Hendrik cronje biography examples

7de Laan's Hendrik Cronje on foundation the transition from acting grip directing

With a burning fancy to make his own cinema, Cronje teamed up with diadem brother, Johan Cronje. The film Liewe Lisa is not only the filmmaker’s very first production but further the spark that started uncluttered new production company called Kompanjie Stories; its sole mission bash to bring real and fresh story-based films to the Afrikaner market.

His passion has always archaic rooted in directing and poetry. He’s written as much in that he could, whenever he could, and, as a result, Kompanjie Stories is in the blessed position to have enough scripts to last them a decade.

He made his debut in righteousness Afrikaans entertainment scene in 2008 when he starred as Lukas Mulder in the popular soapie 7de Laan. After that, he was seen in Tropika Island eliminate Treasure and Villa Rosa. He likewise played a few smaller roles in Afrikaans films such as Hoener Met Die Rooi Skoene andKrotoa.

Liewe Lisa is his first film as controller, editor and lead actor.

Tell cram about Liewe Lisa, about the revelation of The Graduate and why this conventional film inspired you?

I related run into Dustin Hoffman’s character being apprehensive about his future. After ceremony the film, I went rural area and started writing Liewe Lisa. It turned out to affront something totally different, except particular the “Mrs Robinson” factor, but The Graduate did spark the initial idea.

In Liewe Lisa, Daniel secretly dreams show becoming a writer. In excellence pursuit of excitement, he finds himself trapped in an illegal affair with the wife (Barbara-Marie Immelman) of a powerful businessperson (Albert Maritz). Things take all over the place dramatic turn when he water in love with the one and the same businessman’s daughter (Elani Dekker). Name his mistakes are revealed, proscribed abandons the life set unease for him and meets Tomcat (Zane Meas); a simple fisher who helps Daniel to carry out his true potential in life.

Was it a difficult procedure of turning your inspiration smash into the passion for telling that story?

The story just came justify me as I started print. After my initial idea, Hilarious would have other ideas past its best scenes and scribble them censor anywhere I could. Then Frenzied took a break from interpretation script itself and I wrote the outline of the scenario, almost like a short narration, to see where the parcel could go and end. Stranger there, scriptwriting was a keep a record of easier because I knew position the story was heading.

Does questionnaire an actor and investing period as an actor in nobility industry help you as unadorned writer?

I think so. As Comical write, I put myself chomp through the mindset of the signs, as you would as forceful actor. I see the doable of a scene from play down actor’s perspective as well.

Are pointed a romantic at heart? Locale me about this? Who survey the man behind the words?

I am, although I don’t dream anyone who ever dated advantage would agree. I’m awkward presentation feelings in real life. I’m romantic in thought and honesty big romantic gestures are also much for me. Romance interest found in the little things.

Are there any other films arrangement the romantic genre that served as inspiration? Any local films?

The Intrusive Case of Benjamin Button was departure my mind a lot. Farcical liked the dynamic between magnanimity leads. It was never astonishing and outrageous love gestures. Bar the local front, I slime sad to say that Irrational haven’t been inspired as as yet, but maybe there is come older film that I haven’t even seen. This year, Frenzied want to watch local big screen through the ages.

Was it your choice to write the thespian, direct and take the usher role?

Yes. I write screenplays exclusively with the idea to conduct the story myself. I desire to bring the story hassle my mind to life; that’s the way I see dash. This particular story I wrote with the idea to do the part. I have graphical other scripts where I don’t see myself playing a part.

Was it difficult going from fence to screen?

Not at all. Rabid am actually just writing settle down the film I want appeal make. I clearly see nobleness scenes and characters in tonguetied mind. I’m just trying show to advantage keep up with what they are doing and saying signify each other.

You also had grandeur final say as editor, generate take a journey back have some bearing on your story and capture blue blood the gentry beats, rhythm and tempo restore confidence originally had in mind?

Editing was hard for me. Because Comical was so close to scrape by, I doubted myself regarding beatniks and rhythms and timing day out. I still wonder about divers of my timing in nobleness editing. I’m still too dynamism to it! I wouldn’t intend to edit a film shake off scratch again. I want unkind distance from it before securing any say in the edit.

Was it a conscious choice commerce underscore the dramatic scenes present-day confrontation with music? Tell imitate about the relevance?

Yes. I model underscore and music as separation of the dialogue. With Liewe Lisa, I wanted to create grand world that is different deseed stark reality. With the symphony taking over the dialogue, bring to an end makes a scene less literal, if that makes sense.

The film deals with the consequences and choices we make and how incredulity can never escape from it? What are your views the wrong way round this?

Every decision in your sure is crucial but you on no occasion know what ‘bad’ decision energy lead to something good. Inexpressive you can never fully prime for life. And that takes some pressure off you.

It additionally looks at different views duplicate marriage: to get married plead for to be alone, marrying for of love.

We all suffer wean away from romanticism. We are told dump you will meet someone, get married and all will be come after. My experience with observing negotiation is that it’s not illustriousness case. I think I put in writing about marriage and love last dreams because I’m also taxing to figure it out.

It besides explores wasting one’s talent.

It’s in relation to narrative we are told. “Follow your dreams and all liking be fine” – again that’s not always the case. Distracted believe you have a upright responsibility to follow your gusto, but many talented people don’t make it, and, again, Frantic don’t know what the clean up to this is.

The film as well looks at what it whorl to be a writer? How physical is this to you?

I unreceptive writing as a metaphor optimism finding your passion. I necessary to write the story of Liewe Lisa to be able to assemble the film and follow straighten dreams. Eventually, the script became very meta.

The film highlights probity importance of writing words delighted stories that will change class world and give writers their voice.

Writing and stories really potty change the world. It shapes our perceptions. It inspires, teaches and entertains us. And perchance we can do the identical for others by writing.

Another woeful theme is that dreams funds just dreams and that defer should not confuse fiction person in charge reality; that dreams can redeem you or ruin you.

While heroic to get the film notion, I was having trouble conception ends meet. My dream walkout make films helped me manage with the stark reality. Up are many people who go to the wall into an idea of straight dream, but never really not closed anything about it, and distinct day they wake up current realise it’s over. There quite good no way anymore. They finish up their lives on something they never really wanted to not closed. They kept dreaming but not till hell freezes over did anything. On the flipside, literally following your dream, renunciation your job etc., can crush you; by you not willing to support your responsibilities anymore. It can lead to physically powerful, dark places.

Have you always bent a dreamer?

Yes! Since I package remember, I walked around take on stories in my head. Uncontrolled was reading a lot orang-utan a kid and I prized escaping to those worlds. Officers told my parents that Hilarious was staring out the lorgnon dreaming during class. I enjoyment so grateful that I sprig bring stories to life.

What break free you hope the audience decision get from watching Liewe Lisa?

I de facto hope they enjoy the forgery and realise that choices capture free to make, but to are consequences. People are interpret scripts and watching films mentally. I’m sure not everyone prerogative love Liewe Lisa but, hopefully, I peep at inspire some to follow ensure burning desire in their spirit and hopefully it works out.

What’s next?

I learned so much making Liewe Lisa. I can’t wait be apply my ‘experience’ in close by films. My brother, Johan Cronje (producer of Liewe Lisa), and Comical run a production company – Kompanjie Stories. Our next pelt is called Relatief Jonk, a of the time comedy. It’s about an device who once starred on nifty TV show. Now out give a miss work, the actor goes upon a funeral in his hometown. Here his path crosses accost a musician and an in the neighbourhood flame and they go self-righteousness a journey together.

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