[on casting Abendland (1999)] ...the actors are professional, but most had no experience of film. So "Abendland" was the first feature for the main actress, Verena Jasch, but she has done a few theatre things before. (...) I don't have any fixed ideas about it. For example, the main actor, Wolfgang Michael, was for many years one of the important actors of the 'Schaubühne' theatre in Berlin. So he is a really experienced actor in theatre, but this was the first feature film he has made. I just liked him a lot. But for sure, if someone is comes from a completely different background like theatre, there are many things you have to destroy. For example, the overacting, which is very pronounced normally in theatre actors. It's hard work to reduce the acting to minimalise their gestures. [1999]
