Last week, a great in his field celebrated an anniversary that was worth a surprise party. Four decades ago, on October 1, 1963, Martin Fueter joined his father Heinrich Fueter in film production. Just back from his school-leaving trip and not even having unpacked his suitcases, he was told: "Martin, can you help out quickly tomorrow?" Which was probably more of a request than a plea. And since then, he has been constantly helping out at the company. "Although it wouldn't have needed me at all in the beginning, because there weren't any real commercials yet," Fueter laughed as he thanked the guests - among them former and current companions.
Some of them also had their say. Young filmmaker Simon Koller, nephew of Oscar winner Xavier Koller, produced a 60-minute feature in which relatives and friends reported on their experiences with MF. Director Patrick Senn summed it up: "Martin is primal power and pure energy." Brother P. C. Fueter said Martin was the only person who could produce a film on a professional level all by himself. And wife Christine Fueter recalled that MF, as a passionate craftsman, had initially checked when she hammered in a nail or handled the drill at home.
The funniest stories came from Geni Riedel and Carlo Venturi. When they weren't working at Studio Bellerive, they had to shoot in a hotel room with a parquet floor - no nails allowed! - had to be shot. Martin always had to cough loudly as soon as a technician took out a hammer, because without nails there was no film. Another time they were late for a meeting with old Farner. In the underground garage, Martin quickly opened the hood, smeared his hands with engine oil and pretended to the customer that he had broken down on the way.
Punctuality seems to be a fine, sore point in Fueter's otherwise flawless career anyway. Why else would the Condor employees perform a song written by Martin Suter and set to music by Alex Kirschner with the refrain "Scho da, scho wäg, scho tschpaat"? To his credit, MF said, "Actually, I'm fussy about being over-punctual - but the others constantly prevent me from being."
There was also nitpicking at the Golden Ear award ceremony in Miller's Studio. The 1998 silver winner, Alex Felix, refused to accept his prize, which he took in the jingle category with subjects for Taxi 444. He had, Felix said on stage, submitted his work in the Spots category. Which is not correct, as a look at the documents granted to Werbewoche showed. Felix submitted these works on the jingle form. So what other media were all too quick to call an "eclat at the Golden Ear" was just a flash in the pan. And that's where it stayed, because otherwise everyone present appreciated the work of the jury and the organizing committee, who make the event possible only through a lot of hard work.
Things got hot and heavy last week in Schluefweg, Kloten, as the world's best female tennis players fought fierce duels for a purse of 1.3 million dollars. Tagi sales manager Fridolin Holdener and his team were also there. They invite customers to attend the matches and have dinner with them. The tournament remained exciting until Sunday, although Patty Schnyder was already eliminated on Thursday, in the presence of Eschenmoser advertising manager Markus Schärer, Mindshare managing director Cosima Gianachi, mm&b managing director Claudia Mühlebach, Pick Pay advertising manager Sandra Ulrich or Plakanda consultant Beat Stähli. Sunday's brunch and the victory of the new number 1 in women's tennis, Justine Henin-Hardenne, were also witnessed by Reini Weber of WHS, Doris Pache of CS and Urs Mangold of cR DDB Basel, among others.
Anyway, advertisers seem to have acquired a taste for the Swisscom Challenge. Over the course of the week, agency owner Dominique von Matt, Gerry Stadler from MPG, Hardy Lussi from Pro7-Sat-1 Media, Urs Renner and Urs Rueb from Mediaedge|CIA, Urs Schneider from Schneidermedia, Ivan Schultheiss from APG, event specialist Christian Bonnot, and TeleZüri marketing manager Tarkan Özküp could all be seen on Schluefweg.
Beat Fritsch once again looks back on eventful days.
Anniversaries and awards were strung together like pearls on a necklace. At Condor, Martin Fueter celebrated his 40th company anniversary; for the twentieth time, the Swisscom Challenge (formerly Swisscom) was awarded.
Indoors) of the women's tennis team, where the Tagi invited; and the Golden Ear for the best radio spots was awarded last week in Miller's Studio. Of course, there was plenty to eat and drink everywhere - horror for the good line!
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Condor Museum - almost all the products Fueter had already shot for were on display in the studio.
Hard to believe - the young Martin met wife Christine already in school.
Nice greeting from a small agency with a big mouth - congratulations from SFLB.
Behind every successful man is a strong woman: in this case Christine Fueter.
Martin's brother P. C. Fueter with Gabi Benz, Glass - she has also worked for Condor.
Old and young companions of MF: lighting technician Carlo Venturi (l.) and Simon Koller.
From the Condor GL: Felix Courvoisier (l.) and Kristian Widmer, with Bettina Frymermann.
Reini Weber (l.) and Simone Krebs with Geni Riedel, who was studio champion at Condor.
Rudi Haller (l.), PPM, Karin Isler, recording manager, and Tönler Ruedi Guyer: Ex-Condor.
Host Fridolin Holdener (l.) with Sunny and Martin K. Parsons, Hyundai Automobile.
Peter Kettiger (l.) and Otto Meier with Monica Jäggi (l.) and Inge Willmann.
Uli and Eduard Daetwyler (l.), CEO Volvo Switzerland, with Tagi CEO Peter Hartmeier.
Presenter Roman Kilchsperger (l.) with Judith Rogenmoser and Christian Bärlocher, Bluewin.
Organizing the radio spot event with a lot of energy: Frank Bienenfeld (l.), Soldini Bienenfeld, and Leos Gerteis, NJP Studio.
In a good mood: NRJ program director Dani Büchi (l.) with Nadja Jordi from IP Multimedia and Radiotele sales manager Felix Kilchsperger.
At the aperitif: Ringier Group spokeswoman Eva Keller (l.) with Bruno Oetterli from Radiotele and media specialist Corinna Schneider.
Starter and guest speaker Michael Barney (l.), here with Dani Fäsch from Jingle Jungle, was not stingy with his satirical talent.
Script President Stephanie Hugentobler, Jürg Metz, AIE Communications, and Christoph Fuchs (r.) of D & A Diego Bally ASW.
Winning the Golden Ear for Sport Factory Outlet: Renzo Selmi, Selmi Tonstudio, and Markus Ruf (r.), Ruf Lanz Werbeagentur.
CD Matthias Schröder (l.), Schröderpartners, with Chantal Arnold from Radiotele and Communication Consultant Markus Worch.
Bettina Singeisen, Head of Communications at IP Multimedia, with Egon Blatter, who firmly believes in a concession for his DJ radio.
Marcel Geissbühler (l.), Managing Director of Radio Extra B, with Monika Schneider, BZ, and Mark Soldini, Soldini Bienenfeld advertising agency.
Arrived too late, but in a better mood: Danielle Lanz with Thomas Schöb after winning the Golden Ear award.
Astrid Tellenbach (l.), Account Manager IP Multimedia, with Daniel Siegenthaler and Bea Emch from Radiotele.
Mike Gut, here with Fränzi Büchler, is in the race for the new spot on the airwaves with his Radiomax.
Michaela Krouzel and Roger Baur (l.), both Cinecom, with Manuel Schaub from tourist guide producer The Guide Company.
Exchanging information: Thomas Denzel (l.), Managing Director at Werbe AG, with Hans Lackner, Member of the Management Board at Spot Promotion.