The psychological thriller Retribution completed principle photography in June. The film is the theatrical debut of acclaimed commercials director Mukunda Dewill, stars Joe Mafela and Jeremy Crutchley, and is produced by Philip Key. Moonlighting Films (Skin, Invictus) is the production company behind the film.
The project was financed by Moonlighting in partnership with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), that is also distributing the film locally.
Dewill conceptualised that film so that the financial demands would be limited but still look impressive. It has a high impact script supported by powerful performances and set against the backdrop of a single location. The film was made for a budget similar to that of a two day commercial but according to Dewill looks and feels like a top-end thriller in the tradition of Hitchcock or the Coen Brother’s No Country for Old Men.
Crew include DOP Miles Goodall and editor Richard Starkey.
“It was important that we had good crew, flat deals, great food and willing participants,” says producer Key, “We wanted to ensure that everyone took away something from the project. For some participants it was the chance to move up the ladder, for others it was the exhilaration and challenge of working on a streamlined project that was uncompromising in realising maximum value on the screen through a disciplined and innovative production process.
“Everyone had to up their game and find new and creative ways to make it work, and everyone delivered. For Moonlighting suppliers it was also an opportunity to co-invest in a project with a major client. Nobody was in it for the money but nobody had to work for free.”
The 90-minute film was shot in 14 days on location in Bot Rivier just outside Cape Town.
Moonlighting’s Marvin Saven constructed an innovative finance plan that made the most of the NFVF contribution coupled with a mixture of financial benefits available to local filmmakers as well as private equity. “With this type of project and the financing model we were able to deploy, we are confident that we have the makings of a production and financial template that really puts the power into the hands of the filmmaker and gives both the producer and the financiers a genuine chance at box office return”, says Saven.
The sound track is being composed by James Matthes and Daniel Matthee with the sound mix mixed by Simon Ratcliff at Sound & Motion. “We look forward to a great product that should illustrate that good films (from both a critical and commercial point of view) can be made for a minimal budget if the right approach is adopted from the ground up.”
Retribution expects to have a rough cut ready by mid July and aims to premier at forthcoming international film festivals.
