8 ZEUGEN (original title)
UFA FICTION GmbH • Series & Sequences • TVNOWEight-part series inspired by the work of scientist and bestselling author Dr. Julia Shaw
A kidnapping, eight witnesses and a legal psychologist specializing in memory research who tries to uncover the truth. Staged as a gripping intimate drama, the new TVNOW original 8 WITNESSES tells the story of brain researcher Dr. Jasmin Braun (Alexandra Maria Lara), who investigates the question of whether we can really trust our own memories and the factors that manipulate them. Filming for the new eight-part series based on an idea by Jörg Lühdorff and Christian Rohde began in Berlin on July 21, 2020.
In addition to Alexandra Maria Lara (“Der Fall Collini”, “Control”), Ralph Herforth (“Unter anderen Umständen”, “Angst in meinem Kopf”) plays the role of Robert Dietz, head of operations, and Ceci Chuh (“Die Unerzogenen”, “Charlotte Link – Die Betrogene”) as detective Nadine Schröder. Sylvester Groth (“Deutschland83”), Nilam Farooq (“SOKO Leipzig”), Hanna Plaß (“Think Big!”), Rauand Taleb (“4 Blocks”), Milena Tscharntke (“Alles Isy”), Johann von Bülow (“Herr und Frau Bulle”), Hannes Wegener (“Der gleiche Himmel”), Hendrik Heutmann (“Unterleuten – Das zerrissene Dorf”) and Ursula Werner (“Der Junge muss an die frische Luft”).
Content:
When the ten-year-old daughter of a prominent politician is abducted during a visit to a museum, brain researcher Dr. Jasmin Braun, whose specialty is memory research, is asked to assist the police in questioning the witnesses. Her point of view: in certain situations, our brain is unable to distinguish between what we have been told and what we have experienced. So Jasmin questions eight witnesses: from the nanny to the eager student to the museum employee.
Each episode of the series shows the interrogation of a different witness. And at the end of each episode there are two questions: Who can contribute to solving the case with their memories? And who is possibly involved in the kidnapping themselves?
Those responsible for 8 WITNESSES
Christian Rohde, Creator and Producer UFA Fiction: “Dr. Julia Shaw’s fascinating insights into our brain and our memories immediately fascinated Jörg and me. Our aim is to tell an exciting story with a completely new perspective and approach as a condensed chamber play. Alexandra Maria Lara as Dr. Jasmin Braun is a great stroke of luck for our series and we are proud and grateful that she wanted to take on this exciting and challenging task right away!”
More information about 8 ZEUGEN
The work of German-Canadian legal psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Julia Shaw served as inspiration for The Witnesses. In her non-fiction debut THE TRUGGERS MEMORY, Julia Shaw uses neuroscientific and psychological findings to explain why we cannot rely on our memory – and which memories we can really trust. In 2016, THE TRUTHFUL MEMORY became an international bestseller. Julia Shaw has been a consultant for 8 ZEUGEN since the book’s development.
Die Zeugen is part of TVNOW’s cross-genre fiction offensive – in cooperation with RTL and VOX. Produced by UFA Fiction, a total of eight 25-minute episodes will be produced for TVNOW. Producer and creator of the series is Christian Rohde, producer is Viktoria Barkhausen. Head writer and creator Jörg Lühdorff, who wrote the scripts together with author Janosch Kosack, also acts as director. On the TVNOW side, Nico Grein is executive producer, under the direction of Frauke Neeb and Hauke Bartel. Supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, filming will take place in Berlin until the beginning of September.
Production facts
CAST
Dr. Jasmin Braun
Alexandra Maria Lara
Robert Dietz
Ralph Herforth
Nadine Schröder
Ceci Chuh
Johanna Weiher
Hanna Plaß
Carla Perera
Nilam Farooq
Amin Halba
Rauand Taleb
Max Felsner
Sylvester Groth
Ruth Meller
Ursula Werner
Dr. Konrad
Johann von Bülow
CREW
Producer
Christian Rohde
Head author
Jörg Lühdorff
Author
Janosch Kosack
Production management
Holger Krenz
Production management
Daniel Pfennigstorf
Producer
Viktoria Barkhausen
Direction
Jörg Lühdorff
Customer
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