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Roepman writer overwhelmed by response

Cape Town - While Roepman is entering its third week on the circuit, Salmon (Sallas) de Jager, one of the producers and co-writers of the movie is already busy with two new Afrikaans movie projects – Verraaier, a war drama that's set during the Anglo-Boer War, and a romantic drama set against the backdrop of the Afrikaans music industry.

He still finds the positive feedback unreal.

"The response is overwhelming, especially since the film has such a raw approach to difficult issues that are close to all of us."

He finds it particularly gratifying that the audience allowed itself to go on a journey with the boy Timus.

"They became disillusioned with him, with how life can shake you up if you're brave enough to want to find out what is really happening around you."

Literary tradition

Although the industry and specifically Afrikaans movies are experiencing a boom, he believes there is still a lack of strong contemporary dramas and light romantic stories in the South African context.

"There are really nice stories just waiting to be told, stories that have been playing off since 1652."

Afrikaans cinema is flourishing because people yearn "to watch their own stories and living spaces on the big screen".

Does he believe that a strong Afrikaans literary tradition, and excellent TV series such as Verspeelde lente, Arende en Konings, has had an impact on the quality of Afrikaans film and how it is perceived?

"Undoubtedly, a strong literary tradition is the foundation of a healthy film industry. You especially see it when you look at the healthy state of movies in Western Europe, where they have had a strong literary tradition for centuries. "

A fine balance between "true stories and commercial viability" is the way forward for the local industry.

Spark-workshops

"The talent is available in every facet of the industry and the South African/Afrikaans film will snowball if that balance is reached."

The audience also wants to have a balance in the choice of light romantic comedies, musicals and court dramas to heavyweight dramas, he said.

De Jager believes that the support of the National Film and Television Foundation (NFVF), and the incentives of the department of trade and industry and SARS, has helped to re-establish the industry.

He is one of nine scriptwriters chosen by the NFVF for the Spark-workshops which aim to identify and train talent, and he is one of four finalists selected for their master's programme.

He also directs music videos and is a musician and songwriter for rock group Klopjag.
 
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