Actor Frederick Lau reveals which audio books he switches off with during breaks and how his work has changed due to Corona.
Actor Frederick Lau (31, "Victoria") has his very own way of switching off during breaks: he withdraws and devotes himself to audio books. "I put on my noise-canceling headphones and dive down. I love to travel in my head. It's like reading a good book," he explains in an interview. "And if you also have a good voice with you, then that's something very special."
For example, he is currently hearing various things about the universe from Stephen Hawking. "I am totally fascinated by the universe. Lately I also heard something about the theory of relativity and thought to myself that I sometimes don't understand a word. Something like that arouses my interest in particular and I have great respect for the people who check everything. "
The technology has to be right
He also likes to listen to Sherlock Holmes, says Lau. "I love these audio books, they are really good and always told in a great voice." Music has shaped his life since childhood, explains Lau. "The nice thing is that, just like smells, they subconsciously do something to you. That not only has something to do with euphoria and joy, there is a lot more." He still hears the same radio stations that he used to listen to with his father. "It's kind of 60s, 70s stuff. I have two vintage cars and I only drive them to music like that. It just fits."
Lau, who is testimonial for loudspeakers Teufel in his second year, pays attention to good sound quality when listening to music and audio books. "I wanted to chat with Teufel that they build me sensible speakers in my car because mine are really shabby. I love good sound, I think that's really important. It's just as if the picture were completely blurred. If I go dancing, that's why I prefer to go to Berghain, because the music system there is so great. That does something, you can really fly away. "
Filming under Corona regulations
Professionally, Frederick Lau, like many of his fellow actors, currently has to get used to the changed atmosphere on film sets. In mid-July he was able to complete the filming of the bestseller film "Generation Incapable of Relationships"; between March and June it had to be interrupted due to the corona pandemic. The film is scheduled to hit German cinemas in March 2021. "It's all still a bit strange," Lau admits, looking back on the work under Corona conditions. "Of course, I understand that if you breathe your own breath all the time, that at some point it annoys you a lot. But we still managed it pretty well." It was important to him to be able to look Helena Hufnagel, the director of the film, in the face. "You have to communicate with people and the faces communicate with. Fortunately, she had a visor on, and that worked better than I would have thought."
The collaboration with colleague Luise Heyer (35), who plays his counterpart in the film, was special for Lau. "I haven't worked with such a great actress for a long time – you are really happy to look her in the face and act out scenes. She is a special woman, and above all has an aloofness, but still total sensitivity, and that I had a lot of fun. " The actor is certain that it will be "a really great film." He also thinks he is "rougher" than the book. "It's excessive – just like the youth or our generation."
The film focuses on the city dwellers Micha (Frederick Lau) and Ghost (Luise Heyer) who are unwilling to bond and who make it difficult to get to know each other due to their "incapable of relationships" status – a fact that shapes today's relationship and dating world. He is married and has three children himself, so maybe not a good example, says Lau. "But when I look at my circle of friends … of course it plays a role that both demand and supply are so great."
Frederick Lau: "You don't really take your time anymore"
Instagram or Tinder give you the opportunity to choose from the abundance of beautiful people as you please. "It is no longer the case that you get involved with people and love. And I believe that this fast pace is simply given in our generation. Everything happens very quickly, you don't really take your time anymore."
At a certain age, in his opinion, it becomes more and more difficult to fall in love. "You go into a relationship with more and more doubts or you don't fall in love or you can no longer indulge yourself so openly and naively. The naivety is somehow lost." The younger generation in particular will continue to be concerned with the question of a changed understanding of relationships. "The older people grew up with a completely different understanding of values, with a completely different family concept. I think maybe this concept of marriage – or let's say, classic relationships according to the Christian faith – is now a bit out of date."