Q&A with Knysna director Andre Velts and screenwriter Emilé Hager

How would you describe KNYSNA in your own words? What is it about?

Andre Velts: It's about finding love, and the road to love is always a funny story...
Emilé Hager: Knysna is a modern day fairytale. It's an age old tale of how love conquers all. In today's society it's becoming more and more difficult to still believe in true love, if that even exists. Knysna shows us that this is still possible and hopefully give hope to people that has lost their faith in love. Knysna is also a story about staying true to yourself regardless of what your background is. Don't try to be something you are not, but find freedom in who you are. Furthermore Knysna is a fun story about what it is to be South African and from Knysna, and no matter what life throws at you, you can still have a ball every day!

Andre Velts

How did you get involved with the project?

Andre Velts: I always wanted to make a movie in Knysna. Ones I had a basic storyline in place, I contacted Emile Hager. We both sat around a table, and Knysna was born.. At that stage we did not know how big this would become..
Emilé Hager: I met Andre Velts, the director while we where doing a play together. We reunited a few years later and he told me that he was looking for a new screenplay. I then sent him a screenplay I just finished, he read it, and commissioned me to write a romantic comedy that takes place in Knysna.

What inspired the story?

Andre Velts: In my younger days living in Knysna I had a relationship disappointment. And the best way is to laugh about it, and making a Romantic Comedy to tell the story. If we can't laugh at ourselves life will be boring.. :)
Emilé Hager: I have a bit of an obsession myself with royalty and what it must be like for 'ordinary' people marrying into a royal family. I secretly wish I could marry into royalty one day. I was also fascinated with Charlene Princess of Monaco while writing Knysna, it was the same time that rumours was fleeting that Charlene was not happy in her marriage.

It seems to be a world and people you are very familiar with. Your comments?

Andre Velts: I grew up in Knysna and most of the scenes and locations we used, my friends and I enjoyed when we grow up. That's why I had to add a few friends I knew in the story. When you live in a low income family in Knysna, you experience Knysna very differently from the Holiday-makers. This is what the story is really about.
Emilé Hager: They say you should write about what you know. I can't agree more. All of the characters are based on real people. Most of the characters can also be said have been based on myself. This helps to create real relatable and fresh characters.

At its heart, it's a story about love, are you a romantic at heart?

Andre Velts: Yes for sure :) Love is the only thing that brings people and nations together.. And I love honest love stories, there is one scene in the Knysna movie that was shot in the rain, where the character Dolf declares his love for Stephanie...gets me every time.
Emilé Hager: I am very romantic at heart but sometimes more skeptical and even cynical. It makes for an interesting combination when starting a story.

It's also a soulful story about friendship? Your views on this?

Andre Velts: The purpose of the friends in the film is to steer the main character Dolf in a soulful direction. Humour, friends and love keeps Dolf on track.. Everybody needs friends..
Emilé Hager: Friendship to me is very important, no matter how many failed romances you had or how many times your heart was broken you always have those true friends that will pour you a drink and tell you it's not that bad.

Tell me about the cast, did you have specific actors in mind?

Andre Velts: From the first draft I had people in mind. I wanted to create a film with a fresh look. It was the first time the two lead actors played a lead role in a film. I think it's just to easy to pick the same people over and over.. To make a good film the director really needs to work hard for the actors to enjoy the set and to be creative.
Emilé Hager: I had a few ideas in my head, but not really. We auditioned over 500 hundred people. Neels just zipped himself into Dolf from the get go, there was no one else. I was thrilled to have Shaleen and Terence join the cast.

Emilé Hager

Your views on the local film industry?

Andre Velts: I really think everybody needs to support different genders of SA Films. It is still a business for investors, so if dramas don't make money...less of them will be shown on film. So next time people complain there is too many RomComs.. they must remember ticket sales versus investment money. So go and watch local drama...Please!!!!
Emilé Hager: It's a tough industry, tougher than what it looks like from the outside. But it excites me a lot. I am thrilled to be a part of it and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The industry is picking up at a fast pace, and there is endless opportunities if one is willing to go look for it and work for it.

What do you hope audiences will get from watching the film?

Andre Velts: Every person will experience the movie differently. I always say, if you can see yourself in one scene and laugh or get a good message out of it...I have done my job.
Emilé Hager: I hope specifically for Afrikaans speaking audiences that they will realise that Afrikaans is part of the world. We can tell stories in Afrikaans, our own stories, just as good and interesting as Hollywood or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Then of course for people to start believing in fairy tales again, to believe in love like an innocent child.

Have you always wanted to be a director? How did it start for you?

Andre Velts: I studied acting for four years, and in that time I bought myself a camera. I began to record myself and look back on my acting classes to work on my performances. Later in my second year I did my first short movie..The rest is history. After one full feature, 12 shorts, eight music videos and over 200 weddings I shot and edited, Knysna was created. All the stuff I did gave me the best film school possible. The school of hard knocks.

Have you always wanted to be a screenwriter? How did it start for you?

Emilé Hager: I studied BA drama at Tuks. Always wanted to be an actor. Never imagined myself being a professional writer. I wrote plays and poems from a young age and decided about two years ago, after freelancing and booking no jobs, that I want to challenge myself and see if I could write a screenplay. And that's where it all started. That was the screenplay Andre Velts then read and commissioned me to write Knysna.

Any advice for aspiring filmmakers/screenwriters who would like to break into the industry?

Andre Velts: There will be too many people telling you it cannot be done..work on your craft, and one day the right project will come at the right time, then you will kick ass.
Emilé Hager: There is no recipe to "make-it" in this industry. I started out with Opera training for nine years, studied acting for three years, freelanced for four years, booking one or two jobs, and then I became a screenwriter. Everyone's journey is different, there are endless ways to break into the industry, you need to be in the loop. Write. Write for yourself. Write about what you believe in and what interests you. Create for no reason, out of nothing. Don't wait for someone to knock on your door and ask you to write. It's NEVER going to happen.

Future projects?

Andre Velts: I'm directing a movie called Die Pro (A teenage surfing movie) and later the year the drama called Riebeeck Kasteel (1972 Drama).

For more on Knysna and other films opening on December 24, visit www.writingstudio.co.za