Producer Berben discusses U.S. tariffs and escalating production costs

A Ranty yet Informed Rant: Berben's Got Issues with Trump's Film Tariff Proposals, and Germoney's Pocketbook Feels the Pain

U.S. Tariffs Impacting Film Producer Berben Amid Rising Costs - Producer Berben discusses U.S. tariffs and escalating production costs

In the world of film production, it's high time politics offered a helping hand! That's the word on the street from film producer Oliver Berben, who's slamming US President Donald Trump for considering tariffs on film imports. As the head of Constantin Film, a major German production company, Berben argues that these tariffs could dump a big bucket of cash on production costs, ultimately stifling the film industry.

"It's like Planet Hollywood all over again, and we're better off fleeing to cheaper nations," says Berben. Already, shoot costs have skyrocketed in the US, pushing massive productions to film in Canada and, you guessed it, countries like the Czech Republic and Croatia. Even German series like 'Hotel Adlon' were shot overseas. This move could mean even the German ZDF series brushes off the sauerbraten for some exotic Eastern European comfort food.

"Tariffs," Berben explains (as a reminder for dumbies like me), "are imposed on goods..." But films, don't you know, aren't goods we can fence in with steel and quotas, they're intellectual property shared with audiences worldwide.

Berben's not just throwing stones for fun—he fears these tariffs could precisely have the opposite effect on his company, Constantin Film. The only German heavyweight producing English-language films for the US market, Berben points to the action series 'Resident Evil' as a prime example. If the US ramps up production costs for foreign films, Constantin Film will have to carefully decide where to shoot the next installment.

But what's the deal with Trump and these crazy tariffs, you ask? "I can't wrap my head around it!" Berben shouts in frustration. "Tariffs are on goods, but films, dude, they're art where money's aesthetic value intersects. Put a price on the beauty and wit, and it ain't the same!"

Bottom line, if Trump goes through with these plans, it could be a hard knock for Constantin Film. So hammer on, artistry, and may reason prevail!

• Oliver Berben
• Film Production
• Donald Trump
• Film Tariffs
• USA
• Germany
• Constantin Film

1. Oliver Berben, a film producer from Germany, is criticizing Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on film imports, believing they could increase production costs and harm the film industry.
2. Berben speaks about tariffs, stating they are imposed on goods, but films are different as they are intellectual property, not goods that can be subject to tariffs or quotas.
3. Berben's concern is that these tariffs could adversely affect Constantin Film, the only major German production company producing English-language films for the US market, potentially leading to shifts in production locations.
4. In the discussion of tariffs, Berben emphasizes that films are a form of art, and imposing monetary value on their beauty and wit might alter their essence.

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