LES AUTRES STUDIOS supported a fashion spread with Jannik Schümann for SCHÖN MAG!, which was photographed at Kino International in Berlin.

The actor can now be seen in the series ‘Disko76’, which was filmed in Berlin and Budapest with DoP Felix Poplawsky. In 1976, the disco wave takes the German town of Bochum by storm, shaking up the lives of Doro and her sisters. At the disco, they can live out their dreams and desires – and forget all the limits of normal life for a moment. In the lead roles are Jannik Schémann, Luise Aschenbrenner, and Jonas Holdenrieder.

SCHÖN MAG on the shoot: “Meeting Jannik Schümann is like meeting a long-lost friend. Outside a cafe in Berlin, Schümann meets Schön! at a time when both Spring and his career are in full bloom. The German actor is equal parts warm and approachable as he chats about his latest project, the mini-series. The series focuses on Doro, a woman who flees from her marriage, discovers disco, and falls for Robert, played by Schümann. It’s a role that, in a way, has made his career come full circle. He grew up as a child in the rural quarter of Hamburg and found a passion for music, dance, and theater. ‘Disko 76’ blends the aesthetic of the 70s and the secret discos where people were free to be who they are. For Schümann, who has championed characters and projects that uplift lesser-known stories, it’s a place to explore the societal norms in Germany in the 70s and what they meant for women. Meeting up for lunch, Schümann sits with Schön! to discuss what drew him to the role, why Germany needs to support more queer representation in the media, and more.

SCHÖN MAG interview by Raoul Keil : What was it about your character Robert in Disko 76 that drew you to the role?
Okay, I was drawn to it because of different things. I love to dance; it was always my dream to be part of a dance film. I grew up with John Travolta movies like ‘Grease’ and ‘Saturday Night Fever’. My favorite film is ‘Billy Elliot’. I saw the film when I was nine years old. From that day on, I was able to relate to Billy very much. I always wanted to be part of a dance film. That’s one reason, plus there are no dance film genres in Germany; it doesn’t really exist.

SCHÖN MAG:  Not anymore. It was like a period in the ‘80s.
There was one production a few years ago, but this was more like the Flying Steps breakdance style. I was always waiting for a dance film or series, and then ‘Disko 76’ came around. That’s why I liked the project in general. In addition to that, what I really liked about Robert is that in the beginning, in the first episodes, you just think that he is the cool dance god on the dance floor. He’s like this typical, mature boy, but then you get to know him much better and you understand why he is doing what he does without saying too much. He experienced lots of bad things in his past, and he’s just looking for answers. That’s why he is in the western part of Germany – we tell the story of when Germany was still separated. I always look for characters who are not black or white, not good or bad. I’m looking for the in-between….

Tell me what you think should be normalized.
Queer life and the community need more representation. Last month, I saw ‘All Of Us Strangers’ with Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, and it was so special because, even if it was a queer story, their sexual orientation is not the main focus but the universal fear of losing your parents. So it is not a ‘queer film’ but a drama. In Germany, it would just be a ‘queer film’ and the actual premise of the film wouldn’t be that important. Our problem is that we’re always categorizing it that way, almost like queer life weren’t normal yet.

Yeah, it’s stereotypes a lot, and people think that queer stories means a love story.  
Exactly. People wouldn’t watch it because it’s a queer story, and they wouldn’t be interested in that. The things the characters are struggling with are universal – they aren’t queer topics. I look forward to seeing more [queer stories] and also to being part of more queer projects in Germany without stereotypes.

The complete interview and making-of video are available via SCHÖN MAG!

CREDITS
Talent Jannik Schümann @jannik.schuemann
Photographer Alexander Courtman @alexandercourtman
Styling Gianluca Cococcia @wowgue
CD+Production Dirk Meycke @dirk.meycke
Grooming Sabrina Reuschl @sabrina.reuschl
Photographers Ass. Sinan Kollmar @sinan.kollmar
Video Markus Ostermeier @markusostermeier
Talent Management Marie-Claire Kozik @marieclaire.kozik
Location Kino International @yorck.kinogruppe @kinointernational
 
27.06.2024 show complete article

LES AUTRES STUDIOS produced for SCHÖN MAG! The editorial is an ode to individuality and an exploration of identity, photographed by Alexander Courtman. Dirk Meycke was in charge of styling male model Vitus Gundolf in looks by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Emporio Armani and more. Grooming: Niklas Kemmler.
 
27.06.2024 show complete article

We are delighted to welcome LES AUTRES STUDIOS here on GoSee, who offer creation and production in a one-stop shop. Les Autres Studios are synonymous with high-quality editorial publications and stylish campaign productions. For which transparency and the involvement of clients throughout the process from concept to creation are essential. Whether to reshape a brand narrative, create a campaign or curate a magazine that becomes a collector’s item – Les Autres Studios will bring your vision to life.

They are behind INSIGHTS QUARTERLY, the exclusive magazine of Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. Under the executive of Creative Director Dirk Meycke and journalist Anja Delastik, the team captures the very luxury, sophistication and cultural exuberance for which the house is known. For the quarter-annual magazine with a page count of 48 to 56 pages in big paper format, they are in charge of everything from editing to creation, handling and marketing.

Plus, the team also realizes editorials, campaigns and concepts. We present Dirk Meycke, creative director and founder of LES AUTRES STUDIOS, in an interview for you here on GoSee.

GoSee : Dirk, you are the founder of the boutique agency LES AUTRES STUDIOS. What inspired you to take this step?

Dirk : During my time as art director for Condé Nast, from 2011 to 2016, where I was responsible for Mercedes-Benz magazine and developed She’s Mercedes, I learned a lot about the creative processes and collaborating with various brands. In 2016, I co-founded the sustainable streetwear label PHYNE, which I headed as creative director until 2022, and also co-developed the first Vogue Collection. In parallel, I had the pleasure of developing the first issues of Focus Style in 2018 for the agency storyboard. When I left PHYNE, I treated myself to a tiny sabbatical so I could come back fresh and start something of my very own.

GoSee : You are now responsible for the magazine of luxury Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, which is published four times a year. How did the collaboration come about? Could you tell us about the production process behind the magazine?

Dirk : The hotel itself has been my most loyal client for over a decade. In the beginning, with only one title a year plus a book. Together with Anja Delastik (former Chief Editor of Cosmopolitan) and a small but very skilled team, we then developed and realized the concept for INSIGHTS QUARTERLY BY HOTEL BAYERISCHER HOF. As the name suggests, the magazine comes out quarterly, and that now for the eighth time. It is extremely progressive with regard to layout and has loads of great insight and perspectives in store for readers. IQ is created and marketed completely by us. The latter of which poses entirely new challenges (laughs).

GoSee : Is it safe to say that your focus is mainly on celebrity shoots?

Dirk : No, not entirely. First and foremost, it’s about creating added value for guests. Informing them what’s going on in town or at the hotel. We are extremely lucky that many artists have strong ties to the house, which puts a very good and well-established network at our disposal. And also why we have famous celebrities in interviews in each issue, which are then often produced by us directly including a fashion editorial. Take, for instance, our latest issue for which we have the wonderful Florence Kasumba on the cover and in an interview.

GoSee : What’s the story behind how you created LES AUTRES STUDIOS, and what exactly do you do? Who could your services be of particular interest to?

Dirk : We created LES AUTRES STUDIOS because we wanted to develop creative and made-to-measure solutions for our clients. We offer a broad range of services, including branding, editorial design, photography and publishing. Services that are interesting to everyone looking to create a unique and top quality visual identity – from luxury hotels to fashion companies or, of course, other creative lines of business.

GoSee : What made you choose the name LES AUTRES, and what’s your ‘secret sauce’ compared to other agencies?

Dirk : LES AUTRES is French for ‘the others’ and reflects our approach of doing things a bit differently to maintain our competitive edge, while always keeping a close eye on the demands of our clients. We highly value transparency and quality in our projects. Our team is small but extremely experienced and is assembled individually according to the needs of our clients in order to bring their vision(s) to life. They benefit from our strong international network and our superpower of rethinking how things are done.

Here on GoSee, Dirk and his team present us several spreads, celebrity portraits and editorial topics. If we’ve sparked your interest in a collaboration, a style consultation, or if you have editorial requests or others, feel free to contact LES AUTRES STUDIOS directly.
27.06.2024 show complete article