press kit - Wonderphil Productions

This is not my first experience working with young peoplein the industry and also not my first experience of first-timeproducers, but given the choice I would happily work withthis team again.Director ofPhotographyJORRIE VAN DER WALTWith a University degree in Visual Communication and topstudent I started my career in the industry. I worked forHomebrew Films for 3 years where I gained experience incamera work, steady cam, lighting and sound. I started myown production company called Empty Canvas Productionsand won numerous local and international awards from bestmusic video to best cinematography.My experience ranges from DOP on feature films, commercials,documentaries, short films, series, music video’s and TVproductions. Credits include Klein Karoo (Feature film), TheSouth African Story with Archbishop Desmond Tutu andcommercials for Johnson & Johnson and Samsung. ModernMigration and Endangered Wild Life documentaries forNational History Unit. As well as various local productions forMnet, Kyknet, Mzanzi, SABC and Super-Sport. I do my workwith excellence and aim to be the best in what I do. Creative,attention to detail, focused, hard working and a team playerare some of my best qualities.Describe working in the Little Karoo and specifically theSwartberg MountainsI will always remember my first experience of the location.We were en route to the first location recce in August 2011.Just after Calitzdorp we turned onto the dirt road leading tothe Swartberg Pass. This simple dirt road changed withinkilometres into the most beautiful landscape I have everseen. This was my first sighting of the Rooiberg and I thoughthow privileged we are to be able to tell our stories.Klein Karoo is set against the backdrop of one of SouthAfrica’s most beautiful landscapes and without doubt myfavourite landscape. It was such a wonderful experience towork in these surroundings. You can point your camera invirtually any direction and you have something impressivein your frame. I think the film showcases the various facetsof the surroundings and how diverse it is. Catching this oncamera was certainly not dificult.What were the most memorable aspects of working onKlein Karoo? Any anecdotes?The last scene of the film where we were chasing time. Wewere not chasing light, but our own schedule and had just 40minutes to shoot the scene before two of our actors had tobe at the airport in George. It was the wrong time of the daywith the harsh sun turning the road into a mirage. There wasa thin cloud in the sky and we figured that this would justprovide enough shadow for us to shoot the scene.The moment the sun disappeared behind the cloud westarted shooting and miraculously the cloud shielded the sunfor about 15 minutes, giving us time to shoot the scene. Idon’t know how we would have shot that scene if it were notfor that magic cloud.What camera did you use and what motivated yourchoice?We shot on the SONY F3 with a PiX 240 recorder. The F3 hasan easy work flow with the Pix 240 that allowed us to watchset rushes relatively easily. It is always useful to see how youcan cut things together. We also used a lot of dolly trackingwhich works well with Regardt’s style of directing.Describe working side by side with RegardtIt was a huge privilege to be working with a legend of theindustry. Regardt is one of the easiest people to work withand someone I look up to. He has so much experience and yethe is always willing to listen to suggestions.What were your greatest challenges?My biggest challenge was working within the time constrantsthat we had, but I suppose that time is always a challenge.