seeing the same vision

This is taken on the same day as the other still. Here we look at the samples that I have just shot of Brett and we were both impressed with the quality of the camera as well as the emotion he conveyed in that impromptu scene. One thing I have observed about him is that he is a very intuitive actor. During rehearsals I found myself not being able to articulate the direction in which a scene is supposed to go and he would come up to me and ask me if he can try something and it would work perfectly the way I saw it. I liked the fact that he took control of his performance instead of relying on my direction. There is so much I can say about Brett but thats for another time.

Brett getting in to camera: This was done after our rehearsal. This gave me an opportunity to brush up on my acting skills and it was a lot of fun playing the character that Robby Collins is playing. I decided right afterwards to take a camera and go to the park and film something with Brett. As a theatre actor, I wanted him to be familiar with the camera and to be comfortable with it at this distance. He was a natural, and the camera loved him. He has such an expressive face and every single strand of hair and line on his youthful face was visible. I guess that is the beauty of new age technology 

in anticipation of clear skies

The madness, excitement and the stress has crept in. We have only but a week to go before principal photography and to be honest...I am not sure where we are in terms of readiness. I love what the actors have done with their characters and the script. The rehearsals have been great, there is one crucial scene still to be done and this will clearly indicate how far these actors are willing to go with their characters. This is where trust comes into play. I've decided to give them freedom to interpret these scenes and let them flow before I give my input and from my observation they have been spot on. This is a new method of directing that I have applied. I have seen a much more natural approach in their delivery when they use their own interpretation.

So far so good but one major concern I have at the moment is the budget. Within a week to go we should have a clear indication of what we can achieve. This makes things difficult to plan and manage production. Up to this point I have used my resources and it has put me in a predicament....I cant postpone the shoot as I am working around my actors schedule, one day missed and the whole production suffers. I have faith that our financers will come through so I am looking up at the skies in anticipation of sunlight. I won't say more on this to keep my frustration in check.

I have promised some stills on the production so check the next post.

The light shines on

There seems to be a film movement in South Africa. This movement is taken to the streets. Local filmmakers have refused to wait for their projects to be commissioned or funding to arrive, they are just simply making their film in spite of these odds and bearing the costs. It seems that the need to tell stories is far greater and more urgent than waiting for a king size blockbuster budget to arrive.
The new Sollywood movement has been an inspiration. It is proudly South African and concerned about telling meaningful South African stories set within our community. They are aiming at creating a positive image of this beautiful country. What’s not to like about them? We have just recently seen what a unified nation can do to the image our country. It’s a great idea but I also do not think Sollywood should limit itself solely to telling South African stories. We have seen how important some of these stories are but I think we can tell universal stories while retaining our local flavour. But that’s for another day, the good news is we are seeing more and more local films being made with exciting platforms to showcase the talent such as the DIFF along with informative workshops and seminars.
Even aspirant filmmakers such as myself can showcase their talents and at local festivals and film challenges. African cinema may not win a lot of Academy awards but that still does not deter us from making movies with passion and enthusiasm. Looking up at the heavens is is indeed clear that the future is bright.

Looking up at the heavens

Auditions are frightening. The director never knows what to expect from his actors. Its frightening because this is where you find out if you have selected the right person for the right part. I look at great directors who managed to extract a tour de force performance from his actors and I wonder...at what stage of development or pre-production did he know if the right decision was made.

Did Paul Thomas Anderson know that Tom Cruise would give a bravura of a performance that would change the way people perceived him? Some directors claim to have written a part for a specific actor. I think its one thing to have an actor who fits the part (phyisically) and one who can embody the character in its entirety.

Going back to that Magnolia example, I cant see any other actor playing Frank T.J. Mackey or Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Pil Parma. That is strong and perfect casting, where the audience feels that no other actor could play that part...for an actor to clear the path for the audience in their suspension of disbelief. Aspiring filmmakers need to learn from this.

The casting for The Low dweller has been a tricky one. Choosing these particular actors has been instinctive. We have just recently completed a few scenes of rehearsals. These sessions have been quite breezy, with the lead actors going through their lines with a confidence I didn't expect. They understand the emotion needed in the scenes. They understand the meaning in every single line of dialogue.

There is still a lot of deconstruction to do, where all formal rules and principles of performance need to be put aside. That is where my challenge lies with directing actors trained in theater. It is my duty as a writer director, to make sure that my words are translated perfectly on screen.

slight movements and uphill battles

Film making can be a very frustrating experience. We have just lost a beautiful location. Its gone and there is nothing I can do about it. I had visualised the whole scene. I trully believe that these things certainly happen for a reason. Everyday is a day of descovery and new adventure. Another discovery has will be made. I can more or less visualise the finished product. Optimism is the key.

Sometimes it can be hard to remain optimistic when the odds are against you.

I had a meeting with the very inspirational Nathan 'KingB' Redpath to discuss the music for the film. After just five minutes of meeting him, I felt that we were on to something special. Rarely do you find an individual who is so obsessed about detail and the whole creative process, that I immediately felt a strong creative connection. We truly are on to a magical run here. I just hope I am enough of a conductor to make sure that all these elements come together harmoniously.

We are still very much at the beginning, but the movie is far from being skin and bone that it was a couple of months ago. The shape and the tone of what I have written will reveal itself during rehearsal/reading this weekend. This is exciting as well as frightening but with enough faith, food, coffee and cigarretes....this movement will trully be televised.

the low dweller

shorty shorts

The life of a filmmaker is an interesting one. You either spend most of your time attending back to back meetings or simply doing nothing. I don't like either one of those...I simply prefer to daydream or read. I am always interested to see what other filmmakers are doing out there, I need them as they are my source of inspiration. I admire every single one of them from those who have made 30 films to someone who has completed one short. The more filmmaker are out there, the more voices we have. I find it to be the most powerful tool we have as artists and public interllectuals as what we create has the potential to change how others think and how we see ourselves and those around us. Thats what I hope my new short 'The low dweller' will achieve.



Here is a synopsis:

Upon arriving back from self imposed exile, lacking ambition and seeking a job, Jacques ( Brett Kyd) gets embroiled in a situation that potentially puts his life and those around him in danger. After his seemingly innocent encounter with Nick ( Johnathan Tiffilin)leaves him reaching within an inch of his life, Jacques faces huge life altering decisions about his existance which he is reluctant to make,until he meets Sam (Julia Wilson) who teaches him the simple values of life and offers him what he seeks the most: acceptance.

This is a coming of age story about Jacques and his painfull transition from teenage adolescence into manhood. This story deals with challenging issues of a journey into finding one's place in society. Themes abouts exuality, love, redemption, fate and finding solace in human interaction are explored. This film has a huge educational element and deals with universal themes and social issues.