Production has started on a full-length adaptation of a short film, Karate Kallie, which developed something of a cult following during its frequent airings on M-Net last year. The film takes its name from the hero, Karate Kallie, the chubby, love-struck schoolboy victim of a psychotic bully, will be making his big-screen debut next year.
Executive producer Charl Groenewald says virtually the entire team responsible for the original Tshwane University of Technology production of Karate Kallie has been assembled for the feature film.
Produced by Pia van Rensburg, writer/director Wimpie van der Merwe is at the helm once again. The original cast of Wynand van Vollenstee (Kallie); Mike Smuts as his brother, Mike; Leani Lerm playing his love interest, Annetjie; and Petrus Harmse in the role of bully Fritz (“Gee my jou brood of ek skop jou dood’) is supplemented with several seasoned actors including Marga van Rooy, Ben Kruger, Henrietta Gryffenberg and Richard van der Westhuizen.
Newcomers Solomon Cupido and the feisty Carmilla Mosavel will also feature in the movie.
“We’ve received tremendous support from a range of people in putting this production together. Puma Video, a well-known film equipment rental company, for example, is providing state-of-the-art equipment to us at exceptionally competitive rates,’ Groenewald adds.
The film addresses that age-old high school nightmare of not fitting in. For tubby Kallie, it gets even worse because he’s starting at a new school where he won’t fit in either, and even worse than that, Kallie falls for the bully’s sister.
As always, Kallie is assisted in his valiant efforts by his brother, Kung Fu aficionado and tow-truck extraordinaire, Mike, as well as by his new friend, the (equally) socially inept, Airhole.
Karate Kallie will be distributed next year by Ster-Kinekor Distribution
