Life is no bed of roses, no walk in the park, and free artistic interpretation not even a token gesture when, as an actor, you work under an egocentric, hot-tempered star director. In the web series "Für Umme", everything revolves around the creative doings of just such a diva, into which Martin Semmelrogge was able to pour decades of experience with the most varied directors. "As a young actor I always told directors they were welcome to push me hard. Not to grind me down, of course, but to push me. I actually love it when a director wants something. I cope well with that." For the actor it was a gift to step over to the other side for once and play the entire keyboard of emotions without restraint. The model for the role was meant to be Dieter Wedel. As chance would have it, Wedel had just approached Martin Semmelrogge about a new production while the actor was preparing for the web series shoot. So Martin Semmelrogge could tell Dieter Wedel there and then that he was about to play a star director just like him. No problem for Dieter Wedel — on the contrary, he immediately enquired about the broadcast date. Above all, Martin Semmelrogge was able to ask him how he handles difficult situations on set when the collaboration with the actors isn't working. "Is no one here going to help me?" he bellows. Whether this insider moment made it into the series remains to be seen. The director of "Für Umme", Vlady Valentin Oszkiel, did not bellow, but he happily had scenes played twice and three times over until they were just right. For Martin Semmelrogge it was a wonderful collaboration. Dressed in black and equipped with the obligatory director's scarf, he could do exactly the same in his role as a directorial diva, having an ungifted actor say over and over: "Life is no bed of roses, it's a clip round the ear." Until it was just right.
A Directorial Diva to Perfection
