WEEKEND MUSIC PT. 36: IN CONVERSATION WITH 6LACK
Photography by Ronald Dick; Interview by Carolin Desiree Becker
IN CONVERSATION WITH AARON ALTARAS
Aaron Altaras is already known from various areas – and he knows how to bring his own personal touch to all of them.
With the joint music project “Alcatraz“, created together with his brother Leo Altaras, they provided the answer to contemporary electronic music and translated it into Italo disco, in which they explore their Italian roots. Aaron has already appeared in several films and series, including „Nicht alle waren Mörder“, a 2006 drama by Joe Baier, and the 2020 Netflix mini-series “Unorthodox“. Currently, he can be seen in the Disney+ historical drama “Deutsches Haus“, based on the 2018 namesake novel by Anette Hess.
“Deutsches Haus” is set in Frankfurt in the year 1963 and depicts a journey into a personal past, a time that was partly hushed up by an entire generation and is characterized by feelings of guilt, suffering and unpleasant truths.
We were able to talk to Aaron about his journey through the past during filming „Deutsches Haus“
Aaron, you are active in many creative scenes – how did you get into the different industries and what excites you about each area?
There are different responsibilities and workflows but the intention is always the same I guess. Isn’t it a very German thing to think that there are isolated mutually exclusive industries…
To what extent do your experiences and developments in the different areas influence your creative energy in the others?
Interesting. Working with my brother is very autonomous, self-expressive, and conceptual. Acting is very collaborative and psychological and less perfectionist but also emotional. So I guess they relate. and fashion is fashion.
Especially in acting, you could say the majority of the films you appear in are political in a way – why is that important to you? How can film make society think or rethink?
It feels important to me then, even if it might not even be.
“Films won’t change the world, but help us understand it. It’s an emotional step in the right direction.”
In a way, the series “Deutsches Haus” is rather hard fare and deals with some dark chapters of German history. Immerse yourself in the emotional complexity of playing *DAVID MILLER in a series with such a deep historical background. How did you walk the fine line of the depth of representation without getting lost in it?
David Miller is very angry about the injustice, and that these men still walk freely after what they’ve done. He also struggles with the German ignorance and the arrogance of the Nazis. I can definitely relate to that. That’s painful anger.
How did you break away from the role after filming ended?
I traveled to Iceland and went into the hot springs. Recommend 10/10, also without a series.
With Annette Hess at the helm, “Deutsches Haus” should be full of nuanced storytelling. Can you share a particular scene or dialogue that challenged you as an actor and pushed the boundaries of your craft?
Seeing the court scenes with the Polish actors and the Germans was heavy. The stories from the survivors and the smug of the Nazis. Uncomfortable.
What effect do you hope “Deutsches Haus” will have on the audience?
It’s always a good idea to strive for justice. Fuck Nazis forever.
What is the role of your future?
In February I am shooting a cinema film about a world that I like a lot. Vague, I know.
If you look at the current world: What three things would you want to change immediately?
stop war, (re)learn public discourse, plant trees
