CHANDA’S SECRETS FILM: BEFORE LEAVING…
Soly with his real mom.Iris with her real Mom. I'm now back in Canada. The film is on hiatus until February when everyone returns to shoot the opening scenes. Mama has been instructed to pack on the pounds. When the film runs in sequence, we'll see her heavier and...
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S FROM MY NEW LITTLE GUYS, P2 AND PENSTER!I hope your year will be as full of new and exciting things to do and discover as it will be for P2 and Penster!Here's to chasing tails, paper balls, and anything else that moves. And may your litter box stay...
HOW CHANDA’S SECRETS GOT TURNED INTO A MOVIE
This is Oliver Stoltz, producer of the film version of Chanda's Secrets. Unfortunately, he had a serious stomach ailment during the first phase of the shoot when I was in South Africa, so this photo is taken from his website. (Oliver, you're way more attractive in...
SAFER SEX IN SOUTH AFRICA: LIKE THE SIGN SAYS…
In an earlier post, I mentioned that a staggering 40% of the population in the area where Chanda's Secrets is being filmed tests positive for HIV/AIDS. Indeed, you hardly see anyone over fifty. As a result, the local HIV/AIDS committee has posted the following safer...
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
Santa rules at the Shoprite in Elandsdoorn, South Africa. Outside? Not so much. Today it's over 30 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit). Out back, a few 'kids' decide to open their Christmas presents early.As you can see, today I’m taking a break from the longer “Chanda...
SAFARI (2): HIPPOMANIA
Normally you don’t even see this much of a hippo. You just see the tips of the ears and snout. Also, normally, you’ll see hippos in family pods of five or more. Clearly, this loner is socially dyslexic. Within minutes, he went from watching us to warning us. Check out...
SAFARI (1): YOU CHECKIN’ MY BUTT?
There’s a national park twenty minutes from my country cottage here in Elandsdoorn, South Africa, where I've been on location for the film shoot of my novel Chanda's Secrets. The owner and his son-in-law were kind enough to take me. They reminded me of the bush guides...
CHANDA’S SECRETS FILM: MEANWHILE, OFF CAMERA…
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 outside...
CHANDA’S SECRETS FILM: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
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,...
CHANDA’S SECRETS FILM: “I’M READY FOR MY CLOSEUP, MR. DeMILLE”
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...