eVOD, in association with Nostalgia Productions and TMPC, proudly present the trailer for DARYN’S GYM, a mocumentary comedy from writer/ director, Brett Michael Innes, which introduces new-comer Clifford Joshua Young to local audiences. He is flanked by local favourites Hlubi Mboya, Siv Ngesi, Natasha Sutherland and Deon Coetzee.
Set in a family gym in Randburg, the film is a David and Goliath narrative that sees the lovable Daryn JNR (Young) pitted against Funi (Mboya), the ruthless owner of a multi-national fitness centre. The film will play at the South African Independent Film Festival on 25 November 2021, ahead of its nationwide release on eVOD (https://watch.evod.co.za) in December this year.
While Brett Michael Innes is best known for making audiences reach for their tissues with his heart-wrenching dramas like the SAFTA-winning Sink (2017) and Fiela se Kind (2019), his latest offering looks set to show a different side to the filmmaker.
“I loved the challenge of a new genre,” said Brett when asked about his new offering. “And while I felt out of my depth at times, I chose to rely on my experience in drama so that we would always pursue truth over a punchline. And while I will always be drawn to complex narratives on the heavier side of life, a large part of this pivot to comedy came from recognizing that lockdown has been tough on all of us and the last thing anyone wants to watch right now is a movie about pain. Much like ‘Ted Lasso’, I hope that the film leaves viewers feeling a little lighter when the credits start to roll.”
Produced with Paulo Areal, the man behind another hard-hitting SAFTA-darling Ellen Pakkies, the two managed to assemble some of South Africa’s top dramatic actors as well as a few faces you haven’t seen before. One of them is Clifford Joshua Young, who makes his film debut as the lovable Daryn JNR.
“When I got the call from Brett to say that I was Daryn JNR, I was literally in a huge glass box at the V&A Waterfront doing promotion work,” said Clifford when asked about the role. “I’d been in the structure for five days and, while I had a good feeling about my audition, I couldn’t believe that an opportunity like this had finally arrived. I’ve always wanted to work with Brett and having him walk this road with me was a dream come true. Playing Daryn JNR has truly changed my life.”
eVOD is eMedia’s latest online streaming service which launched in August this year, and allows viewers to watch subscription-free dramas, movies, and documentaries, with an option to upgrade for more premium viewing. “We are committed to our investment in local talent and locally produced entertainment”, says eMedia.
Shot in Johannesburg during lockdown, the film featured cinematography by Dino Benedetti (Hotel), production design by Chantel Carter (Blood Psalms, An Act of Defiance), edit by C.A. van Aswegen (Vir die Voëls, Vir Altyd) and score by Loki Rothman (Vergeet My Nie, Liewe Kersfeesvader).
Watch the trailer for DARYN’S GYM below and look out for it on eVOD (https://watch.evod.co.za) in December 2021. If you’re in the Johannesburg area and want to watch it on the big screen, make your way through to The Bioscope for the South African Independent Film Festival on 25 November 2021.
