Production Experience...

The very first experience of film production was when Koos worked as an assistant "sound man" for a Zulu movie made in 1978. This film became quite a hit and is still shown in the rural areas of Southern Africa. About ten years went past. Then in 1988, he was asked by Military Intelligence to assist with the production of a film on the results of the civil unrest on the lives of ordinary black South Africans. This implied impute on the content and help with the final editing of the film.

During April 1989 the liberation movement, "Swapo" tried to stage an armed revolt to upset the democratic election process in Namibia. Koos was tasked to make this known to outside world. He took an American newsgroup into the war zone on the Angolan - Namibia border. This involved the full logistical planning including aircraft, security, accommodation and the arrangements with the local communities in the affected areas. Later that same years he took a group of 55 persons including many from various foreign countries back into those very same areas. This tour lasted for 4 weeks and we travelled thousands of kilometres by air, by bus and with 4x4 vehicles. It was a very challenging exercise seeing that there was nearly none of the necessary infrastructure available and we had to arrange for all the food, drinks, fuel etc. On top of it, Koos was also responsible for the security of the whole group.

Many years passed until October 2004 when Koos was approached by Tom Cloeckaert and Leen de Witte on behalf of the Belgium branch of Eyeworks International. Initially he helped them with the research on the Himba tribe of Namibia and together we did the scouting of Kaokoland where the Himba people live. During December of that year, we did the support for their production called "Ticket to the Tribes" which became a big hit in Belgium. This involved the management and catering of the camp and most of the transport.

In 2005 we were approached by the German branch of Eyeworks International and asked to assist them with there effort to make a German series of "Ticket to the Tribes". We did this during August / September. We where responsible in total for the transport, the building of the camp, the catering and the supplying of interpreters and general staff for the production.

In 2006, we went even further for then two production teams, from Australia and New Zealand asked us to assist them. Luckily they where both subsidiaries of Eyeworks International and we could combine the productions. We helped them with the production of four series of films again based on the format of "Tickets to the Tribes". Two of these series was made in northern Zululand and the other two in Kaokoland. This time we started by helping with the research on the varies areas and tribes followed-up by a thorough scouting of both these areas. We took over the full line-production responsibilities for Africa. This included all transport - air and road, accommodation, negotiations with the tribes, permits, agreements, personnel etc. Again, we did the logistical support for the whole production team involving more than 30 persons at a time. Included here were the tented camps in both Zululand and Kaokoland, catering, maintenance of equipment and vehicles, establishing radio contact etc.

Al the productions we have been involved in since 1989 were in some of the most remote and inhospitable areas of Southern Africa. This always involved lots of 4x4 driving in very strenuous circumstances, the procurement of proviand in very difficult areas and the maintaining of contact with the outside world.

We are truly capable of doing the near impossible and in supplying the required necessary info on some of the most remote and least developed peoples in Africa. Speak to us - we can do it!

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