Horror is a “fairly easy sell”, says gifted South African filmmaker, whose new film Tokoloshe : The Calling releases On Demand September 3 from Terror Films.
Tell us about your beginnings, Richard?
I used to sell ice creams at the local cinema and had to stay until the end of the films, I would sit looking at all the end credits/titles and decided that wanted my name to be up there as the biggest standalone credit. I was very interested in photography and also worked in a photographer’s shop on Saturdays – it was till the days of negative film and would spend hours in the dark room developing the negatives and making prints. My mom bought me a camera and I started to take pictures of my own. I drifted between jobs working as a marine diver, then to university studying graphic art , got thrown out because of my political stance against apartheid and went back to England where I was born. My Dad , a carpenter, put me through film school and I realised I had to return to South Africa as this is home to my film DNA. I made many films both as a producer and director, in 2018 I was honoured with a life time achievement award and then in 2020 was awarded a special recognition award for my contribution to the transformation of the South African film industry. Many of my independent films have won awards around the world.
And when was the first time you picked up a camera?
At school when working as an apprentice at a photographic shop I eventually started as a studio camera operator for the State Broadcaster.
Was it always horror films, for you?
Not at all – most of my films are contemporary South Africa stories – I’m very interested in South Africa’s recent history and the battle against apartheid.
“Red Dust” which I line produced was about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission – featuring Hillary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor directed by Tom Hooper (Kings Speech) – “Long Walk to Freedom” was another of my films working in production. I also worked throughout Africa making films in different countries using local talent –Ethiopia was one of my favourite destinations as it has such a rich history and incredible landscapes.
“The Shinning” just happens to be one of my favourite films from when I was at film school in London and jumped at the opportunity to pay homage to one of the greatest directors Stanley Kubrick.
They do say ‘horror is an easier sell’ though, did you find that with TOKOLOSHE : THE CALLING?
It is in fact a fairly easy sell, as a film maker you have lots of bits and pieces to hide behind to help build the narrative – our main location had such wonderful visual elements to play with, including the light. The DOP- Damien Tomaselli and I studied Vermeer the 17th century painter, and used a lot of his techniques with lighting. However, making scary stuff is not always that easy some time its hilarious!
Where did the story come? A mix of real-life and the imagination?
Our producer Arish approached me with the idea of a Tokoloshe movie – I went back to reading my paper! He persisted and we set off on this amazing journey together, exploring all sorts of narrative options – the Tokoloshe is a tough chap to try and pin down.
Are all the scares written into the script or do some happen, organically, on the day?
They were mostly conceived by Arish as he is a Horror fundi – what did happen on the day was shooting in the old age home – we asked if anyone wanted to be in a film and on the day of the shoot, these amazing – beautiful – scary – older people arrived – I immediately though to have them stare vacantly into space – they were all white South Africans with Chris my friend the black bar man – absolute cinema magic.
How important was sound for you?
Its’ very important. I just happened to have a producer on board, Arish, who is an amazing musician and creator of sound.
Do you think the film might’ve been considerably different if shot by Hollywood… in Hollywood?
Absolutely, and again I get back to the fact that our film is unashamedly a homage to “The Shinning”.
What I am proud about is the cross culture of the cast and how they do not play to cultural stereo types. We did not have the pressure of a studio or a budget that consistently tries to drive the narrative we could ebb and flow until we found the film we wanted to make.
Surprised there hasn’t been more movies made about Tokoloshe?
Yes…but don’t give anyone else ideas! The title suggests we might see another chapter down the line – any chance of that? Our next film will explore our own uniquely South African cultural landscape and the Tokoloshe – “Qaphela” … beware.