Daniel Dercksen shares a few thoughts with Willie Esterhuizen, a successful writer, comedian and director who is best known for the popular Orkney Snork Nie series and films, as well as Lipstick Dipstick, Oh Shucks I'm Gatvol, and Poena is Koning, all of which were hits at the local box-office. His latest film is the light hearted Afrikaans comedy Vaatjie Sien Sy Gat.

Over the past 22 years, in collaboration with his brother Pieter, Esterhuizen has written, produced and directed over 150 hours of broadcast television. In addition he has also written, produced and directed over 200 hours of corporate training films. 
In 1982 he started Westel Video & Film Productions with his brother Willie, and has since produced many educational programmes for television, winning several awards along the way.
The pair wrote, directed and produced 53 episodes of Orkney Snork Nie, which won a start Tonight Award for Best Comedy and Best Script, the Viewers Award for Best TV Comedy, and received five Artes nominations. It was judged the number one television show in terms of ratings and ad earnings.
They also wrote directed and produced five yearly seasons (65 episodes) of Vetkoekpaleis, which garnered them Avanti Awards for Best Comedy, Best Comedy Actor, Best Comedy Script, and Best Comedy Director.
Next on the cards was the popular Gautêng-alêng-alêng, where the Esterhuizen brothers came to know Robbie Wessels.

Did you ever think that Poena would be such a major hit and result in Vaatjie?
I tried not to make a financial failure, because the film was funded by investors who obviously
wanted a return on their investment. Poena did not only give them a good return, but also
convinced them to invest in Vaatjie.

Why do you think Poena was so successful?
Poena is a humorous ethnic minority film that appealed to the movie-going ethnic minority
it was meant for. If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no-one and your
film will flop. There is no propaganda in Poena. It is not reflecting the BS you see in local
television.

Will Poena fans find a new hero in Vaatjie?
Yes. Vaatjie comes from your normal dysfunctional blue-collar Afrikaans family, like most of us. 

Tell me about writing Vaatjie? How did it come about and was it a difficult process?
Writing is always a difficult process, although the secret to writing is very simple, and can be summed up in three statements. 1. Don't talk about your film, write it. You will talk away the energy that needs to go into the script. 2. Don't get it right, get it written. 3. Glue your butt to the chair and write. 

Was it a difficult film to make? Any highlights?
Making a film is the easy part. Getting the money to make it, is the most difficult. The whole film is a highlight.

Do you enjoy being the writer and director? Why?
I love doing just that and I see it as a moerse privilege to be able to work in the movie industry. South Africa is not a friendly place for a fifty year old white guy.

Humour is an important ingredient in box office success, do you agree?
In this country, certainly. Make art, and you will be bankrupt.

What makes you laugh?
I can not keep a straight face if some-one farts in public.

What can audiences expect from Vaatjie?
To have a good laugh and see a "feel-good" movie.

Have you always dreamt of being a filmmaker? Where did it start?
Since I was a little boy, that wast all I ever wanted to do. I can not imagine doing anything else.

What excites you about making a film?
The entire process from script to screen, especially the new digital process.

Any comments you would like to share on Vaatjie?
Go and see it, you will have a good time.

Any future plans?
We are already working on our next feature film as well as a new comedy series for television.

READ MORE ABOUT VAATJIE SIEN SY GAT!

READ MORE ABOUT POENA IS KONING

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Copyright © 2008, Daniel Dercksen