[WATCH] Krugersdorper making it shine in films on international levels
"I like to think that I didn’t have a choice in choosing a career, it kind of chose me."
A former Krugersdorper, Zenn van Zyl, is the cinematographer on the long-awaited South African crime thriller on everyone’s lips, Nommer 37, which is now showing at a cinema near you and has already made huge headlines overseas.
• About the movie:
Nommer 37 is based on the SAFTA winning short film with the same name. Nosipho Dumisa and Travis Taute were in the directors’ seats. The movie plays off in a fictitious apartment block, Haven Mansions, situation in a suburb similar to the Cape Flats. It tells of the tale of Randal Hendricks (Irshaad Ally) who was left wheelchair-bound after an accident. He is drowning in debt owed to a sociopathic lender by the name of Emmie (Danny Ross) who wants his money. After his loving girlfriend, Pam (Monique Rockman) gives him a pair of binoculars, he starts watching his neighbours closely. One day he sees a dangerous gang leader, Lawyer (David Manuel) commit a murder and decides to blackmail him. With betrayal and greed around every corner, the actions that follow put them on a life-threatening journey, as the world around Randal is thrown further into chaos.
This Cape Town-produced film, which was launched at the SXSW Movie Festival in Texas, will also represent the country at the International Neuchatel Fantastic Festival in Switzerland in July. It was also announced that Dark Star Pictures have obtained exclusive rights to distribute the film in North America. It will show in New York and Los Angelas.
The News had a one-on-one interview with Zenn about his Nommer 37 journey. The 30-year-old currently lives in Cape Town and is a freelance director of photography and works for multiple companies. The News asked him a few questions:
• Where in Krugersdorp did you grow up in and where did you go to school?
I moved to Krugersdorp North when I was 10 or 11. We lived a few houses down from Monument High School, but after primary school (Laerskool Krugersdorp-Noord) I decide to go to HTS Nic Diederichs. I matriculated there in 2005. About two weeks after my final exam, I moved back to Cape Town to study at AFDA’s Cape Town Campus.
• Did you always want to be a cinematographer?
I have been fascinated by light and how light falls on subjects from a young age. So naturally I got into photography and I fell in love with the art of creating visuals and documenting with elements and events around me. At about the age of 16, I knew I wanted to go into the film industry. At first I thought I wanted to direct, but when I found out that most directors didn’t operate the camera themselves, I changed my focus to the art of cinematography. I managed to get my hand on a Mini DV camera while still in high school, and a friend (Michael Davis) and I started shooting short films.
• What made you decided to become a cinematographer?
I like to think that I didn’t have a choice in the matter, it kind of chose me. I can’t see myself in any other profession.
• Is it a fun profession and is there a future for cinematographers in South Africa?
Being a cinematographer is definitely a great job. You get to work with different people from all walks of life. You get opportunities to travel and see the world through your work. And the sense of accomplishment you get from seeing how an image in your head comes to life on-screen is an amazing feeling. But it’s not an easy career path. It’s long hours and can sometimes be a very harsh environment to work in. The job also comes with a lot of weight on your shoulders. Being responsible for all the visuals in a film and managing a crew can be quite stressful, but that is also what makes the outcome of a project so rewarding. I wouldn’t change a thing!
As for South African cinematographers and if there is a future in the profession, I would definitely say there is. In the last few years, South African films have become of a world-wide calibre. We have some amazing cinematographers in our country and they are starting to make a name for themselves internationally.
• Which other films did you work on?
My first feature film to hit cinemas was Hollywood in my Huis. After that, I did Reghardt van den Bergh’s Uitvlucht. I got to DP my good friend Daryne Joshua’s Noem my Skollie, which ended up being selected as South Africa’s official 2017 foreign-language entry for the Academy Awards. I then did another film with Daryne Ellen: The Story of Ellen Pakkies. That will be out in cinemas on 7 September. And obviously I did Nommer 37 with the talented Nosipho Dumisa and the Gambit Films team.
• Who is your role model in the industry?
This is a very hard one to answer. I’m influenced by so many artists and cinematographers from around the world. But I have to say the work of Rodger Deakins, Bradford Young, and the late Conrad L Hall has had a big impact on how I approach a project.
• What projects will you be working on in the near future?
I’m currently in preparation with Gambit Films for another feature film to be shot during July/ August of this year. I can’t say too much at this point, but it’s going to an action film like no other local film yet.
• Any words of encouragement for future cinematographers out there?
I’m still finding my feet myself, but if I could give younger me some advice I would say, don’t stop, don’t quit. Keep pushing as hard as you can, and try get on set as much as possible, even if it means working long hours for free. Take in everything and meet as many people as you can. I now DP projects for people I met on set 10 years ago as a lighting assistant. Anyone serious about a career in cinematography that has a specific question can contact me through my website www.zennvanzyl.com, and I’ll try my best to answer them as soon as I get a gap. Also, YouTube is full of amazing channels dealing with all aspects of film-making. I would suggest spending time learning as much as you can.
Watch the trailer for Nommer 37 here:
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