Movie-making dream becomes a reality (Weekend Post 09-04-2005)

By Shaanaaz de Jager
DREAMS of making movies have become a reality for local film-makers Bryony and Mark Roughton, who will present their first full-length feature film at the Port Elizabeth Opera House tonight.

The movie Engagement, which was shot at 30 locations in Port Elizabeth stretching from Swartkops to Blue Horizon Bay, will be released nationwide on May 5.
Engagement is a romantic drama about a small-town waitress with dreams of becoming a published writer who is unwittingly drawn into a lifelong feud between two arch-rivals.
The 100-minute film was written by the couple, with Bryony directing.
The leading cast members, who are all from Port Elizabeth, include Caroline Nicou, who plays Christine, Terry Prodromou, who takes the role of media mogul Damian Grey, and Sven Mahieu, who plays Joshua Hart, Christine’s childhood sweetheart.
Mayenzeke Baza takes the role of Mitchell, the best man.
Bryony said there was a wealth of Biblical truth flowing through the story-line, but she described the movie as a stand-alone romantic drama which deals with modern-day parables.
Bryony said the film would be released to 30 churches in Port Elizabeth and other churches nationwide.
“Five local church leaders have already committed themselves to screening the movie in their churches. Our aim is to reach 100 churches nationwide.”
The couple have also set up an international network with churches to screen the movie.
“We plan to approach cinemas later this year for a cinema screening and also hope to visit a film festival and try to land international film deals as well.”

A romantic movie with a message
(LeFemme)
ENGAGEMENT is the story of “one bride, two grooms and may the best man win”, said director Bryony Roughton, who co-wrote the story and film script with her husband, Mark.
“Engagement flowed from a show, The Wedding, which Mark and I wrote and produced in the spring of 2000. About 2 500 people attended the performances and we knew that, when we eventually made our first movie, it would be based on this story.”
She said Engagement could either be viewed as a stand-alone romantic drama with a dose of comedy and suspense, or as a modern-day parable with “a wealth of biblical truth flowing through the story-line”.
The female lead, Christine (played by Port Elizabeth actress Caroline Nicou) is a small-town waitress who dreams of becoming a published writer.
When childhood friend Joshua (Sven Mahieu) wins her heart and hand, it seems her life is taking a turn for the better – but she then has to wait for him as he leaves to deal with some “business”.
Regular letters are the only contact between the two, and when a local media mogul also takes an interest in Caroline, she finds herself straying from the original plan.
Although aimed at the Christian market, Bryony hoped the film could appeal to a broad spectrum.
“It’s a captivating story in its own right, yet one that is interlaced with deeper truth.”
 Engagement will premiere at an exclusive screening at the Port Elizabeth Opera House on April 9 and will be launched around the country through churches and schools on Ascension Day, May 5. A limited number of premiere tickets will be available for sale to the public. Further information from Luane Godfrey on 084 6548464.

‘Crazy’ PE pair shoot their first film
(LeFemme)

By Louise Liebenberg
LOCAL stage personalities Bryony and Mark Roughton did not allow anyone to put a damper on their dreams – even when people thought they were “crazy” for wanting to make movies.
But the pair stuck with their vision and now are in the final throes of editing their first film, shot entirely in Port Elizabeth and featuring primarily local actors, crew and post-production facilities.
“Making a film was something I always dreamed about,” says Bryony, 28. “I knew I was going to marry Mark when he told me he wanted to make movies. We have the same passion for it.”
Loosely based on previous Roughton theatre production, Engagement is a full-length feature which will be released on DVD through churches across South Africa in May.
“It’s a story that Mark and I have had in mind for quite a few years,” says Bryony who, at just 23, also co-wrote and directed a biblical musical, Esther, at the Opera House to rave reviews.
“I come from a background of theatre and mime, but I want to put my energy into creating things that travel beyond me and create a ripple effect that goes on and on,” says the former Capetonian, who moved to Port Elizabeth in 1997.
After the success of Esther in 2000, Bryony gave herself five years to direct her first movie.
“Since then, we got married, had twin daughters, bought a house, ran a novelty business, produced four stage shows and have done extensive children’s and corporate entertainment work.”
In November 2003, however, Bryony and Mark began writing the script for Engagement and started to “speak the project into being” by telling people it was happening: “That commits you to it”.
The two soon realised they’d have to sell their business in order to focus their energies on the film.
“We held our first auditions for Engagement in May last year. In August, to attract potential investors, we filmed the first 10 minutes of the script and came up with the first 20 per cent of the budget.”
“We started filming on December 7 or 8 and sent the twins, Hannah-Rose and Amy-Chayil (now aged three), to my folks in Cape Town for two weeks.
“We filmed right up till the 22nd, but half-way into production one of our leads had to pull out of filming till mid-January.
“This meant more major rescheduling because it was easier for people who were working to get time off in December than in January. We had some very intense weekend shooting in January before finally having our wrap party on February 6!”
The Roughtons and their technical team, a core group of just five who’ve been involved “from start to finish”, are now in the editing and marketing phase and have managed to secure additional private funding for the film.
“There’s so much to be done before our premiere at the Opera House on April 9.
“We have a test screening in Cape Town over the Easter weekend to get feedback and to do the last bit of tweaking before the premiere next month.”
The Roughtons hope their film will showcase the potential of the Eastern Cape as a location for future projects of this nature.
“Port Elizabeth has the potential for a viable film industry. I’d never have done shows in Cape Town if I was still living there – I’d have to wait in line.
“The same goes for film. Mark and I would have had to start at the bottom to get into the industry, and that is something we didn’t want to do – not with a family.”
Getting the right people around you for a project of this nature is vital, says Bryony: “We had a tiny budget of only R400 000, no experience of film, and none of our cast had done screen acting before. But everyone was passionate about getting involved.”
Two Cape Town professionals provided training in sound and lighting, but the rest was 100 per cent local effort: from the four leads and six supporting actors, to the cameo actors, the technical crew, and the 75 extras who were called on for shoots.
“If you have a dream, then don’t listen to anyone who says it can’t be done,” says Bryony, who directed the film and herself spent many hours behind the camera and even a couple in front “in a tiny role”.
“It seemed crazy to tackle a full-length movie first, but the most notable success stories in my life have been the ones where I tackled something I knew from the outset was beyond my capabilities and experience at that time.
“People have often asked why we didn’t do Esther as our first movie, but that would’ve been too epic. We might tackle it in future – unless Mel Gibson gets to it first!