Posted on 26 April 2013.
There’s a new movie in the making and whether you are a dancer or an architect, you are bound to fall in love with it. Pop Lock n Roll is the dance film directed by Ziggy Hofmeyr, who took time to chat to us about his work and things similar to that.
Ziggy, how would you introduce yourself to someone who has never met you?
I’m a jack of one trade, film and TV production, and know my way around all of it. That’s to say I do everything from directing to editing, writing, producing and camera, my jobs descriptions vary, I’m schizophrenic for it, and I love it.
What inspired you to get into film and TV and how long have you been doing it for?
My family are all in the business, I wanted to be a director since I was 12, I wore a T-shirt that said ‘But what I really want to do is direct’ for about 5 years of my teen life until it eventually shredded. I’ve been working in the business now for 12 years.
As a young South African man in this industry, do you feel like you are making history?
Yes I do. This media influences people the way that advertising does. For example I’ve spent a year researching hip-hop/street dancers for my upcoming film, the most common answer I got after asking, ‘When did you decide you wanted to become a dancer’, was ‘After watching You Got Served’.
What are some of the productions you have worked on and what lessons have those experiences taught you?
I stared off shooting gospel music videos, I must have shot over a hundred choirs singing in the veld. Then I got a break directing a music video for rock band The Finkelstiens, awesome guys, I carried on shooting all their videos as well as for artists like Amu, Skwatta Kamp, Lebo Mathosa and The Parlotones. Slowly I got more involved in drama, I did a multi-camera directors training course at Isidingo and then moved on to direct at Rhythm City. In between I’ve done and still do jobs that are very unglam, but pay the bills. The lessons don’t stop coming but the one that has worked best for me is – if you want to do something, you can teach yourself how to do it via the manual or trial and error, no one can stop you, go and do it.
You are now working on a massive dance film scheduled for release early next year, Pop Lock n Roll, please tell us more about this venture.
www.poplocknroll.com will give you all the info, how it came about was bumping into Pascal Schmitz who is my producer on the project at the Radium bar. I told Pascal about this idea I had for a movie, Pascal loved it, we pitched it to a distribution company, they hated it, we asked them what films do well in SA, they said dance films, we went back to the drawing board and came back to them with the premise for PLnR, they loved it and signed the deal before the script was even completed. We’ll be shooting in September.
How are you funding this production? What can film fanatics expect from this film?
We’re selling Amway in order to raise the money. I’m only kidding, funding is a tough game that varies according to project. The DTI and the IDC have been two of our starting points. Film fanatics can expect to see dance talent of note, shot will brilliance, and a story filled with surprise.
What would you say to someone willing to get into the same field as you?
Go for it. Try it out.
What have been your career highlights?
Working at Isidingo taught me loads, I traveled across Africa shooting Urban Massive for Channel O, that was eye opening, but I think making Zero One One, a crazy 60 minute film with Matli Mohapeloa and Thomas Gumede was my favorite, we shot it over 8 crazy days, everyone put their soul into it and we had so much fun.
What are the least pleasant parts of your job as it appears to be glamorous from the out side?
I enjoy getting 8 hours sleep, and in this business you don’t get that very often.
Which three artists would you still like to work with?
Artists as in musicians, actors, or like I paint? Going with Shadow Club, they are my boys and bloody talented but we’ve never worked together, I would love to bring Henry Cele back from the dead so that I can say I’ve directed Shaka Zulu, and I would like to work with Kenneth Nkosi. There’s a huge pool of talent here, these are but a few.
What is your favourite film of all time and why?
I think La Haine, it’s got it all – a compelling story, cool B-boying, shot brilliantly, acting is superb, it makes a statement and it has Cut Killer playing KRS One’s Sound of Da Police over an incredible aerial shot of the slums of France.
If you had R50 in your wallet as your last, what would you do with it?
I would force feed it to a kitten and film it, hopefully get some Youtube hits and earn royalties.
Which country do you think is almost as awesome as South Africa?
Greece, they know how to start a riot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubwGEgZqhak
Follow Ziggy @Zig_Hof
By Bonnie Meslane
@BonnieMes
