Beginning of 2007 some friends and I started the Big Eyed Deer. Its a place where we could come together to make films. The company turned out to be more of a Think Tank. During the process of networking we realized that there was a need for filmmakers to develop their scripts. We facilitated this need in as much as we could by bringing in writers who would edit and read others scripts. We were finding ourselves through the process and saw a huge demand for script editing.
There are great stories in South Africa but not so many people who know how to write. Also there is not so much money or training available for people to practice writing. You can see a negative circular movement evolving…. Point is, we got about 15 projects on a slate and worked them as much as we could.
To interject my thoughts here for a second: Big Eyed Deer was given an office space by Waterfront Studios in Cape Town and was hedged to starting a small production company for them called N-Gage. This company is still going however no-one that was part of starting it is still part of N-Gage and we no longer have the space….I have still not closed this chapter of N-Gage and you will hear more as time passes and I get to the “bottom of it all”. In other words, full sotry to follow in later chapters.
Now we have three completed short film scripts and about ten first to third draft feature film scripts. With no money, I went and applyed for a credit card with a R10 000 overdraft. This card was used to shoot two of these shorts. One was Mahees and the other was Long Weekend.
Both these films where shot over two weekends. a Version of Mahees is cut and you will see it on this site. Long Weekend has not been that lucky though but will be released as soon as we finish it.
Big Eyed Deer has also been involved with Publishing a Technology supplement for Cape Times newspaper which was initiated by partner Sebastian Stent. This little publication made most of the money for Big Eyed Deer and got our company name out to thousands of readers. The Tech Times used up and coming writers from all over South Africa to write for it. We had students, script writers and technology buffs writing for us. A couple of months in Cape Times wanted to take this platform digitally and keep it within the Cape Times house so we lost that contract.
Our first project was Eurafrica. a Live performance piece that I was producing and brought in Big Eyed Deer when we started the company. The play, directed by Ilana Wetzler and written and acted by Lucy Heavens and Sarah-Jane Scott went on to do amazingly. We got a R10 000 grant from BASA (Business and Arts South Africa) which payed for us to go to Grahamstown arts festival, our marketing and venue costs. We got great reviews there and the girls went on to go to Edinburgh festival shortly after. After their return the play made some runs on Cape Town and ultimately we won the most prestigious live performance prize in South Africa, the Fleur De Cap Peoples choice award. I am very proud of this project.
All the partners in Big Eyed Deer are a scattered now but we still own this entity and will continue to produce content through it. The name came from Dylan Culhane a very talented film maker with a wry sense of humor. The design of Eurafrica poster, our letter heads and business cards where all done by Partner Padraic O’Meara.
BED Business card Front
Hi
It just happens that I was part of the crew during the filming of The Long Weekend. Ironically I remember that weekend very well, it was long and very cold in those massive fridges.
I am not satisfied about what transpired afterwards as some of us were ignored and never kept up to date about the film, coming to think that we invested our expertise and did not expect any financial compensation in return. I remember I had to leave work early that friday of the shoot and rush to meet the rest of the crew.
My point here is: when dealing with fellow professionals, do keep in touch with them in whatever way you can afford rather than treating them like buggers after you have gained from their expertise. I can imagine now someone asking me about you guys, guess what my answer would be. Obviously not positive, but luckily no one has and I hope no one ever does.
Please guys respect other filmmakers and they will look after you as well and remember not pay lip service for your own gain.
Anyway I wish you all the good luck in your future deeds. What you came up with is a great concept that needs to be sustained for the greater good of film.
I hope you make it
Modise....the guy who was responsible for your VT during filming.
Hi Modise,
Thank you for replying to the post. These films where indeed a test for many of us. Not about our film making ability but for our professionalism and our relationships. Both films had major hick-ups and as I said in the post seemed to have dissipated.
I certainly learnt a lot during this time as a producer and have since done my utmost to look after the people who are making it all come together. It was a series of unfortunate events that lead to a bad outcome in product and experience, however these unfortunate events can be stopped and there should be no reason for them to happen.
Thanks for the good wishes and all the same to you.
I hope we get the opportunity to work together in the future and that the next time you can see the true colours a Big Idea.....
regards,
Jozua