Survival Handbook

Due to burnout, David is prescribed exercises by his doctor. He then sets out on a survival tour, equipped with a brand-new guidebook. With a manual, David wants to transfer the control he knows from his modern, civilized life to the wilderness, but this fails fatally, as nature has it's own laws.
Tagline: The desperate attempt to get back to nature and yourself by acting strictly according to the instructions of a manual instead of letting yourself go with the experience.

  • Rodja Martin Tröscher
    Director
    The Prisoner, The Kid, Pandemic Picnic, Corona Dating, Primeday, Reborn
  • Rodja Martin Tröscher
    Writer
    The Prisoner, The Kid, Pandemic Picnic, Corona Dating, Primeday, Reborn
  • Rodja Martin Tröscher
    Producer
    The Prisoner, The Kid, Pandemic Picnic, Corona Dating, Primeday, Reborn
  • Rodja Martin Tröscher
    Key Cast
    "David (Survivor)"
  • Axel Fischer
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 24, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rodja Martin Tröscher

Rodja Tröscher was born in Berlin and raised in Cologne, Germany. After graduation from high school he started gaining experience performing in a theater group and in TV series. In 2000 he finished a three years digital media designer apprenticeship and became engaged as a graphic designer in a renowned advertising agency. But with his passion for acting, he moved to Hamburg in 2003 and attended the acting school. Completing his training in 2006 he has followed this career until in 2010, when he wrote his first short film and feature script. Since then Rodja Tröscher has produced and directed several award winning films.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film was shot in Berlin and in the Harz Mountains. The shooting went over 5 days. The main part of the shooting was accomplished just by Photographer Axel Fischer and Director and Actor Rodja Tröscher. Parallel to the filming, a „Behind the Scenes“ film was shot. The film was shot in UHD resolution with the new Sony A7s III.

As a filmmaker, I wanted to shoot a comedy film that uses as little language as possible and still is very entertaining. I was looking for a concept to represent our influence by our civilization and society and the difficulty for each individual to find his own way. Another theme is the current trend of outdoor adventures and guide books. It is not enough to buy a book and then run into the wilderness for a day to be happier and fulfilled in life. We have to change inside of ourselves.