Jannik Schümann: How do you play a meth junkie without drug experience?

Jannik Schümann (28) plays Eric Stehfest (30) in the bestselling film "9 Days Awake" (Sunday, March 15 at 8:15 p.m. on ProSieben and Joyn), who, in his autobiography, describes his drug past and Crystal's consumption Meth speaks. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, he explains why Schümann lost weight for the demanding role and how his friends helped him through the difficult shooting time.

The "bad boy" role is rather unusual for you. Were you afraid of not living up to expectations?

Jannik Schümann: I had a huge desire and at the same time the highest respect and also doubts about the role. When I saw Jannis (Niewöhner, editor's note) in "Beat", I thought I was unable to play something like that. In addition, I have never used drugs. Playing a drug frenzy and being 80 percent of the film high was completely new territory for me. I didn't want it to look like a caricature and people look at me that I haven't had a drug experience yet, even though you can't compare crystal meth to the popular party drugs. In addition, playing with Eric someone who is still alive and not that much older than me increases the pressure because you don't want to disappoint him.

How can you play a drug addict if you have never experienced it yourself?

Schümann: I have prepared myself intensively with my colleague Peri Baumeister and our coach Jens Roth. He is known for his very physical coaching and has said that people used his training to model an LSD trip without having used the drug. Then I knew: this is my husband! The filming afterwards was exhausting and very intensive.

With such an intense story after the shoot did you manage to switch off?

Schümann: We were shooting in Berlin, so I didn't have far home and had my friends around me. In my closest circle of friends there is no one from the industry, we met in the evening and talked about completely different things. It was a good way to get down. And our director Damian (John Harper, editor's note) went crazy and always asked me if I could go home like this. Some days it didn't work, then we went for a walk in the forest to shake the emotions out.

You lost several kilos for the role. How did you feel at the time?

Schümann: Because of my kickboxer role in "So close to the horizon" I already had fitness experience and knew how best to lose fat. It takes a lot of energy if you start giving up everything weeks before the shoot, even fruit, because there is fruit sugar in it, only drinks water and does not consume any more carbohydrates. At the same time, you need a lot of strength for the shooting, which you have to manage well.

Why was weight loss important to you?

Schümann: Production didn't require that, but I wanted to believe myself that I would end up in a rehab clinic, and that was only visually a few kilos less for me. I had my goal in mind and knew that I would have to go through the 25 days and then I would get a result that I am satisfied with.

You have dealt intensively with the topic: What is your impression of the information situation about chrystal meth in our society?

Schümann: I didn't find a lot of articles or documentaries online to prepare for the role, so the exchange of information with Eric and reading his book helped me a lot. I believe that series and films that are well researched can make a big contribution. Through "Breaking Bad", crystal meth became known to the masses, which was also the first and only time for me that I had come into contact with the drug before.

Could you imagine more "dark" roles?

Schümann: It is very lucky for me which different and extreme role models have come to me recently, it can go on like this. For example, shortly after "9 days awake" I shot for the new Netflix series "Tribes of Europa", in which I play a sex-fluid lust slave – from being a drug junkie to lipstick and blush, that was crazy.