Chilling with Lukas Podolski

This commercial for Smartmobil was quite simply the dream job for the young actor: a day off school, flying to Cologne, chilling with Lukas Podolski, gazing casually out over the Rhine and, as the script demanded, having a proper good laugh. The setting of the shoot alone was beyond reach for most: on the roof of one of the three famous Kranhäuser at the Rheinauhafen in Cologne sits a football pitch. Not Bundesliga-sized, admittedly, but still large enough to serve as a backdrop for Lukas Podolski and Oskar Redfern. "I know so many people who would give anything just to meet Poldi once. The funny thing is that I'm not a big football fan at all, and of all people I was the one who got to film this commercial. But it was really cool, because just the day before Poldi had played his last international match, and then we met him the next day. Totally wild!" Oskar also got to experience first-hand what it's like on set when someone famous like Lukas Podolski is involved. "Everyone was extremely nervous beforehand, because word was that he doesn't much like waiting. But then he was totally relaxed, greeted everyone, gave everyone autographs and took selfies — really easy-going." Football fan or not, Oskar naturally didn't pass up the chance to get a photo with Poldi himself. It makes a great memento, after all! The shoot then went just as smoothly as the meeting with Poldi. The spot even features a take that wasn't in the script at all, but Oskar and the other lads on the substitutes' bench played so easily with Lukas Podolski that a spontaneous improvisation turned out better than the script. A clear win for the players, then!