by Allan Stratton | Dec 15, 2009 | Filming Chanda's Secrets, News, Writing
It’s lunch break, and the Three Musketeers, aka Iris, Esther and Soly, are enjoying the time off in pink bathrobes. Barbecue sauce and ice cream have a habit of ending up on costumes. Wardrobe thinks of everything!Meanwhile, Martin Hamer stands on the road...
by Allan Stratton | Dec 11, 2009 | Filming Chanda's Secrets, News, Writing
Deciding to shoot Chanda’s Secrets on location was a gutsy move by the producers. Take financing. Even though South Africa is a relatively stable and prosperous country, the word ‘Africa’ makes bankers twitch: They don’t seem to understand that Africa is a continent,...
by Allan Stratton | Dec 10, 2009 | Filming Chanda's Secrets, News, Writing
This is one of Chanda’s roosters (chickens?). I’m afraid I’m no good at figuring out the gender of barnyard animals, except for the ones with horns and obvious extra bits. Which, considering my grandparents and uncle were farmers is pretty embarrassing. (Hmmm, I’m...
by Allan Stratton | Dec 8, 2009 | Filming Chanda's Secrets, News, Writing
Arriving on set was a blast. Everywhere I looked I saw the characters from Chanda’s Secrets come to life. In all cases, their spirit was what I’d imagined. In other cases, the actors even looked as I’d pictured them. I’ll leave those of you who...
by Allan Stratton | Dec 6, 2009 | Filming Chanda's Secrets, News, Writing
So this is the place where the production company has set me up for the week. It’s a country lodge called The Guinea Feather, about a fifteen-minute drive to the town where they shoot the Chanda and Mrs. Tafa home and street scenes. So peaceful. Here’s another shot,...
by Allan Stratton | Dec 6, 2009 | Filming Chanda's Secrets, News, Writing
GETTING THERE IS HALF THE FUNThis is the cover of the Dutch edition of Chanda’s Wars, out this January from Van Goor. I’ve included it here because I’m currently in the Amsterdam airport. I left home June 4 at 2:00 p.m., arrived here at 7:00 a.m. December 5, and am...
