These features as a way for the Ministry to highlight artists, musicians, writers, and makers of all variety. With so many talented individuals to choose from, we know it is a challenge to feature every clever creative worthy of note, but perhaps we might endeavour to introduce to you a new name in our community of steam and cog, or perhaps remind you of one artisan’s successful efforts to bring the past that never was to the here and now.
 This week’s Æther Feature by Marcus Gilman for January 23rd 2014, is now submitted for your pleasure:
We are a community of artists called Evil Kraken, with seven active members from various artistic walks of life united by one vision: We want to show steampunk from Germany is alive and kicking!
On the 27th of December 2013 the teaser for Aetherangelegenheiten was shot. The primary set and filming location is Essen (Rhine-Ruhr area) but the setting is actually Baden-Baden in the foothills of the Black Forest in 1912. More episodes will follow in 2014. Aetherangelegenheiten
is of course a German language production but all episodes will receive English subtitles.
Evil Kraken are:
Stefan Holzhauer, webdeveloper, publisher and journalist, Remscheid
Sylvia Kretschmar, artist, Remscheid
Jörg-Sven Pispia a.k.a. George P. Schnyder, film maker and screen writer, Tönisforst
Mathias Heilmann, webworker and actor, Essen
Stefan Pfannmüller, maker, props, Gelsenkirchen
Nino Bagus, maker, leatherwork and props, Essen
Anja Bagus, author, Essen
Inspired by the World Of Æther-novels by Anja Bagus we had the idea to visualize those in short movies. The novels are set in a parallel world, where a mysterious substance, the Aether has appeared and is both a blessing and a curse. With it, you can create airships and other advanced
technology, but it also spawns monsters. The Amt für Aetherangelegenheiten (i.e. Aether Affairs Agency) is an excellent startingpoint for any number of adventures. Wolfmen collide with Prussian civil servants, and »modern« technology and gadgets with uber-correct archiving procedures.
In the laboratories of the Agency, the things the intrepid agents recover from their expeditions into the aetherial fog are analyzed with typical German efficiency. Soldiers protect the populace and the Agency is always listening for reports of strange happenings out there.
And since every Kraken has eight tentacles, the final one is the steampunk scene, which we want to get as involved with the project as possible. Apart from professional actors for the main roles many steampunks will join the cast and crew because there is great demand for employees at the Agency. Everybody can apply for a vacant position in the Ministry. Our goal is to show that steampunk is alive in Germany, that Steampunk does not have to be set in Victorian London and the British Empire. We showcase German steampunks, their wonderful creations and of course we want to provide great entertainment. The website is growing day by day and we will upload pictures and other material soon. An English version of the site is in the works.
You can find out more about the project at aetherangelegenheiten.de or on our Facebook page.