Q: What inspired the story behind your short film?
A: Like many multi-ethnic people, I have always searched for my identity and roots, delving into my First Nation (Nama) heritage. When discussing my debut short film, Brett Michael Innes suggested incorporating music due to my background as a trained opera singer. RIEL thus became a fusion of two passions: music and roots.
Q: Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?
A: Ensuring the dancers had the “proper” dust to dance in was a unique challenge. Dust isn’t just dust—we had specific dust brought in from a nearby farm so it behaved as it should!
Q: How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?
A: I created detailed backstories for each character. The family had a history before arriving at the party in the film. I met with the actors individually and as a group to discuss their characters and relationships. We also worked with a wonderful local woman, Anmiray Opperman, who prepared the extras before they arrived on set. On the first morning, I gathered everyone in a circle and shared the story of Ouma Anna and her daughter and granddaughter, giving everyone a backstory to enhance the authenticity of the environment.
Q: What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?
A: I hope this film brings joy and cultivates an appreciation for the riel dance. Tradition grounds us in our roots, and much of the First Nation traditions were lost due to the genocide of the Khoi and San during colonialism. I hope this film inspires people to reconnect with their roots and the land.
Q: How do you see your short film fitting into your broader body of work or future projects?
A: This is my debut film, and I am still finding my voice in storytelling through film. Hopefully, RIEL will lead to more stories about the people who dance the riel and play riel songs. It also serves as a proof of concept for my debut feature currently in development, aiming to bring more untold stories to light.
Q: If you could cast any actor, living or dead, in your next project, who would it be and why?
A: Imelda Staunton from the UK. She has fantastic technique and seems like a cool and professional person to work with. Directing her would be nerve-wracking but highly gratifying.
Q: What’s the most unexpected or funny thing that happened on set?
A: I asked the extras to think of gossip for audio recording. Three lovely older ladies created an entire scene—it was quirky and so funny! A definite highlight, and I’m deeply grateful to the community for making the story their own.
Q: If your short film had a theme song, what would it be?
A: There’s a song in the film called “As jy my wil verstaan, sal jy saam my in die stof kom dans” (“If you want to understand me, you will come dance in the dust with me”).
Q: What’s the strangest piece of advice you’ve ever received about filmmaking?
A: A well-known director advised, “For the love of everything, just don’t make a camera with your hands to check the frame. Use two fingers and look through those. Like a normal person.”
Q: If you could have a superpower to help you with filmmaking, what would it be and how would you use it?
A: My superpower would be the ability to handpick the perfect film team for each project, ensuring every member brings their unique talent and expertise, creating a collaborative environment and telling the narrative authentically.
Q: Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
A: Film festivals provide platforms for emerging filmmakers, create networking opportunities, and build our industry. They promote independent filmmaking and foster cultural exchange.
