SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: South African film producer, AFDA
Durban head and 2015 Simon Sabela Lifetime Achievement Award winner Richard Green shares with Screen Africa some of the things he has learned over the last 40 years of working in the industry. With films like Spud and District 9 under his belt, the filmmaker looks forward to his next film venture and to contributing further to the growth of the local industry.
When did you know you wanted to be a filmmaker?
When I was around 12 years old I used to sell ice-creams in the cinema in the
Strand – I had to wait for the credits to come up and decided that I wanted the
biggest credit, one day!
What do you think are three good guiding principles for burgeoning
filmmakers?
Believe that you can. Investigate and live your craft – there are many great
filmmakers that came before you – familiarise yourself with them.
What is the strangest thing to happen to you on set?
A pig being shot through a shack! I had just arrived on the set of District
9 and had to take over as first assistant director.
What has been the highlight of your career?
It’s still to come, but for the moment having my two young sons with me on the red carpet
as I received my lifetime achievement award.
Are there any filmmakers who have inspired you or influenced your work?
Mannie Van Rensburg; a great friend and mentor who once told me: “There is no
such thing as a small scene, only small production managers.’
What is your favourite African film, and why?
My favourite African film is Taxi to Soweto as I feel it was ahead of its
time. It was the first film to take white South Africa into black South Africa and to
find a black South African protagonist. I also happened to produce the film and it
was my last film with Mannie – check the very last shot in the film, its Mannie
waving goodbye.
What does the future of film in Africa look like to you?
Bleak…. We need to find a narrative that we can sell….
What projects are you working on now?
Coded – my very first venture into sci-fi and virtual reality. Watch this
space!
What is your favourite one-liner from a film?
“Play it again Sam” – I love Casablanca, it’s why I got into films.
What did it mean to you to win the Simon Sabela Lifetime Achievement
Award?
I’m not sure. It’s great to receive the award but I feel that I have so much more to
contribute to the South African film industry, and I will, not sure you can get it
twice!
What do you do when you aren’t making movies?
Spending time with my family, I have been throwing cricket balls for 25 years!
What has been your proudest moment as a filmmaker?
When I was dating my wife and we went to the premiere of my film
Praise which I had directed – people came up to congratulate me and
she had no idea of what was happening, she was impressed.
