South African Jozua Malherbe graduated from AFDA with a BA Degree (Cum Laude) in producing. He got his start in the industry during his third year when he produced a documentary with Peter Faiman (Crocodile Dundee) for Australian television, and in 2005 he worked with Sharlto Copley (District 9) and Simon Hansen (Inspired Minority Pictures) as first assistant director on the feature film Spoon.
He has also worked on many South African long form television and film productions, including as assistant producer on Big Fellas and as first assistant director on Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa, Roepman, Superhelde, Erfsondes 2, Innocent Times and Intersexions. His passion for telling stories is constantly being pushed on sometimes rather experimental projects and his film blog (readwrite.co.za) is a filmmaker’s handbook.
Malherbe recently directed his first feature film, Wolwedans in die Skemer and directed the fourth season of Deon Opperman’s Getroud Met Rugby, which is currently on kykNET.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WANTING TO MAKE THE LEAP FROM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO DIRECTOR?
Keep at it – make stuff on your down time. You are in a position where you meet the producers and directors; it may come in handy if they know your intentions and your work!
WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN WHEN YOU STARTED OUT AS A DIRECTOR?
Don’t be precious. Your work will evolve and perfection is your enemy.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY DIRECTOR SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Producer hypnosis…
HOW STRESSFUL WAS IT TO DIRECT A FILM WRITTEN BY A FAMOUS CRITIC (LEON VAN NIEROP)?
It was actually quite cool. I thought that, if he liked what we were doing, then it must be ok… He never made us feel like we had to prove ourselves to him which is a very humble attitude to take!
ARE YOU SCARED OF WOLVES?
Only werewolves.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE BOERE-NOIR GENRE, WHICH IS HOW WOLWEDANS IN DIE SKEMER IS TAGGED?
Officially it’s a drama-thriller but I think boere-noir speaks a lot more to the film. It’s a boer interpretation of noir – gothic, dark, entertaining…you know. Noir.
WHAT ARE YOUR ICONIC NOIR FILMS?
Billy Wilder – Double Indemnity
Alfred Hitchcock – Strangers on a Train
Orson Welles – Touch of Evil
ICONIC!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ONE LINER FROM ANY FILM, NOIR OR OTHERWISE?
Wow – there’s a lot! First to mind is a scene from Casablanca.
In response to Yvonne: “Where were you last night?’ Rick answers: “That’s so long ago I don’t remember…’
Only to top it with Yvonne: “Will I see you tonight?’
Rick: “I never plan that far ahead.’
Such good dialogue throughout that film that it is still used in pop culture today!
WHAT IS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE YOU’VE HAD ON SET?
On Wolwedans we had to tie a camera to a dingy and drop it off a very rocky waterfall of about 15 metres. Coenie van Dyk, the first assistant director, decided he would go down on the dingy to secure the camera. Unfortunately the boat clipped a rock on the descent and Coenie went flying. The Canon 5D smashed against the rock and we lost the lens and the underwater housing. Coenie surfaced with eyes the size of plates. Shortly thereafter Tom Marais (DOP) was swimming across the same river a little further down to take the card to the DIT and went down a slip stream and tumbled 10 metres down a rapid. Just to add, no-one was hurt and we completed the shooting day all smiles… amazing what a crew is willing to do if they want something badly enough!
WHAT FAMOUS DIRECTORS INSPIRE AND INFLUENCE YOU AND WHY?
I love Michael Haneke’s work. It is dark and honest using medium to enhance narrative. Recently I also found Todd Solondz who breaks your soul with his super-realism. Someone who is very popular now is Nicolas Winding Refn – I think his insight into the medium is very current and his story telling methods gripping! For me a good director uses the picture medium to enhance the story and characters of the film.
IF YOU HAD ONE LAST MEAL TO HAVE ON THIS EARTH, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A delicious burger and chips. No doubt.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MENTORS IN THE LOCAL INDUSTRY? IF SO, WHO ARE THEY?
Yes. Although they may not know it. Working with Gerrit Schoonhoven, Bobby Heaney, Gray Hofmeyr, Deon Opperman, as well as Alex Yazbek (all as a first AD) taught me a lot of what I needed to know about making films. Some have strong technical inclinations while others work with actors incredibly. Just being on set with them and listening, soaking it all up gave me the tools and confidence to make Wolwedans and Getroud met Rugby.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I am currently sitting in Stellenbosch busy in prep for a teen dramedy called Thomas @. Written by Henrietta Gryffenberg and produced for kykNET, the show is a 26-part series starting in February. It’s something between Malcolm in the Middle, Swartkat and Uile.
screenafrica magazine – october 2012
