Kalahari round 3

After the 1 millionth customer slap commercial i was asked to do another campaign for Kalahari.com again featuring Joey Rasdien and the brilliant "Doloris" played by Debbie Modlinne. These spots were aimed at people who dont shop online so it was heavy retail based and had to show how internet shopping worked. It was pretty tough to work with such a massive space. The warehouse is really big and we only had permission to shoot for one day. I really love working with the guys from JWT and its cool to see how much easier workflow gets when you get to know the people on the other side. I hope this is not the last time Conn and the team sit with me at THE INSTITUTE OF AMAZING SHIT for approvals. Gina King (art director on the last 2 jobs) sadly wont be joining them again in my little office as she is moving back to Joburg to work at Ireland Davenport. Maybe ill bust some good vibes with them in the future, you never know what might happen! check it!

My dad's bike...

My father started cycling when i was about 10. Think he owned some other bikes but this was the last one he had.I was too small to ride it and remember being too scared to touch it incase something happens. I also remember showing my friends, what i thought was the best bike in the world, when they came to visit. When you are at that age you dont know better and believe anything your dad owns is the best in the world. I also got into cycling and when i was 12 my dad bought me a 12 speed red and white racer. It was a bit shit because all my other friends had Peugeot Rapports and here im riding with a no name racer with fat tires. Think my father knew it wasnt gonna last because i never really liked cycling. I only really liked going downhill. I did stick it out and by the time i was big enough my dad gave me his bicycle. It was rad. By that time, probably 14, the bicycle wasnt the best any more. I actually realized that it never really was the best, ever. My attention also moved to girls and trying to be cool and fit in, so the bike got neglected. i eventually sold it to a friend. Selling it was something i always regretted in life, specially after i had a kid. I realized there are so many things my dad gave me that i sold or dont have anymore that i would have loved to give Jack when he grows up. I cant think of one thing from my youth that i can give to him.

Anyway so i have been thinking for a long time about building a single speed racer for town. I have been looking on the net and second hand bike stores but cant find anything my size or even half decent. I always think about how perfect my dad's bike was and that i wish i had it back. This week after a months of searching i made a decision to find that my dads bike, follow the trail of trading until i get it. I even had this vision of how i would find it after a hundred calls in some random persons garage in some small town.

I called my friend and after asking him who he sold it to he said" it's in the garage". so much for my epic search. He left it in his dad's garage when he moved out years ago and by some miracle his dad never threw it away.

So here it is. My dad's bike.







Its funny but for some reason it feels to me like the best bike in the world again. It is so rad to have it back. Thanks Petrus. When i got home yesterday my son freaked out when he saw it. Saying "mooi fietsie" over and over as he tried his best to get on it.

Im gonna restore it to its original state and give it to Jack one day just for him to probably just sell it to buy some new game or cell phone.

here goes...

Kalahari round 2

I worked as the editor on the Kalahari.com campaign last year. After spending lots of time with Conn, the creative director, I was briefed on the new Kalahari.com ad called the "1 millionth customer slap". This was my first real directing job in the ad world. I must say i feel very fortunate. Kalahari's concepts have always been good and their commercials really funny so it was a big ask to create something lekker and up to standard. Thanks to the peeps( Conn, Gina, Rochelle and Rod) from JWT.

Click here to check it.

Neels, golf and things

Ive been playing a bit golf with Neels van Jaarsveldt lately. He plays better than me and is the owner of a certain driver that i can hit for miles that i always borrow when we play together. What a legend.

It all began when i work with him on a music video a long time ago. Last year the DSTV channel MK asked me to come up with a concept and make a commercial for the release of their popular Hoordosis cd. I asked South Africas favourite son Neels to join me on the job. I also asked my friend Matt Edwards from Metropolitan Republic to help with the creative. We've been friends for a long time. What a champ! Matt's career is on the up and will soon join his girl in Prague to act all main and european working as an art director. I will certainly see him in Cannes next year!

These were nominated for a Pendoring award in 2010. I also did the animation having the pleasure to work with the designs of one of South Africas most talented artists, Louis Minnaar, to create the titles. Check out his work at www.Louisminnaar.com.

Mercedes

I was stoked when this Mercedes job i worked on was shortlisted for Cannes 2011. It gave me the opportunity to go the south of France and have a couple glasses of rosé thanks to the lovely people at Groundglass. Thanks Janette and Debs. Anyway its another co directing job with my mate Thomas Ferreira. This video shows how the ad worked. Thanks Alexis Johann and Daneel from 140BBDO!

*update* It won a Gold and Bronze Loerie. KIFF!

Check it charna

I've had a cool working relationship with Matt and Wes, creative team from Metropolitan Republic in Joburg. They asked me to come on set with them and film the viral part of a Wimpy Campaign for the Champ burger. They found this guy that looks exactly like Hulk Hogan, the only difference is his castle and dragon themed house, his love for bikes and the fact that he is afrikaans. He was such a rad character and it was funny to check him ad lib and get into the character of Mike Mitchell. This is the long version but one of the short webisodes made it as a Loerie 2011 finalist.



After a couple of months the agency asked me to recut,regrade and take the spot into audio again adding my viral footage into the actual TV commercial. We had a blast making it pretty weird. YUM! Check it charna!!!!! This ad is also a Loerie finalist. I did not direct this ad but am credited as a Cinematographer and editor. Nice!!!

Wimpy 'Champ' 30" TVC from Chemistry101 on Vimeo.

CY till i die

Jack Parow asked me to do another video for him. After thinking about some ideas i took them to Thomas Ferreira and we worked on them together co directing the video. Arno Kruger helped us with some next level graphix and Carlos Feyder cut the video. In that time Arno, Carlos and I started a little company called THE INSTITUTE OF AMAZING SHIT. Check it

Kalahari.com ads

I had the privilege to edit for Sacha Waldman. If you don't know who he is go google him. He is an amazing photographer. These ads were done through JWT. Conn Bertish was the creative director on the job and it was an amazing experience all the way through.

DANS DANS DANS

So this was my second go at directing. Had a bit more money for this one. I hate sand now but love the track and the vibe. Spent a week in Jozi to online this with Hotel de ville.

Jack Parow

Ive set a couple of goals for myself over the last couple of years. Not the crazy "5 year i wanna be president plan" kind of goals but more like a wish list. In the beginning i wanted to edit. I got an editing job. Then i wanted to edit a music video. I got to do a couple of vids for some really great bands. My next goal is to do more Ads and then one day when i have gathered enough skill to cut a feature. It was never on my wish list to direct. But over the last year i have been pitching for some songs. All these bands had one person in common. Hunter Kennedy. Hunter and Pierre Greeff run Supra Familia, a small record label. They called me a while back and asked if wanted to do a viral for Jack Parow. The ideas started to come together and it quickly went from viral to music video. I think Zander is a genius. His tunes are heavy on the ear for most people(he swears like a pirate that lost his wooden leg) but still so good and intelligent that no one really cares.

Anyway so we made this video. My first directing job. It was shot in Bellville. When i was in primary school we used to go eat ice cream at burger fair on a Sunday. I lived with Heno and Laudo around the corner for a year an a half. It was fun.

Oh i wanna mention some people on this project that helped out. Annelie Mare busted the producer role with the efficiency of a German train. Zenn van zyl was DOP and Heino Henning did the grade. That guy loves his job so much. What a legend. So many people helped out. thanks everyone!!!