WORKING on a tight budget with difficult locations and a partly inexperienced crew, a project like Sticks and Stones can be harrowing.
But in this instance, the crew pulled together and it turned into was one of the smoothest and most creative projects I have worked on – thanks largely to the fact that talented and creative women held key positions.
Pre-production is everything for the art department, especially when sourcing for absolutely the right locations for their look and mood, as well as practical applications for other departments – sound, wardrobe, and so on.
We spent a lot of time looking for just the right village feel, the right shack and street. We were very lucky with the spaza shop, it was a golden find, as was the shebeen, and neither needed much dressing.
Choosing the colours for the shack and dressing it was wonderful, as we were very inspired by the creativity of the people living in the shacks around ours and the pride that they all took in their homes.
The local people also helped us build a shack out of recycled materials (a shack we burnt in a later scene), which was very cost-effective and allowed us to put some money into their pockets as well.
They loved having us there; at times we had an enormous audience, and it goes without saying that at times Sound was not a happy department!
Our producers, Bridget Pickering and Thandi Brewer, gave us creative freedom and supported our ideas.
They personally went to great lengths to help find the right locations and money for things like proper special effects so we could make a quality product – a support which is often sadly lacking for the art department. Women are very successful in production, brilliant at organising a wide spectrum of different things at once and caring for the needs of a crew.
On this project we had many HOD po sitions filled by women, such as sound and directing, positions which have generally been male-dominated.
There were also quite a few women cinematographers who have lately come up through the ranks and are as able as their male counterparts.
I have not come across women grips yet but as far as I’m concerned, men are wel come to that particular vocation.
Having all these women in key positions changed the energy on set, as we always supported and helped each other.
Television in South Africa is a fast grow ing industry, following the trend globally, especially with M-Net now also doing much more local programming.
It is an exciting industry to work in and offers many new and challenging oppor tunities for women from all walks of life.
I absolutely love what I do and all the wonderful people I work with. AMANDA SHOLTZ is the Art Director.
Television a fast-growing industry with challenges and opportunities
But in this instance, the crew pulled together and it turned into was one of the smoothest and most creative projects I have worked on – thanks largely to the fact that talented and creative women held key positions.
Pre-production is everything for the art department, especially when sourcing for absolutely the right locations for their look and mood, as well as practical applications for other departments – sound, wardrobe, and so on.
We spent a lot of time looking for just the right village feel, the right shack and street. We were very lucky with the spaza shop, it was a golden find, as was the shebeen, and neither needed much dressing.
Choosing the colours for the shack and dressing it was wonderful, as we were very inspired by the creativity of the people living in the shacks around ours and the pride that they all took in their homes.
The local people also helped us build a shack out of recycled materials (a shack we burnt in a later scene), which was very cost-effective and allowed us to put some money into their pockets as well.
They loved having us there; at times we had an enormous audience, and it goes without saying that at times Sound was not a happy department!
Our producers, Bridget Pickering and Thandi Brewer, gave us creative freedom and supported our ideas.
They personally went to great lengths to help find the right locations and money for things like proper special effects so we could make a quality product – a support which is often sadly lacking for the art department. Women are very successful in production, brilliant at organising a wide spectrum of different things at once and caring for the needs of a crew.
On this project we had many HOD po sitions filled by women, such as sound and directing, positions which have generally been male-dominated.
There were also quite a few women cinematographers who have lately come up through the ranks and are as able as their male counterparts.
I have not come across women grips yet but as far as I’m concerned, men are wel come to that particular vocation.
Having all these women in key positions changed the energy on set, as we always supported and helped each other.
Television in South Africa is a fast grow ing industry, following the trend globally, especially with M-Net now also doing much more local programming.
It is an exciting industry to work in and offers many new and challenging oppor tunities for women from all walks of life.
I absolutely love what I do and all the wonderful people I work with. AMANDA SHOLTZ is the Art Director.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos