The filmmaker from Afghanistan

Tyrosize is known to many through the singing Christmas tree Eddy, but also through his other excellent videos and photos – especially from Afghanistan (Image). We asked him how he got into photography, what he experienced in the country at the Hindu Kush, and what his future plans are.

SPARTANAT: Tyrosize, how is Eddy doing? Was the dancing Christmas tree your most widely viewed video? Will Eddy be used again?

Tyrosize: Hey, Eddy is doing great. Directly after our deployment in Kunduz Afghanistan in the protection company, he has now found his place always in view right on my desk. So to speak as inspiration and encouragement on unproductive days. It at least shows you how easily you can create a viral video with simple means. Of course, "Eddy The Singing Christmas Tree" has had the widest reach of my videos to this day. Everything just fell into place: a small mechanical Christmas tree that can sing and dance, thousands of kilometers away from home during Christmas time in a foreign deployment, many people thinking of all the soldiers in deployments, and then a way to send a small greeting back. I was also pleased that so many different media outlets picked up the story. So Eddy was able to reach a much larger audience than would have been possible "only" through my YouTube channel. Will there be a remake? I think not. If something special happened, you shouldn't ruin it with a copy of the original or a sequel. At least that's my opinion. The video in its original form will definitely be shared again this Christmas. But there will be no remake. That doesn't mean I won't try to build on Eddy's success

SPARTANAT: How did you get into making videos yourself?

Tyrosize: It all started in May 2012 with the fact that we would be deploying to Afghanistan in early November 2012. The basic idea was to capture the pre-deployment training and unit bonding in the form of videos. On the one hand, to give the folks back home an insight into our field of work and on the other hand, to record shared experiences with the comrades. A documentation of our development and capturing snapshots. That's when I discovered my passion for filming and editing videos. Later in the deployment, I decided to buy a DSLR camera. I just wanted to take filming to a new level. To make a qualitative leap, so to speak. It's amazing what you can do nowadays with these small cameras. The intention was to use our rare free time to familiarize myself with the camera and practice a bit. Since using a camera doesn't just mean capturing still images, I also started taking photographs. You can see pictures from Afghanistan on my website (www.Tyrosize.de or on Facebook). In a way, it all started with the pre-deployment training. Filming was my companion, my creative outlet, and is now my passion.

SPARTANAT: You were only known by your artist name Tyrosize for a long time. How did you make it to Afghanistan?

Tyrosize: From November 2011 to the end of March 2013, I was deployed as an instructor for the support forces in Wildflecken. Right at the beginning of April, the pre-deployment training for Afghanistan was imminent, as were various training area stays. Since we are actually a tank company in our "service routine," but were supposed to be used as an infantry unit (security platoon) in the deployment, the platoons had to be restructured and filled due to personnel strength. This meant many new faces and a different environment than what we were used to. In November 2012, we then deployed to Afghanistan as the security platoon of the protection company. The name really became known during the deployment. On the one hand through the Christmas video, and also because Heckler & Koch became aware of my pictures – above two H&K MP7 – and shared them on social platforms.

SPARTANAT: What impressed you most about Afghanistan? Is there a film about it?

Tyrosize: I was deployed for 4.5 months as a squad leader with three subordinate soldiers. During this time, you got to know the concept of camaraderie from a completely new perspective. After all, you had to rely 100% on your squad. Of course, we had practiced various scenarios in the pre-deployment training. However, it's completely different when you sit face to face in a TPz Fuchs every day in close quarters, go on patrols together, and have to learn to trust each other blindly. When a European enters a country like Afghanistan, it feels like exploring a completely different world. The country is marked by poverty and the living conditions are difficult for us to imagine. It almost seems as if time has simply stopped at a certain point. What impressed me greatly is the vast landscape (see above) with its different facets. From barren deserts to green oases, from kilometers of flat plains to giant mountain ranges, there is really everything to be found and it captivates you, even if you only experience it on the periphery and know how dangerous it can become behind every corner. There is no film about my deployment and the various impressions. After all, my core mission was a different one. I tried to capture the various impressions in the form of pictures. You can find some of them on my Facebook page or my website (www.Tyrosize.de)

SPARTANAT: You are back now and so well known that the Bundeswehr wants to keep you on. What are you doing now?

Tyrosize: After my video "Eddy The Singing Christmas Tree" became such a big media success, I was offered an internship in the central editorial office of the Bundeswehr. Under the campaign Wir.Dienen.Deutschland (We.Serve.Germany), I was given the opportunity to support the production of image films and photo series. And that's where I've been until now. Let's see what the future holds for me. At least I have found my passion. Filmmaking/photography has given me the opportunity to turn my hobby into a profession.

TYROSIZE, real name Oliver B., is from Rudolstadt in Thuringia. He is 29 years old and originally trained as a carpenter. However, he ended up becoming a soldier for a certain period of time, most recently holding the rank of Oberfeldwebel and originally serving as a tank commander on a Leopard 2A5. His hobbies include filming, photography, motorcycling, traveling, and snowboarding

HERE you can find Tyrosize's website.

HERE you can find his Facebook page.

HERE you can find Tyrosize on Youtube.