Paul Kalkbrenner’s ‘Kablemann’ Unravels the Search for Human Connection

Electronic musician Paul Kalkbrenner presents "Kablemann," a 12-minute music short film created to accompany his upcoming two-track EP. This project, developed in collaboration with creative agency Mother Berlin, Smuggler and Berlin-based film production company Zauberberg, offers a visually rich exploration of connection and isolation, seamlessly blending music with cinematic storytelling.

Part one is the emotional story arc of an outsider. Kabelmann searches for human connection, hindered by a mysterious energy flowing through his cables. Small flashes of the artist himself hint at the source behind Kabelmann's energy. The rhythm of Kalkbrenner's song pushes the story forward. Most encounters on Kabelmann's journey evoke rejection, aggression, and fear – except one with a mysterious woman in a diner, opening a hopeful path for our hero.

A short interlude where the artist appears again leads into the second part of the music short film. This chapter catapults viewers into a dreamlike afterlife juxtaposed with a violent showdown, leaving Kabelmann's fate ambiguous. The second song by Kalkbrenner serves as the perfect stage for the contrast between the story layers with its optimistic spirit.

Paul Kalkbrenner, who appears throughout the film as an enigmatic energy source, stated: "Collaborating with Mother Berlin again has been an incredible experience. 'Kabelmann' represents a fusion of my music with visual storytelling in a way I've never explored before."

Inspired by Mother Berlin's film concept and title "Kabelmann" (literally meaning ‘cable man’ in German) Kalkbrenner renamed his two featured songs to "Kabelmann 1" and "Kabelmann 2", originally bearing different titles.

Stefan Witteman, creative director of Mother Berlin, said: "This project was a dream brief. The idea of this character, Kabelmann, was truly inspired by the artist's analogue ways of working. Bringing Kabelmann to life, from the story arc to all visual aspects, was a truly collaborative effort."

Internationally acclaimed director Björn Rühmann helmed the project, which was shot on location in Manchester and Berlin. The production embraced an analogue aesthetic, capturing all footage on Kodak 16mm film. Practical effects dominate the visual landscape, including a costume featuring 20-meter cables trailing the protagonist. Smuggler London and Berlin-based film production Zauberberg produce the film.

Alexander Nowak, CCO and partner of Mother Berlin, commented: "This project showcases Mother's love for storytelling and that we, as a creative company, want to express our appreciation to all cultural fields."

Björn Rühmann, the film's director, added: "The process of finding our Kabelmann's destiny took forever – in a great way. We loved exploring all the ways for this character to become the perfect blend of an alter ego of the artist – and a unique, otherworldly hero that captivates the audience. To create the most cinematic vision, we worked with fantastic people such as Kevin Howarth (Actor, Kabelmann) and Krzysztof Trojnar (DP, known for his work on Baby Reindeer), just to name a few."

This project marks the second collaboration between Paul Kalkbrenner and Mother Berlin on a music video project, the agency also created the artwork for the songs – featured on all streaming platforms.

Credits

Directed by … … Björn Rühmann

Written by … … Mother Berlin and Björn Rühmann

Starring … … Kevin Howarth, Maja Bloom, Paul Kalkbrenner

Director of Photography … … Krzysztof Trojnar

Producer … … Sidney Arthur

Editor … … Gaia Borretti

Costume Designer … … Ellie Walker

Production Designer … … Max Randall

Casting Director … … Ali Fearnley

Director’s Assistant … … Kerstin Rühmann

Artist, Writer & Composer … … Paul Kalkbrenner

Label … … PK Musik

Artist Management … … Marcus Ruschmeyer

Styling Assistant … … Camila Soares

A Mother Production …

Chief Creative Officer … … Alexander Nowak

Creative Director … … Stefan Wittemann

Production Director … … Felix Eichhorn

Creatives … … Maria Rojo, Brooke Cheney

Artwork and Design … … Nicolas Bernklau

A SMUGGLER Production …

Producer… … Sidney Arthur

Executive Producer … … Joel Spencer

Managing Director … … Fergus Brown

Managing Director … … Lucy Kelly

Executive Producer … … Patrick Milling-Smith

Executive Producer … … Brian Carmody

Production Manager … … Kam Marzban

A Zauberberg Production …

Executive Producer … … Andrea Roman-Perse

Executive Producer … … Frank Siegl

Producer … … Vitor Bunkenburg

2nd Director of Photography … … Thomas Otto

2nd Costume Designer … … Alba Gador

2nd Production Designer … … Sophie Rohm

Production Coordinator … … Tommy Lee John

Production Assistant … … Alina Sander

Production Assistant … … Josefine Hüfner

Production Assistant … … Johannes Leiding

Starring …

Hooligan Leader … … Robert Rhodes

Hooligan Gang … … Ryan Lewis, Alex Walround, Bailey Houghton, William Hanson

Couple in car … … Hannah Söwery, Chidi Mbata

Woman at the photo studio … … Helen Shaw

Man on park bench … … Helmut Kiener

Extras … … Alana Lake, Grace O'Brian, Kenzia Davis, William Fearnley,

Natalie Watson, Mayur Patel, Noel Bode, Sokhna Nacoulma,

Durana Sultani-Jäger, Igor Sanduta, Ekaterina Polyakova,

Christiana Ratcheva, Felicitas Noack, Jürgen Lange,

Christopher Kempin, Mathias Günther, Alexander Berenheuser,

Giorgos Bakolas, Omotola Adekunle

Horse … … Candy

Dog … … Carrot

Service Production by Antfarm …

Producer … … Fin Mulligan Wild

Production Manager … … Molly Singer

1st Assistant Director … … Ben Eve

2nd Assistant Director … … Lewis Brindle

Location Manager … … Jack Hartley

Location Assistant … … Steve Cooper

Runner … … Lydia Shenton, Lois Griffiths, Sean Tant, Ellie Fox

Steadicam Operator … … Will Lyte, Charlie Cowper

Focus Puller … … Tristan Haley, Jacob Bestgen

2nd AC … … Andrea Ramirez

Clapper Loader … … Luis Zarzo

Camera Trainee … … Fran Oscroft

Grip … … George Needham

Grip Assistant … … Luke Moir

Gaffer … … Chris Georgas, Pablo Cañellas

Electrician … … Senan Flude-Fear, Greg Donovan, Jordan Beaumont, Kat

McHugh

Art Director … … Orla Lawn, Georgia Fairman

Art Assistant … … Helene Rohm, Ed Kelly

Hair & Makeup Designer … … Katie Wrigley

Hair & Makeup Artist … … Natalie Burrill, Guerdy Casimir

Costume Assistant … … Chris Henderson, Lauren Coe

Special Effects & Stunt Coordinator … … Martin Shenton

Special Effects & Stunt Assistant … … Reece Shenton

Catering … … MADE Catering

Coffee Van … … DC Coffee

Medic … … Paul Scott

Security … … Capricorn Security

Camera & Grip Equipment … … Panavision

Lighting Equipment … … Panalux

Location Equipment … … Shoot Support

Location Facilities … … John Luktevitch

Editor … … Gaia Borretti

Edit House … … Trim Editing

Edit Producer … … Polly Kemp, Joseph Henshaw, Harry Watts

Colourist … … Toby Tomkins

Colour Producer … … Charlie Morris

VFX Supervisor … … Denis Reva

Compositing Supervisor … … Mykhailo Yefimenko

VFX Producer … … Judy Ziermaier, Max Marvin Kuper

Compositing Artist … … Marcus Eich, Alexander Marschner, Birger Schirrmeister

Online Artist … … Monty Chaudoir

Title Animation … … Nikita Iziev

Visual Artist … … Olga Stachowska

Storyboard Artist … … Eric Nosal

Styleframe Designer … … Ashton Thornton

Music Composition … … Paul Kalkbrenner

Sound Design … … Soundtree

MD / Music Supervisor … ... Jay James

Sound Designer … … Henning Knoepfel

Sound Engineers … … Henning Knoepfel

Foley … … Henning Knoepfel & Jack Patterson

Song ‘Beautiful Dreamer’ … … Performed and arranged by Luis Almau

Singer … … Chanele McGuinness

Creative Agency … … Mother Berlin

Production Company … … Smuggler

Production Company … … Zauberberg Productions

Service Production Company … … Antfarm Film Services

Edit House … … Trim Editing

Color House … … Harbor

VFX Studio … … RGB alpha

Sound Design … … Soundtree

Design … … Bureau Bernklau

Score …

‘Kabelmann 1’ … … Paul Kalkbrenner

‘Kabelmann 2’ … … Paul Kalkbrenner

‘Beautiful Dreamer’ … … Luis Almau, Chanele McGuinness