Falko Friesecke's Son's College Fund

As you may know, we sadly lost one of our own on December 13th.

Falko Friesecke, 54, was a dedicated and passionate member of our special effects team. An innovator in his field for his computer car operating systems that were groundbreaking in our business allowing us to undertake high-risk practical car crashes without putting humans in extreme danger.

Falko died doing what he loved. His death has left a piercing wound in our hearts and workplace – and an unfillable hole in the hearts of his family and friends.

Falko was a man of myriad interests and talents. He embraced each wholeheartedly. Whether it be cars, filmmaking, a jam session with his, Niko, 20, and Killian and Moritz his twin sons, 17, or a quiet meal with his wife, Daniela, Falko lived fully and cherished making small moments sweeter. At work, he found joy in tackling problems and finding solutions. Through sheer smarts and enthusiasm, he pushed his art to new heights.

In his too brief career, Falko worked on nearly 20 films, including Ferrari, Old Guard 2, Largo Winch, and Girl in the Spiderweb. On every job, he distinguished himself with a rare blend of expertise and dedication. His colleagues marveled at his incredible depth of knowledge and technical expertise. Those were talents he perfected during his time transforming the car crash research industry. Beyond his technical mastery, Falko’s enduring passion for the filmmaking process and unflappable sense of humor lifted every project that was blessed to benefit from his work.

Roman Remer, a Special Effects Coordinator on Convoy, who worked with Falko on other films, remembered his friend’s endearing modesty.

“I’ll never forget when he first arrived at Origo, someone greeted him with, “You’re the guy doing the magic, right?” Remer said. “He simply smiled and responded, “I’m just the guy doing the physics. That modesty spoke volumes about his character.”

Remer also recalled how passionate Falko had been about nailing and driving the truck off the bridge sequence and getting it just right. His wife also recalled how excited he was to use his “old system,” one last time, knowing that it would be destroyed creating something new.

Falko will be remembered by his peers for his technical genius, but also as a kind and loyal friend. He was taken too soon.

When he wasn’t at work, his entire attention was devoted to his family and his many passions, which always included his wife and children.

He was a man of music. He and Daniela met 29 years ago at the Don Camillo Choir in Baldham, Germany. There Falko sang gospel with a beautiful tenor voice and plucked the many strings of the zither. For Falko, the choir would become an elixir of life. Despite his hectic schedule, he always made time to take part in one of the choir’s celebrated performances or recording sessions.

But there was nothing more that he enjoyed than jamming out with his boys, who inherited his love of music from their dad. No matter what instruments Falko and the boys chose to play that day – the piano, double bass, zither, guitar or whatever else was in reach – the session always turned into a real blues or jazz concert.

He enjoyed his many trips with his family to locales far and wide, always making an adventure out of digesting each and every stop’s culinary, cultural and musical delights.

He enjoyed the quiet moments, the fleeting ones so many let pass. Breakfast with the boys. Movie nights on the roof for one of Falko’s favorite Bruce Willis action flicks or romances like The English Patient.

Falko was nothing, if not a man of multitudes.

Cars were his great passion. He knew everything. Anyone could ask him for advice and Falko would have the answer. Falko made every movie better.

But despite all his career achievements, Falko’s boys remained his pride and joy. He incorporated them into his creative process at every chance. Like when they hand built an old-world pizza oven in their backyard from scratch. Falko could not invite enough people over to behold their creation and taste the delicious pizza. That was his real masterpiece.

“His openness, curiosity, enthusiasm, and optimism live on in all of us!” Daniela said.

It does indeed.

Right now, Falko’s family needs all the love and support his work family can provide. We need to do what we can to help the family of one of our own.

Please consider any donation you can make so we can assist Daniela in this unimaginable time and contribute to her son’s college education and the many other financial hardships Daniela will now need to undertake on her own. Anything will help and would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.