Part 2 continued1956–1966 It’s an awful feeling when something goes wrong and for that moment one has absolutely no idea how to fix it. My well-spoken, wealthy but inebriated passenger had left the cab. I rushed to the front of the Royal Hotel and spotting a group of youths chatting on the pavement, I approached […]
Part 2 continued1956–1966 Looking back at that time, I realize now that I enjoyed hobnobbing with a number of people who were to a greater or lesser degree radically opposed to the Apartheid government. I had no desire to become a violent activist like Ronnie Kasrils, but I did enjoy my friendship with the Bughwans […]
Part 2 continued1956–1966 As Ronnie and I started to work together, I quickly realized that he did not have much if any experience with film. He was also clumsy and once dropped a roll of film on the floor. Despite this, he was clearly very bright, and we started to have interesting conversations on a […]
Part 2 continued1956–1966 Having devoted the previous four years to learning the business of television, then assimilating the craft of script writing, I experienced a sudden and very abrupt change of direction as a learner farmer! While lifting heavy boulders into place to create a dam across the Crocodile River, I wondered if I could […]
Part 2 continued1956–1966 During the time I was employed by Alpha there was no television in South Africa, so all the commercials were screened in cinemas before the movies. Many of the commercials were one minute long, rather than the thirty-second length preferred by TV. I discovered that I could quickly come up with an […]
Part 2 continued 1956–1966 Arriving in Johannesburg, I had no actual contacts in the local movie industry. At the time there were two major film studios in the city, with a number of smaller companies that were pretty well self-contained in terms of personnel. Most of the smaller companies also concentrated on making films for […]
Part 2 continued 1956–1966 Confessions of a Technophobe, New Series 26 Part 2 continued1956–1966I’ve never fully understood my motives for returning to South Africa at the end of 1959. Looking back, it would have made much more sense to have remained with ATV and been promoted to a TV director post in London for at […]
Part 2 continued 1956–1966 There was a write-up about a newly formed wildlife department headed by conservationist David Attenborough. I thought I would test the age barrier assertion that I was too young and apply to join the team. I was granted an interview with the senior producer but quickly realized that they were looking […]
Part 2 continued 1956–1966 Taking on odd jobs, canoeing in France or hitchhiking around other parts of Europe was great fun but it did not point me in any specific direction. The only real constant was my love of sport, and rugby in particular. As it was still an amateur sport during my playing days, […]
I would describe working as a bouncer as part ruffian and part politician. On second thought, perhaps all politicians are also part ruffian – some more than others! Anyway, I enjoyed the challenge of persuading patrons to either calm down or leave. I considered it a failure if I had to use violence to eject […]