At the beginning of the year we didn’t even have a concept for it, but we just really wanted to make a film. Something reasonably simple that we could run through the workflow planned for ‘5Fingers’. Something short, that we could write based on locations and cast we want to use, yet still be an original concept. Something we could do without much funding…

What we came up with is going to stay on the lowdown for now, but we’ll give more out when it’s nearing completion.

A month later, we had already shot it, and in that short time some talented and dedicated people got involved, as well as some extremely helpful facilities. If it wasn’t for them we would have never pulled it off. It pretty much turned into a collaboration on all fronts, because there was such little time and it was made purely for creative purposes. In a way it just turned into a ‘potjie pot’ of individuals doing whatever was needed to get this sweet thing made. Meat, onions, carrots, castle milk stout and all.

It turned out a bit longer and bigger than we originally planned for, and in total was an 8 day shoot. We shot 4K on the RED, thanks to Public Pool, and had a very solid grips and lighting package  courtesy of  Media Film Service. Richard Keppel Photography got very involved and also helped us in many ways. The Propfather, Braam & Co and Props to the Stars gave us access to great props and dressing, and huge thanks to Willow & the team at Propfather for even letting us film in their warehouse, you’ve gotta check out that place. And thanks to the girls at Zootee Productions for helping us with a RED on the last day.

So we’ve got a pile of post ahead of us, but looking forward to getting this baby done well, so wish ‘Sweetheart’ good luck on her journey ahead, she seems very cool.

Watching. Waiting.

Is Beast really as mean as he looks? Maybe. Probably.

No Rest for the Wicked.

Definitely. But Beast is also the dance teacher at the Lady Grey Arts Academy, responsible for a lot of the great routines in their Lion King performance (We saw it probably about 2 1/2 times in the end, plus rehearsals. Can you feel the love tonight?). The talent at the school in all fields is overwhelming and we’ve spent a lot of time this week in informal casting and improvisation workshops with kids from grade 3 to 11. We’ve also spent time in Khwezi Naledi taking photos and trying to document the scores of local faces. There are a good few thousand to choose from, so it’s not an easy job. And plenty more meeting and exploring to be done. There really is too much to see in one trip.

We’re scheduled to head home for the 1 November and it’s like time is falling away beneath our feet. It’s tempting to stay longer… feels like there’s always more and more to do. Story work is going slowly but steadily… the strands are starting to interweave and the saga of the Five Fingers is coming together. Good meetings with an enthusiastic Mayor Dumzela and members of his exec committee have made this week a very positive one. As have more amazing finds; we’re attracting them like flies. These include:

A train graveyard, in Queenstown. Dead and dilapidated train engines and carriages dated as far back as the steam engine era, side by side in an old depot. Waiting to be needed again. Wishing for the feel of cold steel under their wheels as they thunder through the veld. Wanting to be loved one last time. We’ll love you, little trains…

The Old Marseilles Express

Was a real accidental ‘corner-of-the-eye’ find. Thank God eyes have corners.

The Scene of a Crime

Other adventures this week: Dam swimming with what must have been half of the town’s kids, in ice cold mountain water. The mega storms have continued, almost all day and all night for literally the last 5 days. It’s getting insane. The up-sides have been some great water flow over the dam wall, as well as lightning shows to make you wet your pants, from excitement or from terror, whichever you prefer. Down-side was the 18 hour power out. More adventure: Mammoth drives to East London airport (14 hour round trip in gently does it gently does it SweetFace) and an impromptu trip to the town of Elliot for a beer fest, where we made some new friends. On the way back Mike ran over a poor little creature, but neither of us got a proper look at it. Last thing he remembers is a cute little face looking up in terror. And not forgetting that we were invited to a cabaret supper at the Arts Academy, which was a lot of fun.

We really do need to thank the Arts Academy – Mr Bekker, Mr Hattingh and all of the staff – which has been a great ‘host’ to us during our stay here.  Way too many people to thank for being so hospitable during our stay but while we’re on the subject, a shout out to a few of our other haunts and hosts in Lady Grey: In no particular order, the ladies and gents of Anny’s Cafe, The Grey Lady, Boer’s Pub 2, The Butcher House Deli, At Home B&B, Comfrey Cottage and the Mountain Inn Hotel. Not to forget our landlord John at Baggers and Packers Hiking Halt and of course our neighbour Tannie Charlotte. Baie dankie almal.

For Marseilles.

Ride hard, cowboys.

Thanks for all the positive feedback and messages of support. Not feeling too isolated yet…. Here some new pics. A video diary to follow soon as we can overcome the internet.

The Plains of Marseilles

Amazing finds the last week include a number of great plains mountains and valleys, a network of deep trenches – as if the ground has been torn apart, an abandoned train tunnel (& railway line), an immense gorge that is home to a large vulture colony – see next video diary – and who knows what else… just too much to keep track of…

The Abandoned Train Tunnel

Mini adventures this week include getting Sweetface stuck in a flooded river, locking her keys inside her in the middle of absolute nowhere farmland and getting stalked by baboons in mini ravines. Not forgetting the good things: many hours of pristine farmland travel, sunset horseback safaris (thanks Louise), the Lady Grey Arts Academy’s staging of The Lion King (!!) and getting Sweetface scrubbed clean… before completely trashing her again the next day. Then there’s swimming in the overflowing dam, the mega storms and the sunsets on the mountains, farms and the top of the gorge. And of course a visitor

The Elder Statesman

We’ve clocked up almost 5000km of road travel in the last 2 weeks. Yes its mega. Road warriors are we. Zoom zoom. Lastbutnotleast: big ups to our Motel brethren Mitchy and Tube, hope alls well with your souls and see you soon younguns.