to the university, as well as to the German-American community, particularly in Indiana and the Midwest, spans more than three decades. He has served on the board of numerous organizations, both locally and nationally, dealing with German-American relations. Professor Hoyt was instrumental in the establishment and development of the IUPUI Max Kade German-American Research and Resource Center, a national model for interdisciplinary German and German-American Studies. Together with his wife, Dr. Dolores Hoyt, and friends and colleagues Drs. Eberhard and Ruth Reichmann, Hoyt created the Hoyt-Reichmann Faculty Chair in German American Studies and German Language and Culture with a $1.3 million gift commitment to the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

The Bundesverdienstkreuz was instituted in 1951 by German President Theodor Heuss. It is the only honor that may be awarded in all fields of endeavor. It may be awarded to Germans as well as foreigners for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm and for a myriad of outstanding services to the nation in the fields of social, charitable and philanthropic work.

In a nomination letter, Drs. Claudia Grossmann, Eberhard Reichmann, and Ruth Reichmann wrote: “Professor Hoyt’s contributions to IUPUI, to academia and the German community are manifold and significant. His teaching in the German Program, research and publications, his service, his accomplishments in internationalizing the campus, as well as his philanthropic support are outstanding. His long-standing civic and community engagement can serve as a model for others to follow.”

The letter went on to say that Hoyt has tirelessly fostered German-American relations, deepened knowledge and understanding on both sides of the Atlantic, and built bridges between Germany and the United States and the citizens of both nations.

Hoyt received the Cross on Wednesday, June 23^rd from Consul General of Germany Onno Hueckmann, who traveled from Chicago to make the presentation. The ceremony took place at the Indianapolis Athenaeum and was hosted by the Max Kade German-American Center. Indiana’s Honorary Consul to Germany, Sven Schumacher, served as the event emcee and remarks were also made by German Professor and Max Kade Center Director Dan Nuetzel and Liberal Arts Dean William Blomquist.

Dean Blomquist said, “It’s wonderful to see Giles recognized by Germany for his service to the cause of German-American relations and the promotion of German language and culture in the U.S. But all the while that Giles was advancing those purposes, he was also promoting and serving IUPUI. In Indianapolis, throughout Indiana, throughout the United States, and overseas, IUPUI and the IU School of Liberal Arts couldn’t have had a better ambassador than Giles Hoyt. Much of what exists today in international programs and activities at IUPUI started under Giles’ leadership of what was then known as the Office of International Programs [now the Office of International Affairs], and our students continue to benefit from the internationalization he has promoted so tirelessly and effectively.”

Numerous individuals and organizations supported the event, demonstrating the close ties between the IUPUI Max Kade Center and German Program and the Indianapolis German American community. More than 100 community friends, university colleagues, former students, and German-American organization representatives attended the presentation ceremony.

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Schwarzenegger at Journalism Gala

Barbara Gasser — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:31:38 +0000

Barbara Gasser by Mark Hunziker

Watching Gov. @Schwarzenegger deliver remarks at the Southern California Journalism Awards Gala – at http://tweetcast.in/1348

It was a dream come true for myself as a journalist because I am the first Austrian Journalist to win the “International Journalism: News Feature” Award in the 52 year history of the Southern California Journalism Awards. Furthermore I won two second places and an honorable mention.

For the first time Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opened this years spectacular Gala in the Crystal Ballroom of the Biltmore Millenium Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The huge chandelier that gave the Crystal Ballroom its name was once manufactured by Swarovski and the idea of the Oscars was born in that same room in 1927.

The Governors speech was point right on and funny – as usual. At one point and to my surprise he even called me out. “Barbara, where are you?” Then he proceeded to tell the story how I ambushed him and got him into this mess to talk in front of the leading American press. He invited me without knowing that I actually have something to impose on him. “After an event with Mayor Villaraigosa, I invited Barbara to let me know if there is anything I can do for her. And then, to my surprise, Barbara actually took me up on it and said, yes Governor, there is actually you can do something for me.” He probably thought, oh my God what have I gotten myself into and “the next thing I hear her say is. “Governor there is the Southern California Journalism Awards coming up, would you come and open the Gala?” And then he came and now I am standing in front of him hearing the story retold. He went on and made salient points of the importance of press coverage and politics in the current gubernatorial race.

Oscar Winner Sean Penn also gave an inspiring speech about the significance of covering exceptional journalists like Ed Murrow and Walter Cronkite. I met Walter Cronkite and interviewed him, so I relate to what Sean meant.

Though this is a personal dream that came true I would never have been able to live it without you being the wind beneath my wings and have me experience that the sky is the limit. I thank you, my family, friends and colleagues who went along with me on this journey and all, who never stopped believing in me.

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Andreas Beckett at the Hollywood Fringe Festival

GW Editorial Staff — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:25:39 +0000

Unbuttoned, the solo show co-written and performed by Andreas Beckett, has been chosen to have its World Premiere at the first-ever Hollywood Fringe Festival. A musical dramedy is Beckett’s true story of his quest for love, one woman at a time. Born and raised in the Bavarian Alps, as a young boy in Lederhosen and up through his university years, he showed a talent for acting, singing, acrobatics and dance, and for impressing the Fräuleins. His obsession with sex, drugs and rock-n-roll brought him to America. He did it all, falling down along the way and struggling to find himself. He endured gangs, prison, suffering, betrayal, but in the end it was his son that taught him the true meaning of love.

Beckett’s work includes numerous stage, film, television and opera credits. His TV debut was playing Hitler on Saturday Night Live, followed by his acclaimed portrayal of Macbeth at The American Theatre in New York. His first film project was the lead in Empty, by director Micah Herman. Unbuttoned’s collaborators are theatrical and TV veterans Mitzie and Ken Welch, writers and composers for The Carol Burnett Show. They have racked up numerous Emmys for TV specials for Barbra Streisand, Carol Burnett, Linda Lavin and Ben Vereen. Mitzie, is the director and co-writer with Beckett on the show with musical direction by Ken Welch. Tango choreography is by two-time American Choreography Award nominee Jordi Caballero.

Beckett has performed Unbuttoned at the Whitefire Theatre’s solo series in Sherman Oaks for more than a year as well as for a benefit at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Louis Fantasia, theatre NPR/KCRW says: “Unbuttoned has to be one of the warmest, most endearing one-man shows to hit the stage….well worth seeing.” “Beckett exudes mega-sex appeal and gives a fantastically charming honest performance,” says Valley Scene Magazine reviewer Tony Reverditto. The Tolucan Times theatre critic says: “Bavarian-born Beckett’s American Tale is fascinating from beginning to end.”

The Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA. Dates and Times: Sun., June 20th and Sun., June 27th, 2pm; Mon., June 21st, Fri., June 25th, Sat., June 26th all at 8pm. Tickets: $15 and can be purchased through www.hollywoodfringe.org,, at the Fringe Central box office or 1/2 hr. prior to the performances at the Lounge Theatre box office. $10 Rush Tixs/Standing Room available 10 mins prior to curtain times. Running Time: 1 Hr., 20 mins.

Andreas Beckett by Thomas Mikusz

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