The online film “The Sock Pig” is the story of a shrewd and savvy entrepreneur from the Franconian province, who created a business idea around his unique pet. Thomas Göbel and his specially trained truffle pig, hunt down lost socks for his clients; a service for which a high price is charged. The business is successful, until people start replacing their washing machines with ones from OTTO.
Cultural / Context information for the jury
Humorously, the film tells a tale which solves the mystery of how socks become lost in washing machines.
The story takes place Franconia – a cultural region of Germany that stretches across Northern Bavaria – and all characters speak in their local, Franconian dialect.
Furthermore, characteristics of that particular province and its people are mocked, such as their consumption of wine (for which the region is well known), their love of afternoon coffee and cake (with whipped cream), amongst others.
Tell the jury about the casting process.
The cast had to portray all roles in an absolutely authentic way.
Therefore, half of the ensemble was made up of Franconian actors who are mainly active in the theatre and who barely have any TV presence. The other half of the cast was made up of local amateurs from the wine villages Rödelsee and Iphofen (near Würzburg) in order to create an overall impression that is charmingly real.