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A Zone’s Eye View with André van Heerden
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The Zone, Deceived and André van Heerden By Robin Fox The Entertainment Zone was blessed with an opportunity to have a quick Q&A with writer, producer, & director André van Heerden. André 30 years of age has worked with some of Hollywood’s finest actors/actress’. Some of his other films are “Revelation, Judgment, & Left Behind The Movie” He’s an experienced screenwriter and post-production supervisor in both film and television, Andre’s written, produced, & directed over a half dozen documentaries. His latest film, Deceived a supernatural thriller starring Judd Nelson and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. According to Cloud Ten Productions this is one of their edgiest films to date. The film will be released on video in March of 2002. Deceived has already received several good reviews, and high nods from several peers in the film community.
Z: Hello André, How's everything treating you these days? AvH: Everything’s going great although very busy as usual. Good thing to be able to say though. Z: Besides the obvious, how fun was making this film "Deceived"? AvH: Deceived was a blast. The cast chemistry was incredible and the performances, the style and the story all benefited from it. It’s usual for cast members to spend most of their time resting in their trailers because the days are so long - but not on this film. Everyone just hung-out together, told stories and shared experiences. That attitude carried across on to the set and the creative discussions about character motivations, actions and plot points all enhanced the film. Long days are part of the business (A short day on set for me is 16 hours) but every day shooting Deceived was an adventure. Z: What got you started in Filmmaking? AvH: I've been a film fanatic since I can remember. My parents were always amazed at how I could recite entire scenes from movies that I hadn’t even seen in a few years. When I was at University I discovered a course in film-studies and thought: "WOW! I get to watch movies and get grades for it!" Much to my father’s chagrin (He didn’t send me to University to watch films) I took the course and excelled at it. After graduating with a high-honors degree in both Journalism and English (And a minor in Film-Studies) I used my talents to enter the video-production world while always dreaming about one day working on Feature Films. As chance would have it I landed a position at a company that produced TV
programs and very quickly found myself writing, producing and directing a half hour news format TV show. As the company changed from TV shows to documentaries I changed with it. And when that same company made the Big Jump from TV shows to Documentaries to Films I couldn’t believe my good fortune. Peter and Paul Lalonde (Executive Producers for Cloud Ten) asked me if I still wanted to help them out and little did they know that they had fulfilled a dream that I thought would take at least 30 OR 40 years to attain. From that point on I immersed myself in Film Production and haven’t looked back. Z: Since the film is listed as Faith Based, does this affect the movie goers perception of it, and do you think the categorization of the film/films make movie goers not as anxious to see it? AvH: A movie that is labeled as 'Faith-Based', I believe, will affect a moviegoer’s perception of it. However, I Don’t believe that it’s in a negative way. I believe that part of being human is wondering about faith. We all have a knowledge that this life will end and as much as some would like not to think about it - our subconscious will always keep us curious about that end. For those that have a 'Declared' Faith the genre-title will obviously appeal to them and for those that don’t - I have to think that they will also be very curious for two reasons. ONE: This is something very different from all the other genres mentioned out there. And TWO: Controversy is always interesting and it’s difficult to find a
more heated topic than faith, religion and God. The only down side to the 'Faith-Based' title that I see is if it carries a 'low-budget' connotation. Thankfully, if people were reading the Faith-Based title, they would also be aware of the Star-Power and production value put into the production. So hopefully the Film/Films are not tainted in that way. Z: Is casting difficult, for these films? AvH: Casting is always an adventure. You have to weigh so many different factors when trying to find the best creative choice, the best production choice and even the best 'Marketing' choice. However, and I suspect that I've just been fortunate; the cast that we’ve been able to get for our pictures has always been very close to our first choices. Lou Gossett Jr. is obviously a great choice for an imposing Army Colonel and Judd Nelson As a sarcastic, edgy and likable everyman is equally a strong pick. Z: Since we are on the subject of casting, when creating the characters (since you helped in writing of the script) do you have particular actors/actress' in mind? Like when you're creating the character for Lou Gossett Jr. or Judd Nelson did you see them in your minds eye?
AvH: Sometimes you have an archetype character and you’ll think, "WOW, this actor/actress would be great in this role" but I find that I usually work better without doing that. If I can create a unique character on the page then do the casting from that - the marriage of the two 'different' characters (One from the script and the other from the actor) is a much more interesting and diverse creation. In every film I'm always amazed at how a movie is an ever changing and (hopefully) always improving piece. The script is one movie, the acting and filming is another and the editing yet another. However, if you’re doing your job properly, and have a clear vision, each of those steps enhances the others and the
film as a whole. Z: I read you filmed in 19 days and had a few snafu's can you tell our readers about the worst or funniest?
AvH: Imagine being overjoyed and awed by the prospect of getting to direct an OSCAR-Winning Actor. Imagine running behind time all day and losing sunlight for an important first scene between Judd Nelson and that OSCAR-Winning Actor. Imagine being faced with helicopters, cliff-faces, and countless other production problems and un-budgeted overtime. Then imagine your first face-to-face words with Lou Gossett Jr. having to be: "Hi Lou, we’re running late. Stand over there and we’ll shoot." Not exactly the best way to make a good impression. Thankfully Lou’s a pro and a gentleman and a man who’s been there many times before. Judd, Lou and myself had a great laugh about it afterward and it will always be a fond memory - especially since we did pull-off the scene with some creative movie magic. Z: Somewhere you're quoted as saying all films should have a helicopter scene; do you have a fascination with helicopters?
AvH: Before flying in a helicopter I never really considered them a 'Must-Have.' They’re expensive, potentially dangerous and eat-up a great deal of production time. However, after experiencing the sensation of literally hovering above set, scouting locations in a matter of minutes instead of days and watching the 'Big-Budget' dailies that the aerial shots produce - I'm definitely hooked. (Don’t tell the line-producer!) Z: Out of all the actors you have worked with who would you like to work with again? AvH: Tough, Tough question. Each of the actors has thankfully fulfilled their required roles as we had hoped they would. For example: MR. T. is not a fantastic actor – he’ll even admit it himself. But a nicer, harder-working, charismatic and conscientious man you’d be hard-pressed to find. Would I work with him again? ABSOLUTELY. Would I cast him as a romantic lead? NEVER. Each actor (Just like anyone) has their own set of strengths and weaknesses and a wise director will hopefully play-up on the former and avoid the latter.
AvH: A large part of my filmmaking background is in editing so, Absolutely. I honestly believe that a movie can be entirely remade and reimagined in editing and so I'm always present for every cut, dissolve or effect. Z: With the sound score, is this something you also keep close tabs on? AvH: While admitting that I'm a "Visual guy" and love working with images - if I had to rate the importance of picture versus sound in a picture out of a hundred, I'd give picture 45% and sound 55%. To prove this point imagine the most-beautifully shot, designed and acted scene that you can. Now imagine that scene with the sound of a train running through it, or with the dialogue unintelligible, or with music that betrays the mood and emotions. It just won’t work. However, you could take a substandard looking scene and with the addition of the right ambiance, sound effects and music, the scene can still be haunting and memorable. Sounds seem to speak directly to your heart and soul whereas images seem to need
processing first. So in answer to your question: I'm part of every “BEEP, WHIR, THUD, SCREAM And NOTE” of the picture. Z: I read somewhere there was some works with computer generated graphics, was this something you sat in on as well?
AvH: The world of CGIs (Computer Generated Images) is an incredible one. Given enough time and money you can create literally anything. However, since there are so many ways of 'Creating' an image from scratch the process can be a very challenging one. If you had to describe to someone a color that doesn’t exist - what would you say? To keep the mood and realism of picture in tact I strongly believe that I have to direct the CGI work just as I directed every other visual for the picture. It’s part of the job. And for Deceived, the creation of the storm shots was a real treat. Z: I know you already have a distributor, but would you like to take this film on the Film Fest circuit?
AvH: Asking an Independent Director if he’d like to see his film in the Film-Festival Circuit is like asking a circus performer if he’d like to be part of Cirque Du Soleil. ABSOLUTELY. There’s nothing like bringing a film to the big screen and watching a new audience react to it. Z: Have you ever taken any film on the Film Fest circuit? AvH: Both Judgment AND Left Behind played in some Film-Festivals. Judgment received very good reviews and great 'placement' for the New York Film Festival. Z: Are there any upcoming projects your working on at this time? AvH: I'm currently in preproduction (As a producer) for "Tribulation Force" - The Next Book In The "Left Behind" Series. Z: If so, would you like to plug them with us? AvH: It’s going to be BIG, BIG, BIG! (How’s that for an insightful plug?) Z: Andre this has been an honor getting to know you and research your projects. Thank you for your time and we hope to see more of you in the future. AvH: Always fun to discuss ideas and goals. THANK-YOU. Links of Interest: www.deceived-themovie.com
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Buy Deceived Now!
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