Constantin boss Martin Moszkowicz (65) spoke in connection with the allegations against director and actor Til Schweiger (59) on the set of “Manta, Manta – Zwoter Teil”. In an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, he explained: “I take the allegations very seriously and we have started an intensive investigation.”
The Chairman of the Management Board of Constantin Film AG explains the collaboration: “We made a number of films with Til Schweiger in the 1990s, but we haven’t worked together for the last twelve or fifteen years.” Last year, two films were made by and with Schweiger: “The best is yet to come” and “Manta Manta – Second Part”.
The first production went smoothly, “the second one had some very unfortunate incidents,” confirms Moszkowicz. “I ask for your understanding: as an employer, we have a duty of care to all employees, including Til Schweiger,” he says. Alcohol consumption during working hours, at work, during filming “is out of the question for us”. That was stipulated in the contract. “As an employer, we must and want to offer a safe workplace that is treated with respect.”
To ensure this, Constantin “formulated a ‘code of conduct’ long before this matter hit the media.” For more than a year there has also been “an independent, external person of trust whom every employee can turn to if there is something to complain about, while maintaining anonymity”.
Regarding the specific allegations by crew members that “Spiegel” made public a week ago, Moszkowicz said: Til Schweiger was “apparently heavily intoxicated on the day of shooting in question – was prevented from starting work on the location by a Constantin Film employee. In the ensuing altercation, there was an assault.” For this, the filmmaker received a “warning with the threat of termination and damages in the event of a repeat incident”.
“I hope Til gets his problems under control,” says the Constantin boss in the interview. At the moment, no further projects are planned beyond the two films that have already been produced.
