Website approved

Can I refer you to our new website, www.blackbutterfliesproduction.com which is in continuation to what I was doing on this blog. Thanks and big up yourself

Moon of a beach

What's better than working from the edge of the coast, with the beach right across the road? I know, working with the table and chair immersed in the actual beach. That's today's base camp. No, not the latter, the former. But we are still breathing the fresh air and we managed to have lunch with a splendid view. Some would say stuff dreams are made of; but it's work as usual, and as we know, Cape Tonians are not excited by the beach anymore. It's just the Jo'burger in me going ape. I wanted to sign for four hours off "in search for inspiration" for the website. It's a good thing sanity prevailed; otherwise the medical guy would have been called to give me instant inspiration; synthesized.

We are back at the flat we were shooting in on Monday, and going by there brought back flashbacks of heat, getting lost and losing my cool. In retrospect, Monday was supposed to be enough to break me to tears, but I don't break because what doesn't kill you will try again, so I must keep my head above the water. Everyday presents new challenges, personally, for the crew, and for the actors/actresses. We just don't let it run us down; we find the humour in the tumor so to say.

On a more serious note, I suspect I'll be the director by the end of next week. I'm moving up the production ladder quite swiftly. On Wednesday I was an extra, today I was 'knocking off' traffic; which means I have to wear those ridiculously luminous Orange reflector tops and stop random people from moving around when the camera is rolling. If you study this pattern closely you'll realize my deduction and prediction of directing by end of week two. If you can't, you are probably not alone :-)

My admiration and appreciation for the props department is brewing and starting to spill over. These guys create the most amazing backgrounds for the scenes. Today we were shooting 'in a police station'; which of course wasn't really one but was recreated by my new heroes. They have thought of everything. They had missing file reports and zoomed maps that stretched over Cape Town, tracing suspects and found bodies. They even had the picture of the old man, Hendrik Verwoerd, hanging on the wall. This subtly perpetuated the theme of patriarchy and the suppressive government that was Ingrid's father and the status quo. In this scene she has to seek refuge in the station, so all these props emphasize the magnitude of her vulnerability. Much appreciation, it will make for good cinematography.

I think all matriculants from art schools should be allowed a full week on a movie set as a runner; this is the best opportunity to fully interrogate all the departments and see which one fully embodies your personality. There's something for everyone here. As for me, directing, here I come ;-)

Lights, Camera, Extras!

Today the stars were aligned (pun fully intended) for me. The morning was a slow one as call time was 05h45 again, which means maximum five hours' sleep in the last two nights. Five cups of coffee later, all of them before 9am, I was suddenly called in to be an extra. Who, me? I had to double check. What does that even mean? I mean I have been on television before, but not to act, to be interviewed for one thing or the other; so it was unnerving and exciting at the same time. Go to wardrobe and make-up, shouted my production coordinator. Okay, okay, chill, let me get into this at my own pace.

I finally got to be on a movie set for more than half a day to witness the ropes of the business. Hard and tough work. The technical crew is like a synergy of dominoes, only they are not falling but working towards standing orderly and effectively. The desired full product is like a 5000 piece puzzle of clear blue skies and not a single piece can be misplaced. We want perfection here; and of course perfection is subjective so we need to work with a common understanding. That's why the film industry is notorious for a general lack of etiquette and undesired behavioral patterns. You try building that puzzle in a few days and tell me how it works out.

So I had to be Ingrid's ouma's neighbour; just sort of blend in with the background, make the neighbourhood look real and not barren. The set was once again to-die-for. The 'poor' household was recreated in the forest, making it look really 40's, with woods, fire and other vintage props like enamel baths and old school pots and wares. I was really impressed. There were some animal handlers who brought chickens, goats, donkey carts and a very well trained dog. You never think of these things when you watch movies. I always laugh at people who think that the soapies are actually real life stuff that happens in the cosmopolitan city centres, but they will laugh last because I also never thought the dogs and other things like farm scenes are recreated. I thought a film set has such a big budget that when they need to shoot a farm scene they actually pay a farmer to use their farm (and actually take them somewhere for the day, like a spa :-)). So ja, who's fooling who (in the zoo/farm)?

My time to make my big mark came (hey, even Charlize started somewhere), and I was shaking like a weeping willow. I took a drag of something relaxing and I was into it. Tobacco. We had to just pretend to be busy in the background, which made it a bit difficult because I had to improvise - usually this would not be difficult but infront of the camera it becomes a mission, especially after nine to eleven takes. It was fun. I got to really appreciate this artform. It's no child's play. Enough respect.

Then after lunch I had to go back to my day job...

Day 2- Call time 05h45

Day two required us to be on set before the sun came up and it was not exactly the easiest place to find; not even my new GPRS could get me there (which means we are going all out to create a convincing simulacra - you just wait and see...). It's still the second day so everybody's finding their feet and trying to make the machine run smoothly. I have to big up the production office for taking this task in our stride; the production manager is organised as a calender and our productions coordinator is keeping this ship afloat. We are not doing a bad job. Today's scene was shot in the beautiful forests of Tokai, with awesome, breathtaking views and pine trees - stuff dreams are made of. The scenes were shot indoors but it is the surroundings that created ambiance for a beautiful filming day.

The set designers did a wondrous job in recreating a sixties kind of house, with every detail paid fine attention to. The house in question was found isolated and empty and it was revamped into a dream home. I could have offered my left breast to live in that house even if it's for one month. So well done set designers and props.

There were more children on today's set; which only comes naturally seeing that we are recollecting Ingrid Jonker's life story. The kids that were here yesterday played Ingrid at nine months, and today's one played her at around ten years old. At the risk of sticking my dreads into an inferno, I'm gonna reveal the secrets of the trade to those who don't know, because I sure never thought of it - Ingrid at nine months old required the casting team to find twins so that we can interchange them should one give us a problem. Clever ain't it? These people have thought of everything to ensure the success of this film. I can't wait to see the final product. Second day and we are getting stronger; this should be a cool breeze by the end of this week. Looking forward to a rewarding five more.

First day of shoot

38 degrees celcius in the shade...

The first day of shoot is suppose to be the worst for everyone involved, no matter how well prepared. For me the morning was one from hell (with the heat playing a big role). I hadn't secured my GPRS yet so there I was driving by following instinct, which I have to add, I had been doing a lot. This time around I ended up far in the opposite direction of location. I explored the townships of Cape Town; and those who are in the know will appreciate the fact that these township have since been cast on the margins of the city by the previous government- so I was very far. To get an idea, for my Jo'burgers, it was like looking for Midrand at Maponya mall; during traffic. And obviously the time was ticking and tocking. Needless to say I arrived on set, my first day, almost an hour late; after hustling an Afrikaaner traffic cop for driving 130 km/h in the bus lane. My boss gave me a strict talk but we were ready to go.

It was my first time on a movie set so everything was a big wow, though I tried to conceal it. The trucks full of wardrobe, make-up, seven star trailers for our star actors/actresses; all of it was amazing in my eyes. the shoot was in the luscious and opulent suburb of Muizenburg, where we were shooting a scene with Ingrid's flat. What I found intriguing most was the children on the set. I have always wondered about kids on location- their overall behaviour and assumed acting talent. I mean these kids were less than a year old: most unpredictable. The shoot went well nevertheless; this has most to do with the fact that the scene in question required them to cry.

The shoot was amazing, despite the sweat streaming down everyone's faces; the creative team managed to portray and relive the sixties - art imitating life or the other way around? Whatever the case, I am assured and proud to be part of this team because I foresee a brilliant shoot and even better final product.

Watch this space and I'll make sure you don't miss a thing!

Ingrid Jonker Script

Black Butterfly is a film based on sixties poetess Ingrid Jonker. Her life was charged with emotion, turbulence, poetic finesse and tragedy. This creates content for the riveting script written by Knysna-based Greg Latter. The film is a German-South African co-production and boasts some celebrity actors/actresses, mostly based in Amsterdam, Holland. Ingrid is played by Carice van Houten, a sought after actress who is the cream of the crop in the European film industry, and has also acted with Tom Cruise in the movie Valkerie.
When I read the script to the movie a few months before production I was taken by the moving and yet short existence of the poet herself. She was a genius with words but struggled with the burden of childhood and "father issues". This is well portrayed in the script as it traces the consequences of growing up in a problematic nucleus family and an even more problematic South Africa. Ingrid was a left-wing white liberal and was furthermore an artist; which all made her a deeply sensitive and humane individual. So she crumbled under the weight of her oppresive father, who symbolised the status quo at the time (himself working for the government), and the equally oppressive head of the family.
What really gives the script depth is the fact that these two oppressive forces make the movie's focus not so much about race, as about the human condition. Issues of gender, class, race, sex and the law are subtley explored with Ingrid as an active agent. It is an even bigger wonder that this script is based on a true story because it reveals the inner workings of humans living under suppression and critically explores the body politic. All of this in one human being?!
The emotions that the script conjures will create base for this riveting movie that is still in production. I will keep you updated on how production goes and the different locations we visit.

Watch the space...