Hot on the heels of their latest hit television show – Melody, Bridgetown Theatre Company (BTC), in collaboration with Gemini Twins Films, will produce another drama, Athlone ’85.
Melody, their 2021 collaboration, was highly successful and aired on SABC 2, followed by the more recent feature film, The Lagoon.
“The working relationship on The Lagoon was a huge success. Our objective was to create 170 jobs with the film project.
“However, we exceeded our expectations, through the generosity and support of the communities of Grassy Park and surrounding areas, we gainfully employed 190 people,” says Zelda Hintsa, marketing manager for BTC.
“We happily discovered when producing the TV drama series Melody and the feature film, that through conducting open auditions in the communities we serve, instead of asking casting agents to provide actors, that there are many highly talented, untapped actors in our communities.”
As a result of this, BTC hosted auditions on Saturday 24 June to cast several roles for the new show.
Four main roles, six supporting roles and 180 extras were cast.
More than 300 locals from the Cape Flats areas auditioned on the day.
Theo E Davids of Gemini Twin Films has written the script for the new show.
Based in 1985, a peace-loving young man seeks redemption for the brutal murder of his young brother by the apartheid police, by going on a lone crusade of seeking revenge, sacrificing his love for his family and friends.
However, he unwittingly joins the anti-apartheid movement in its uprising to overthrow the apartheid government
The show will air on TV in April next year.
Filming will start and conclude in August in the areas of Belgravia, Athlone, Alicedale, KewTown, Bontheuwel, Mitchell’s Plain and Gugulethu.
(About) 80% of our TV drama series and feature film consisted of local actors. They all – as one can ascertain from the successful TV drama series Melody and the soon to be released film The Lagoon, these local actors acquitted themselves brilliantly of their task,” says Hintsa.
The production of this TV drama series is made possible through funding by The PESP (Presidential employment stimulus programme) and the NFVF (National film and video foundation)
For more information call 082 5363651 or log onto Bridgetown Theatre Company Facebook page.
