The beauty of the Garden Route proved to be ideal with 27 perfect locations for scenes to be shot in. Patrick Walton, the producer of Shoot Away Productions, and some of his film production team arrived early in the region for pre-production preparations.
"We recently completed our reconnaissance of 27 locations. We recruited half the crew from the immediate area, and hired equipment where possible (generators, cars, drivers, coordinators and security directly from the region," said Patrick, who is a dedicated producer working towards the sustained development and efficacy of the South African industry. He is therefore gratified that this project is coming off the ground as a result of the close cooperation between himself, local municipalities and the Cape Film Commission. "The people here are really friendly and the close proximity of locations makes it an ideal area to film in."
The filming of The Bachelor is usually shrouded in secrecy, as the bachelor's predilections are always kept under wraps while he woes and selects his ideal mate form a group of candidates who are from all walks of life. This is so that the cat is not let out of the bag, and viewers have to keep on guessing as to who the chosen one will be.
Patrick is the chairman and originator of the Official South African Casting Association (OSCASA) and member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
He and the Cape Film Commission are excited to be shooting on location in the Garden Route. Last year the SA filming industry got the Minister of Home Affairs to review the immigration regulations because of possible negative effects on the R5-billion Cape Town film industry, and the rest of the R1-billion local film industry as well as the 1600 local jobs."
Garden Route film workshops
The Finnish Bachelor series (produced by the Warners Bros) was welcomed by Cape Film Commission CEO Denis Lillie who said last week, "Following the extensive film workshops held over the past two years with the Eden District Film Industry and the workshops at the George Independent Film Festival, we are delighted that the Finish version of The Bachelor is to be filmed in the Garden Route.
The decision is great news for local businesses as it will bring additional revenue to hotels, caterers, security, transport and restaurants, among others. It will also help with the training and development of the local industry.
"The Cape Film Commission is actively promoting the Western Cape internationally as a filming destination and this success helps support our initiatives.
"Well done and thanks for your support for the region."
Beauty
The candidates in The Bachelor will be groomed by Georgian Marelize Earle, who has done numerous grooming workshops. She is a model scout for numerous modelling and TV/character agencies and was been involved in the photo shoots of Elvis Blue and his wife Chireze Hoogendyk-Blue and family for Lig's magazine cover, and several other magazine photo shoots.
She has been presenting fashion, beauty, make-up, modelling and grooming workshops since 1993, and also training of Miss South Africa and the finalists from 1999 to 2002 for Sun International.
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD-JOURNALIST
'We bring you the latest Garden Route news'
