Thomas Bader, director of photography, 2nd unit dop, camera operator, Cologne

Known for

©Thomas Bader (Opticplot)

Black Moon (WT)
2019-2020
Director of photography, director
©Netflix

We Are the Wave
2019
Camera operator
Louis van Beethoven
2019-2020
Steadicam operator
© Pearl Pictures

84-06
2019-2020
Director of photography
Gespensterjäger
2013-2014
1st assistant camera

Fictional movies as director of photography

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2025	Die Landarztpraxis	TV Series, SAT.1 [de]	Multiple	filmpool entertainment GmbH
2023	The Only Way (WT)	Short Film	Fabian Linz	Fabian Linz Produktion [de]
2021	The Human Game (WT)	Teaser (Series Concept)	Melina Gammersbach	Girl With A Plan Media, Melina Gammersbach [de]
2020	Try To Survive	Short Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]
2020	Black Moon (WT)	Series Pilot	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]
2019	84-06	Short Film	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]
2019	Turn of Events	Short Film	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]
2017	Mind Yourself	Short Film	Jannik Pape	SAE Institute (Hamburg) [de]
2017	Out of Revenge (WT)	Short Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]
2016	There Was To Be Peace (Webseries)	Series Pilot	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]
2015	There Was To Be Peace (Web Series)	Series	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]
2012	Kämpferherzen (WT) Red Epic X	Teaser (Film Concept)	Christoph Schuhmann	Christoph Schuhmann Produktion	Red Epic X
2011	Update (WT) RedOne MX	Short Film	Pascal Schröder	Trabantenfilm	RedOne MX
2010	Bad Hero (WT) Canon D5 Mark II	Short Film	Falk Schultz	Matt X Productions, Matt Zemlin	Canon D5 Mark II
2009	From the Grave (WT) RedOne 1:2,35	Short Film	Umberto Schramm	Umberto Schramm Produktion	RedOne 1:2,35
2007	Autsch (WT) 35mm ARRI 435	Short Film	Lillian Rosa	KHM Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln [de]	35mm ARRI 435
2004	Tagebuch von Melek MiniDV	Short Film	Enes Tokyay	Eatfilm, Enes Hakan Tokyay	MiniDV

Advertising/Image/Music videos as director of photography

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2020	Pix4me - Die Bildverwaltung	Commercial	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]
2019	L'Oréal - Barber Talks. Mario Götze	Commercial	Harun Hazar	Film Deluxe GmbH
2019	Urbanlife - Bokx (WT)	Corporate Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]
2018	Kuechenspezialisten CH - David Candaux, Uhrmacher	Commercial	Harun Hazar	Escape Filmproduktion GbR [de]
2017	Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH - 100-jährige Bestehen	Corporate Film	Jo Siegler	Maakii Media & Communication Services
2017	Stimming - 10 Jahre Stop motion video clip	Music Video	Harun Hazar	Harun Hazar Produktion [de]	Stop motion video clip
2016	Fielmann - CleverLens. Kontaktlinsen richtig reinigen	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Kayak - Wallet Holiday	Commercial	Doug Perkul	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Fielmann - Kontaktlinsen-Service von A bis Z	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Fielmann - Kennen Sie schon den Kontaktlinsen-Service von Fielmann?	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Fielmann - Kontaktlinsen-Service. Bequem geliefert	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Jobware - Bungee-Sprung	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Comdirect Bank - Trading App. Einfach. Überall. Handeln.	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2016	Channa - Revolution	Music Video	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]
2016	Gordon Geco - In my Dreams (WT)	Music Video	Inci Demirbas	Pearl Pictures [de]
2015	HomeToGo - Suchmaschine ins Glück (WT)	Commercial	Andreas Groke	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2015	Dreamlines - Clevere Kreuzfahrten	Commercial	Andreas Groke	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2015	Schlafwelt - Einbrecher	Commercial	Pascal Schröder	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2015	Jobware - Ja, Ich habe den Job!	Commercial	Andreas Groke	Dentsu Creative GmbH
2014	Bäckerei Büsch - Klingende Weihnachtsgrüße (Webfilm) (WT) Epic Dragon	Corporate Film	Pascal Schröder	Pascal Schröder Produktion [de]	Epic Dragon

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Non-fictional movies as director of photography

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2019	Klimaschutz e.V. - Energetische, prozessübergreifende Optimierungen	Educational Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]
2018	Uniklinik Köln - Hygiene im Krankenhaus (Patientenfilm)	Educational Film	Anselm Diehl	Szenefilm Diehl GmbH [de]
2016	Little Bastard - Wacom	Short Documentary	Harun Hazar	Harun Hazar Produktion [de]
2007	Hayme Ana (WT) hist.SpielszeneDVCProHD Türkei	Documentary	Enes Tokyay	Mavi Productions [tr]	hist.SpielszeneDVCProHD Türkei
2006	Lowlight 16mm & MiniDV New York	Documentary	Julian Neville	KHM Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln [de]	16mm & MiniDV New York
2005	Beweg Dich mein Ochse MiniDV Brasilien	Documentary	Harun Hazar	KHM Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln [de]	MiniDV Brasilien

Fictional movies as 2nd unit dop

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2020	Tatort - Rhythm and Love	TV-Movie (Series), WDR [de]	Brigitte Maria Bertele	Bavaria Fiction GmbH
2018	Tatort - Kaputt tageweise	TV-Movie (Series), ARD [de], Degeto [de], WDR [de]	Christine Hartmann	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	tageweise
2018	Tatort - Weiter, immer weiter tageweise	TV-Movie (Series), ARD [de], WDR [de]	Sebastian Ko	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	tageweise
2018	Der Kommissar und das Meer - Lichterfest 2 DT	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Thomas Roth	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	2 DT
2017	Ella Schön - Das Ding mit der Liebe 1DT Frankfurt	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Maurice Hübner	Dreamtool Entertainment GmbH	1DT Frankfurt
2013	Heiter bis Tödlich - Koslowski & Haferkamp 2 DT	TV Series, WDR [de]	Multiple	Nordfilm GmbH [de]	2 DT

Fictional movies as camera operator

Year	Title	Genre	Director of photography	Producer	Comment
2023	WaPo Duisburg tageweise B-Cam Staffel 3	TV Series, ARD [de], WDR [de]	Marc Stoppenbach	Warner Bros. ITVP Deutschland GmbH	tageweise B-Cam Staffel 3
2023	SOKO Köln tageweise	TV Series, ZDF [de]	Nicolay Gutscher	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	tageweise
2020	Falk Staffel2 Block 1 2DT	TV Series, WDR [de]	Multiple	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	Staffel2 Block 1 2DT
2019	We Are the Wave 4DT C-Cam	TV Series, Netflix	Jan-Marcello Kahl	Rat Pack Filmproduktion GmbH [de]	4DT C-Cam
2019	Eine Klasse für sich tageweise B-Cam	TV Movie, WDR [de]	Peter Nix	Filmpool Fiction GmbH	tageweise B-Cam
2019	Tatort - Niemals ohne mich Tageweise B-Cam	TV-Movie (Series), WDR [de]	Peter Nix	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	Tageweise B-Cam
2019	Das Wichtigste im Leben tageweise B-Cam bei DoP Pascal Schmit	TV Series, VOX [de]	Multiple	Bantry Bay Productions GmbH	tageweise B-Cam bei DoP Pascal Schmit
2019	Unter anderen Umständen – Lügen und Geheimnisse B-Cam	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Nicolay Gutscher	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	B-Cam
2019	Marie Brand und die Liebe zu viert tageweise B-Cam	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Nicolay Gutscher	Warner Bros. ITVP Deutschland GmbH	tageweise B-Cam
2019	SOKO Köln tageweise B-Cam bei DoP Friederike Heß	TV Series, ZDF [de]	Multiple	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	tageweise B-Cam bei DoP Friederike Heß
2018	Tatort - Väterchen Frost B-Cam Tageweise	TV-Movie (Series), WDR [de]	Carl-Friedrich Koschnick	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	B-Cam Tageweise
2018	Karlstown	Teaser (Film Concept)	Hosam Sidou Abdulkader	Lonely Donkey Films GmbH [de]
2018	Sankt Maik B-Cam	TV Series, RTL [de]	Multiple	UFA Fiction	B-Cam
2017	Neben der Spur - Sag, es tut dir leid tageweise	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Moritz Schultheiß	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	tageweise
2017	Tatort - Mitgehangen tageweise	TV-Movie (Series), WDR [de]	Kay Gauditz	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	tageweise
2017	Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei tageweise	TV Series, RTL [de]	Multiple	Action Concept GmbH	tageweise
2016	Tatort - Nachbarn tageweise	TV-Movie (Series), WDR [de]	Theo Bierkens	Bavaria Fiction GmbH	tageweise
2016	Tatort - Wacht am Rhein	TV-Movie (Series), WDR [de]	Kay Gauditz	Bavaria Fiction GmbH
2016	Babylon Berlin 1DT NRW Plate-Unit	TV Series, ARD [de], Degeto [de], Sky [de]	Multiple	X Filme Creative Pool GmbH	1DT NRW Plate-Unit
2015	Der Zürich-Krimi - Borcherts Abrechnung	TV-Movie (Series), ARD [de], Degeto [de]	Nicolay Gutscher	Graf Film GmbH

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Advertising/Image/Music videos as camera operator

Year	Title	Genre	Director of photography	Producer
2021	Aldi - Sylvie Meis Sommerkollektion 2021	Commercial	Fabian Hothan	Craft Deutschland GmbH
2019	Aldi - Schneekoppe. Philipp Lahm	Commercial	Silvio Helbig	Sterntag
2016	Saturn - 365 Tage Tech-Talk	Corporate Series	Fabian Hothan	Markenfilm Crossing [de]

Shows/Live/Events as camera operator

Year	Title	Genre	Director of photography	Producer	Comment
2016	Serdar Somuncu - H2 Universe. Die Machtergreifung	Event Recording	Stephan Boerger	Banijay Live Artist Brand GmbH

Fictional movies in other activities

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2020	Try To Survive	Short Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]	director
2019	Louis van Beethoven	TV Movie, ARD [de], Degeto [de], ORF [at], WDR [de]	Niki Stein	Eikon Media GmbH [de]	steadicam operator
2019	Black Moon (WT)	Series Pilot	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]	director
2019	Turn of Events	Short Film	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]	steadicam operator
2017	Out of Revenge (WT)	Short Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]	director
2014	Die Mutter des Mörders	TV Movie, ZDF [de]	Carlo Rola	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	1st assistant camera
2014	Die Wallensteins - Dresdner Dämonen	TV Movie, ZDF [de]	Carlo Rola	Ziegler Film GmbH & Co. KG	1st assistant camera
2013	Gespensterjäger	Feature Film	Tobi Baumann	Lucky Bird Pictures	1st assistant camera
2013	Helen Dorn - Unter Kontrolle	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Matti Geschonneck	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	1st assistant camera
2013	Helen Dorn - Das dritte Mädchen	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Matti Geschonneck	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	1st assistant camera
2013	Dr. Gressmann zeigt Gefühle	TV Movie, ARD [de]	Niki Stein	HR - Hessischer Rundfunk [de]	1st assistant camera Steadicam / Operator B-Cam
2013	Ohne Dich	TV Movie, ARD [de], Degeto [de]	Florian Baxmeyer	Odeon TV (merged into Odeon Fiction GmbH)	1st assistant camera Oberator B-Cam
2012	Zeit der Helden	TV Series, arte, SWR [de]	Kai Wessel	Zero One Film GmbH [de]	1st assistant camera
2011	Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter	TV Movie (multi-part), ZDF [de]	Philipp Kadelbach	TeamWorx Television & Film GmbH [de]	1st assistant camera
2011	Vater Mutter Mörder	TV Movie, ZDF [de]	Niki Stein	Studio Hamburg FilmProduktion GmbH [de]	1st assistant camera
2010	Bad Hero (WT)	Short Film	Multiple	Matt X Productions, Matt Zemlin	editor
2010	Nord Nord Mord	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Josh Broecker	Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH	1st assistant camera A-Camera, Teilweise Operator B-Camera
2010	Von Fall zu Fall - Stubbe - Kassensturz	TV-Movie (Series), ZDF [de]	Kaspar Heidelbach	Polyphon Film GmbH	1st assistant camera
2010	Hanna	Feature Film	Joe Wright	Sechzehnte Babelsberg Film Gmbh i.G. [de]	1st assistant camera 2nd Unit B-Camera
2010	Morgen musst du sterben	TV Movie, HR [de]	Niki Stein	HR - Hessischer Rundfunk [de]	1st assistant camera Operator 2nd Camera

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Advertising/Image/Music videos in other activities

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2019	Urbanlife - Bokx (WT)	Corporate Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]	steadicam operator
2019	Urbanlife - Bokx (WT)	Corporate Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]	director
2016	Channa - Revolution	Music Video	Hussain Abdullah	Pearl Pictures [de]	steadicam operator
2015	ARD Lindenstraße - Jubiläum	Teaser	Alexander Steinhoff	Markenfilm Crossing [de]	1st assistant camera
2009	Adidas Fußballtrikots WM 2010 - White Jersey (Internetspot)	Commercial	Ted Kjellsson	Tempomedia Filmproduktion GmbH	1st assistant camera
2007	SIL Fleckensalz - Gelassenheit	Commercial	Bernard Wedig	Laterna Magica Filmproduktion GmbH	1st assistant camera 35mm
2006	Volkswagen AG - Touareg - Probefahrt	Commercial	Markus Steiner	Mpg Media Picture Group GmbH [de]	1st assistant camera 35 mm
2006	Volkswagen AG - Concept A	Corporate Film	Markus Steiner	Mpg Media Picture Group GmbH [de]	1st assistant camera 35 mm
2003	Nickelback - Figured You Out	Music Video	Uwe Flade	QFilmproduktion [de]	1st assistant camera
2003	Curse feat. Gentleman - Widerstand	Music Video	Pascal Heiduk	Discofilm [de]	1st assistant camera 35 mm
2003	Volkswagen - Designstudie	Corporate Film	Markus Steiner	Mpg Media Picture Group GmbH [de]	1st assistant camera

Non-fictional movies in other activities

Year	Title	Genre	Director	Producer	Comment
2019	Klimaschutz e.V. - Energetische, prozessübergreifende Optimierungen	Educational Film	Thomas Bader	Opticplot [de]	director
2018	Uniklinik Köln - Hygiene im Krankenhaus (Patientenfilm)	Educational Film	Anselm Diehl	Szenefilm Diehl GmbH [de]	steadicam operator

Film awards

Year	Film	Award	Category
2020	Little Bastard - Wacom	Close:Up Edinburgh Docufest [uk]	Best Cinematographer	Nominated
2017	Beweg Dich mein Ochse	Cinam WorldFest [ca]	Award of Recognition, Cinematography	Winner

Basic data

Nationality	German
Languages	English
Experience abroad	Central Europe: Austria, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Switzerland North America: USA Northern Europe: Sweden South America: Brazil Southern Europe: Canary Islands, Italy West Asia: Turkey Western Europe: France, Netherlands
Special skills	Cinemascope experience camera operating with Steadicam, Gimbal, Gearhead, Joystick, Aerial cinematography , Motion Control and flight head. All ARRI digital and analog formats All Red formats Davinci Resolve, Final Draft
Own equipment	Steadicam Artemis HD DJI Ronin RS4 Pro DJI Mavic 4 Pro Creator Combo DJI Focus Pro SmallRig Wheel Controller Red DSMC2 Helium 8K PL / MotionMount PL / Nikon / Canon OMOD Command RT and RT Motion WLCS diff. Red DSMC Accessories Cartonie C40 and Viv Matebox SmallHD Ultra Bright 7" & 5" Cine Mac Studio M1 Nisi lenses Laowa lenses Caligrid & Godox 400 Bi Nikon Z8 & lenses Westcott FJ400 & FJ800
Licences	A (motorcycle) [eu], C1 (truck < 3,5t <= 7,5t) [eu], EU Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency A1/A3 [eu], EU Remote Pilot Certificate of Competency A2 [eu]
Education	Film lab Camerarental 4 years 2nd AC 10 years 1st AC
Preferred place of work	narrativ & commercial (worldwide)
Immediate working area	Cologne
Tax residence (federal state or country)	Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia
Accommodation possibilities	Friedrichshafen

Crew United

Thomas Bader

Links

Contact

Showreel (external)

Known for

Fictional movies as director of photography

Advertising/Image/Music videos as director of photography

Non-fictional movies as director of photography

Fictional movies as 2nd unit dop

Fictional movies as camera operator

Advertising/Image/Music videos as camera operator

Shows/Live/Events as camera operator

Fictional movies in other activities

Advertising/Image/Music videos in other activities

Non-fictional movies in other activities

Film awards

Basic data