Ancient History
The fact that my career in public broadcasting began on the 1st of April probably means something. There have been times when I thought I knew what that was…
The DARK AGES
No pictures - just sound. Lots of it. Radio: (mostly) music productions, because that’s the kind of thing I studied (mostly), ending with a Masters in Musicology.
This was a brilliant time - producing recordings in the studios of a national broadcaster, and going off-road as it were, to harvest the best of performances in concert halls, opera houses, cathedrals, historic homes, open-air amphitheatre among the vineyards… Some memories from that time:
LISZT Virtuoso cycle
music series featuring Professor Thomas Rajna
Memorable because I got to work with Tommy, because we destroyed what must have been a record number of Steinway Concert Grand strings, and because it ended up with an ARTES award for Tommy, which was most satisfying.
Soundtracks for MUSICALS, OPERAS, VARIETY SHOWS. A wide variety, including The King & I, 42nd Street, Cosi Fan Tutti... Continuing my education about working with Stars; left me able to hum all the tunes even if some of the lyrics are getting a bit muddled by now…
SABC MUSIC PRIZE. A nail-biting, Live bi-annual series and awards gala - enabling me to embarrass some famous musical glitterati today, by remembering what happened when they were just starting out, anxiously warming up fingers & vocal chords before we go On Air. Really enjoyed working with the budding stars, all new & nervous. Didn’t enjoy the adjudicating bit that much, when I got drafted for that cruel duty.
The INDUSTRIAL AGE
Machinery & technology. I get into Television production - all shapes, sizes & flavours. Up to and including Live actuality & sports events - the full adrenaline thing involving helicopters, microwave links, satellite feeds & testosteronic crews; documentary productions about artistic as well as non-ivory tower subjects. Especially enjoyed this one:
TOORWATER (untranslatable - Witching waters ?) This was a documentary series about mineral springs - took me to wonderful out-of-the-way places, and gently introduced me to the perils & pleasures of exploration-filmmaking . My guide was the great (now late) Professor Bun Booyens - a legend in the area of Africana folk-lore. My memories are all of discovery and wonderment & delight. After this, the documentary bug had well & truly claimed me for its own.
The GOLDEN AGE
Unbelievable opportunities, and the freedom to play with documentary production. Many fond memories of that time. Pretty near the top of the list, a collection of ballet productions: full-length multi-camera stage productions, a series built around the bravura pieces of the classical repertoire, and documentary profiles of ballet greats. I was incredibly fortunate here - some ballet training myself, which helped I suppose, and I was also the ballet reviewer for the national broadcaster - so I had wonderful access.
Some favourites:
DAVID POOLE (documentary profile). Professor Poole had only one stipulation: I had to show him warts & all - he wanted the film to be an honest reflection of his work. It doesn’t get better than this - no-one in the South African ballet world outranked him - so whatever this director wanted, she got. An enormous privilege, which was only really brought home to me some years later, when I attended his memorial service. A cathedral overflowing with dignitaries & friends & ballet lovers - paying tribute to the life of a strong, wise, gifted artist. And I finally understood the unbelievable extent of privilege of the documentary filmmaker.
PHYLLIS SPIRA - prima ballerina assoluta (documentary profile). Another one of the greats - graciously allowing us into her elegant world. This was another ARTES award winner.
Still did full-length Operas - now multi-camera television epics (e.g. Fidelio, La Bohème - that sort of thing), Symphony concerts, Musicals & Cabaret shows. A cabaret series (THE FRENCH CONNECTION) was another one of those rare privileges: international artists, wonderful music, beautiful wine estates, patient & accommodating (invited) audiences, as many cameras & shooting days as one wanted… A Golden Age indeed.
The AGE OF REASON
Reality rules. Responsible, rational, real - I get into Issues. Apart from the odd diversion into chat-show territory (directing multi-camera studio productions), I was doing documentary series which took me way out of my comfort zone:
BEGINNINGS (documentary series: Health & Social Development). Discovering life in the townships & shacklands around Cape Town - an eye-opener and a humbling education, as was the series on AIDS (LoveLife), and chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, TB, alcoholism (BAMBANANI). Most sobering of the lot was probably PARADISE - a series dealing with environmental health & pollution.
The AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Certainly… especially as stories about spirituality kept on coming my way. Most memorable ? Probably this one:
WHEN GOD IS GONE. Is there anyone in the world who isn’t able to make the connection between South Africa, Apartheid & Verwoerd ? Well, this documentary tells the extraordinary story of Wilhelm Verwoerd - the grandson of the infamous Hendrik (known as the “architect” of Apartheid). His journey from Afrikaner nationalism to ANC membership & friendship with Nelson Mandela was a courageous & tough one, and working with him on this documentary was an inspiration.
The Parliament of the World’s Religions led to two other documentaries which hold a special place for me: MOMENTS OF IMMORTALITY deals with Art & Spirituality; IN SEARCH OF SILENCE looks at the future through the eyes of different religious traditions. I was able to meet & work with some truly impressive people from all over the world - most humbling for me: the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia, the Venerable Maha Ghosananda, Swami Veda Bharati from Rishikesh, & the Dalai Llama.
I did not live on such elevated heights all the time, of course. Even dipped into the world of a multi-national petrochemical giant - and also got involved with one of the last satellite link-ups of the really impressive & thoroughly respectable CEO just before The Scandal hit…
And then came TWO MEN TALKING - a brilliant performance piece by two New Yorkers. Did a full multi-camera stage recording for them. But I’m not going to say anything more about this here, because you should try to get to see the show for yourself anyway (link on the main page). They were an absolute hit at Edinburgh, which should be enough motivation for you to pursue this. I’m also in pursuit - haven’t quite finished with them..
There - now you’ve caught up. What follows is my SECOND GOLDEN AGE, which is NOW, which is on the main page…