Since he was six years old, John Savage has only ever had two passions: music and
film. His latest movie Stone Cold Jane Austen, is a comedy featuring two wannabe
musos who will do just about anything to break into the local rock music scene. In
reality, Savage is anything but a wannabe, having been the lead singer of local rock
group Cassette and a 5fm DJ.
What is your experience in the film industry prior to Stone Cold Jane
Austen?
JS: I was always making films when I was kid. I actually made my first feature film
when I was 19 years old – a TERRIBLE Hitchcockian black and white thriller that
played at cinemas in the Eastern Cape for a time. I had my own film company,
Kryptonite Productions, for a few years and worked as a director for Terraplane for
a few years. And I’ve always been involved in documentaries and film projects.
Even during the Cassette years, we were always making crazy videos.
How does someone go from musician, to radio presenter to filmmaker?
JS: My passion is making things! Music, films, stories, art, noise, trouble, etc. Even
when I was on radio, I treated each show like a performance in which I would have
to create content.
When did you realise you wanted to direct a feature film?
JS: I was eight years old and was watching a Bruce Lee film called The Big Boss. I
saw him jump over a 10 foot high gate and I thought: “How the heck did he do that?’
I took my dad’s Panasonic camera into the garden and started working out a way to
recreate that moment. I’ve been hooked for life.
Describe yourself in three words
JS: Always in trouble.
What is your favourite one-liner from a film?
JS: “You shoot me in a dream, you better wake up and apologise,’ – Mr White,
Reservoir Dogs.
What songs make up your most recent music playlist?
JS: Alabama Shakes is the hottest band on the planet right at this moment. Fact.
How has your background as a musician shaped you as a director?
JS: I think they go hand-in-hand. I’ve just finally been able to make a film about
music which is perfect for me!!!!!
What was your most memorable moment on the set of Stone Cold Jane
Austen?
JS: The absolutely incredible stunt driving by the guys at Hard Drive who literally
drove their asses off and risked their lives for the most stunning car chase! That
was incredible to be a part of.
Who are your favourite SA entertainers?
JS: I still think that Rob Van Vuuren and Louw Venter’s The Most Amazing Show was
one of the greatest pieces of television ever! aKING are one of my favourite local
bands. Laudo is so insanely talented, he blows my mind. I think Reason is a genius
too.
Which international actor would you love to direct in a film?
JS: I keep coming back to this question and I’m struggling to answer it. The reason
is that the story/idea always comes first in my brain. I’d need to know what I was
shooting before choosing the person that I’d like to direct in it. I’m not interested in
“directing’, I’m interested in creating stories.
Who would you like to work with in the local industry?
JS: Rob. Oh wait, I just did.
What would surprise Screen Africa readers most about you?
JS: I tried to start a project that would transform the local film industry when I was
22 years old. I worked on it for three years before it broke my soul into tiny pieces.
I’m better now, thanks for asking.
What do you think are some of the defining characteristics of the South
African creative industry now?
JS: The industry is changing dramatically internationally. Locally, creatives are very
isolated. Everyone is finding their own way. It’s cool but it would be cooler if there
were more collaborative groups of people working together.
What are your top three favourite films and why?
JS: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho – Not to be a cliche but this is the greatest film of all
time, ever. Its tone, its pace and its clever storytelling has never been beaten.
There’s just something about it that is so original and that can’t be duplicated by
anyone. I think that has been my single most inspirational film ever.
Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof – This little independent Tarantino film reignited my
love for filmmaking after coming to terms with the fact that I would probably never
make a proper film in my life. It was so small and low-budget, yet so brilliant and
exciting that it lit my brain on fire. Tarantino is such a natural storyteller that it
physically hurts to know that you can never make a piece of cinema as good as
him.
Garth Marengue’s Dark Place – This is not a film but a hugely influential comedy
show on my life. It is such a crazy concept and executed so brilliantly that I highly
recommend the effort to find it if you have a warped sense of humour like I do.
– Carly Barnes
