The two-a-day CTIFM&F COUCH CONVERSATION SERIES (17 – 20 October 2017) will be a first of its sorts for the South African film festival and market landscape. Here we will get to chat to some of the biggest names in our industry’s different disciplines, in an intimate, no frills fashion – as if we were on the couch at each other’s homes. This series will address the backstory to “it” all. The overnight “success” that took 25 years, 10 years, might still be going… Not only will this honest conversation series shed light on the humanness that’s behind that which we call SHOW BUSINESS but remind us that with great power comes great responsibility, challenges, ups and downs, heart AND ultimately the stuff that dreams are made of.
TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2017
THE TALE OF THE WORLD’S A STAGE (14h00 – 15h00) in conversation with Antoinette Louw, Christia Visser, Elana Afrika & Lee-Ann van Rooi.
Moderated by Louw Venter.
“There’s absolutely nothing special about her acting. She’s not particularly attractive. I can’t stand her. She is over 40. She is under 30. She is fat. She is too thin….” These ladies have heard it all but still they raise the bar higher. They keep going and despite some who want to see them fail, and even when they have, they simply don’t make it their problem. So is it failure or just something that didn’t work out? So with that in mind, what else can we learn about these incredible actresses behind their proverbial closed doors and their coping mechanisms that translates and transcended through their performances and into our hearts.
THE TALE OF HOW BEHIND EVERY ACTOR IS A DIE HARD AGENT AND CASTING DIRECTOR – OR NOT (16h00 – 17h00) in conversation with Christa Schamberger Young, Adrian Galley and Suzanne Smith Boje.
Moderated by Adrian Galley (SAG).
In Hollywood the casting director is recognized as a vital ingredient in the filmmaking process and casting directors will get up front credits next to the cinematographers, editors, screenwriters and other crafts people. Finally this important group of people are getting the recognition they’ve been fighting for, for years. With this in mind, meet casting agent Christia Schamberger Young and get some insight too from the acting agent who finds the talent to send to the casting director to begin with, Suzanne Smith Boje from Stella talent. And then there’s the actor’s perspective, and who better but multi-talented Adrian Galley (Zulu & Labyrinth as well as Vice-Chair SAG) to give us just that.
THE TALE OF THE MULTI FACETED DIRECTOR (18h00 – 19h00) in conversation with Uga Carlini (Alison) & Brett Michael Innes (Sink).
Moderated by Rob van Vuuren as Twakkie from the Cornè en Twakkie Show…
At this year’s SAFTA’s we saw several examples of the same name pop up in different categories under some of South Africa’s favourite nominated films. This tells us that a new breed of director has emerged, that of which versititily, a bag of tools bigger than life itself and a spirit to match is required to make it as part of that small percentage of films that actually got made. We all have our challenges but can everyone PLEASE not be so serious…
WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2017
THE TALE OF THE SOUND OF MUSIC (14h00 – 15h00) in conversation with Loki Rothman, James Matthes, Mapumba Cilombo, Michael Broomberg.
Moderated by Donovan Copley.
Sound maestro Loki goes nowhere without his guitar and his very guitar will be doing most of the talking from the couch! Right next to him is another multi talented maestro, Mapumba; composer, instrumentalist, Afro-musicologist, vocalist and performer. Jet setter and Foley Artist Michael Broomberg (Hancock, Spider-Man 3, War of the Worlds & Alison) choose to return to South Africa recently to bring his expertise and wealth of knowledge back to African shores while composer James Matthes (Vehicle 19 and the highly anticipated Five Fingers of Marseilles) between scoring and composing, also became a first time dad while managing to still be a husband as well. The show must go on but so does life. In the delicate and sensory world of sound design and music, what counts? What doesn’t? What shouldn’t? And why should any of it matter? What or who drives these men to make it and make it sound just right too?
THE TALE OF THE WEAVERS (18h00 – 19h00) in conversation with colourist David Grant (Shepherd’s and Butcher’s), editor Saki Bergh (Die Antwoord & Wonderboy for President) and FX gurus Craig Parker (Mad Max Fury Road) & Jason Human (Blade Runner 2049, Skollie).
Moderated by Stuart Forest.
For the post team there is a lot to be done as all the arts are being practiced. They work with light, color, music, words, shapes, and movement to tell the story. They choreograph, compose and conduct. Multi award winning editor Saki Bergh, the weaver behind most of Die Antwoord’s music videos and Left Post production’s Loerie collection; colourist David Grant from Searle Street; FX Wizard, owner of Motif Craig Parker and freelance FX artist, illustrator, designer, fresh from Blade Runner 2049 and multi award winning Skollie, speak to edit veteran, Mama Edit Ronelle Loots about that which makes them tick, copy, paste where, what and how and why we should care that their favourite colour might just be rainbow. We will also discover that despite the rainbow, how at the end of each of their rainbows, is a pot filled with demons and challenges of their own and how sometimes there’s a reason they prefer the darkness of their post rooms and their world to escape into.
THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER 2017
THE TALE OF THE FILM CRITICS (14h00 – 15h00) in conversation with Laetitia Pople, Katie Reynolds, Theresa Smith, Alin Tasciyan (President of FRIPRECI).
Moderated by Ilza Roggeband.
The movie critic wants the same as anyone else, to be entertained, emotionally engaged and have their perceptions challenged. They want a well crafted movie, and as with all audiences – they want something that in some way surprises them or is fresh and new. Anyhow, it’s the same story for filmmakers really. They need objectivity/impartiality, good judgement and an understanding of how various audiences appreciate movies. This is all good and well but what rally makes them tick. Which movies on the local and international scene struck a chord with them personally, changed them even, even if only a little and how? And what can we do to make more of THOSE kind of movies from THIS perspective.
THE TALE OF TWO BROTHERS (18h00 – 19h00) in conversation with Sharlto and Donovan Copley.
Moderated by Uga Carlini.
Even though Sharlto and Donavon operate in different spheres of the same umbrella, each has had their unique journey but with an invisible thread of “Copleyness”. But what is this magic ingredient that birthed the rise of these two brothers in their own right? Was their childhood any different to ours? What inspired them then and what inspires and keeps them going now? What’s the recipe here for that magic ingredient? Is there a recipe? Did they dream that they could do it and then they did?
FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER 2017
THE TALE OF THE THE FILM FESTIVAL SECRETS (14h00 – 15h00) in conversation with Leon van der Merwe, Trevor Taylor, Azza El Hosseiny (Luxor Film Festival).
Moderated by Giam Pietro Balia (Programmer @ Berlinale & Black Night of Estonia).
Every year thousands of filmmakers unleash their true loves upon the film festival circuits of the world. It also usually costs an arm and a leg and a hell of lot more if pride, ego and blood, sweat and tears are taken into account too. So with that in mind, let’s hear some dead-on, thoughtful advice and experiences from those in the know, and why any of this should matter or should it?
THE COUCH POTATO LUCKY PACKET (18h00 – 19h00) in conversation with…. Josie Borain (SA’s first supermodel), Schalk Burger (famous Springbok, winemaker and director of arts festival KKNK), Izelle Venter (former Huisgenoot / Drum / You editor-in-chief and now VIA channel head) and SURPRISEEEEEEEEE.
Moderated by Sharlto Copley.
The elements of filmmaking and the arts, as well as their patriots, supporters and participators, come in all shapes, sizes and chapters. Our couch potatoes have all had their stories and run-ins with the rich and famous through their very own adventures. So with that in mind, let us now once and for all say what we want to say, shout what we want to shout and call a spade a spade or a spoon if you’d like. Prepare to be entertained, shocked, and maybe even a little appalled for all the right reasons in our couch series finale. Sharlto will be asking all the wrong (and right) questions and lead where angels fear to tread and the audience gets to join in.
official couch partner CASAMENTO
