The Independent short film In God's Country, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Dirk Fourie, and co-produced by The Writing Studio, was selected by the viewing panel to be included in competition for the 6th Apollo Film Festival.
Filmed on the West Coast, In God's Country also received nine nominations at the Cape Shortz Festival: Best Short Film in 2005, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Original Music, Best Actor (Mortimer Lee), Best Editing, Best Actress (Adri Troski-Viviers)
Based on a short story written by Dirk Fourie, with the screenplay adapted by Dirk Fourie and Daniel Dercksen, the film is endorsed and supported by the Cape Film Commission, and provided an exciting training opportunity for future filmmakers. It was sponsored by MCC - the Movie Camera Company (Cape Town), and Panasonic Digivision Cape Town, with funding derived from workshops produced by The Writing Studio and hosted by the SABC Cape Town.

THE STORY
When a seashell is uncovered on a farm it leads a young man to redemption and acceptance and forces him to reconcile with his fragmented family.
When Patrick (Luandre Volschenk) digs up a broken seashell on the farm he shares with his father Nick (Mortimer Lee), it unearths deep-rooted emotions that forces him to redeem his past and reconcile with his future. In coming to terms with the reality surrounding his life he escapes into past events that led to the destruction of his family and afflicted the relationship between him and his father. The story deals with family, loss and suffering due to tragedy and newfound understanding when the truth emerges. It depicts how easy it is to live in acceptance and not to take anything for granted. It is a poignant examination of who we are and where we belong in God's country.

THE CAST
Luandre Volschenk (Patrick) Born in Cape Town in 1984, Luandre makes his debut in 'In God's Country'. He views the character of Patrick as "a boy trying to achieve his goals in life, and who struggles with the shadow of death that clouds his life".

Adri Troski-Viviers (Sarah) Adri graduated with an honors degree in Journalism from the University of Stellenbosch. In 1992 she received her licentiate in Speech and Drama from ADA (the Academy of Speech and Drama). Highlights of her acting career include the plays Vry Vrou for collaborations 2003, Sie Daar: dis die Lam van God, a Christmas play recorded for CNTV. For television she played parts in Fishy Feshuns and Meeulanders. Her film credits include the short film A day or a Lifetime and the German Film Das Licht von Africa (The Light of Africa). Actress, singer and tutor, Adri is an active member of the Muse theatre group since May 2001

Mortimer Lee (Nick) A wine maker and farmer based on the family estate in the Slanghoek district near Worcester, Mortimer Lee matriculated at Rondebosch boys high school in Cape Town, where his love for stage was first established. A brief brush with the acting world in post university days have nonetheless fumed his life long passion for cinema and is he utterly determined to breakthrough into the film industry.

THE TEAM
Dirk Fourie (Producer, co-writer and director) Over the last five years Dirk Fourie has actively been involved in the drastic transformation process of our struggling South African Film and Television industries. He has been teaching workshops in filmmaking and directing for The Writing studio the past two years. His interest in film began at a young age watching a wide variety of genres of film ranging from westerns to sci-fi. This inspired him to explore the world and travelled through Europe where he furthered his interest as a young film enthusiast. After his return to South Africa he pursued an education in film. He received a Diploma in Film and Television Production Techniques at the acclaimed City Varsity Film, Television and Multimedia School in Cape Town, receiving numerous awards and recognition for his short films. Since his studies he has been working in the commercial and feature industries as script supervisor on productions such as the international feature Adrenaline as well as the highly successful British children's television series Cavergirl and on several commercials. Dirk also produced, and photographed a music video for the National Television and Video Association in the Western Cape's annual Training Initiative. He directed a local documentary for Robert Lewis Productions and served as Technical Director on the 25th Annual Stone Awards held in Cape Town at the end of 2003. He most recently completed the short film Trick

Louis du Toit (Production Manager) Born in Zimbabwe, Louis graduated from high school in 1993. After working for a few years, as well as studying Drama at the University of Stellenbosch, he went to work in the UK. During his time there, his love for filmmaking was amplified by working at various film studio companies, such as PolyGram International and Warner Bros. Returning home, Louis immediately enrolled at the City Varsity Film School and completed his Advanced Diploma, majoring in Directing / Producing, from City Varsity Film School in 2002. It was also during his graduating year that he completed a short film, "When Tomorrow Calls," a product that made him realize in his own potential. Subsequently, and due to the success of the short film's global response, Louis continues to pursue the art of filmmaking, whilst remaining active in the industry.

Chris Gunter - Director of Photography After several music video productions and various short films produced on film and Video, Chris Gunter as Director of Photography, graduated from City Varsity with a three year advanced diploma, majoring in Camera and Lighting techniques. He proceeded to work in the industry as a videographer for five years and recently over a year as camera assistant on the BBC series Cavergirl. He is currently a clapper loader in the Cape Town Film industry.

Mandie Viljoen - Sound Engineer Mandie Viljoen is a professional sound engineer who matriculated in 2000 at Worcester Gymnasium, Western Cape, South Africa. She proceeded to study drama for stage and television at Pretoria Technicon, graduating with exemption for acting and stage singing. After studying drama her interest took a turn and she enrolled at City Varsity Film and Television School, Cape Town in Sound Engineering. She received her diploma in 2003 and is currently majoring in Film Location Sound and Post Production Sound. Highlights of Mandie's career includes working on various live sound performances as Sound engineer as well as on the documentary of the Canadian cricket team in 2003 during the cricket world cup under the Canadian film label Chilly productions. She was also Boom operator/sound mixer for the Cape Town production Angel, directed by Jesse Stagg.

Tracy Kitching (make-up/ stylist) Matriculated from Westville Girls' High. After receiving a Diploma in Business Management, and a Diploma in Fitness & Nutrition , she worked as an Independent Distributor for International brand of Nutrition, skin -care and cosmetics for 5 years. She was also the regional manager for National Media owner for two years and freelanced for a national media owner. Tracy also worked as a model for 10 years, both ramp and photographic, as well as modelling/acting in TV commercials for past 4 years. She recently moved to Cape Town from Durban and is developing acting, scriptwriting and filmmaking.

Daniel Dercksen (co-writer) -click here for biography

THE TRAINEES
Dominique Logan (Assistant Gaffer) - Originally from Belgium, he has been a citizen of South Africa for 8 years. He has been working as a steel artist for 12 years and looking for a change.
Rosemary Shand (Production Assistant) - currently working as a clothing designer and production technologist and pursuing a career in filmmaking.
Adrie van Eeden (Script Supervisor/Continuity person) - is a lecturer in Afrikaans literature. She is a sculptor by day a writer by night and a dreamer all the time.
Sasha Righini (Production Assistant) is a matriculant who part time works in a skate shop and plays in a punk band called Hoax.
Jacques Rossouw (Assistant Grip) is from Ceres, studies full time animation at UCAA and is aiming at being a special effects supervisor.
Mark Garbers (Assistant Camera operator) is currently finishing an electrical engineering degree at UCT. He has a keen interest in camera work and editing.
Natalie Noels (Production Assistant) is an aspirant documentary filmmaker, currently working for an advertisement agency as an account executive.
Katie Reynolds (Production Assistant) is an aspirant filmmaker who is currently writing her matric prelim exams.
Mark Chipps (Script Supervisor/Continuity person) is an experienced IT professional and an aspirant movie editor.
Anton Casciati (Assistant grip) is currently a massage therapist feeling his way into the film making process.
Christiane Dankbar (Assistant to the Director) officially from Germany, is a permanent resident of South Africa and currently works in the NGO sector who wants to get a foot into the industry

To get your own DVD of IN GOD'S COUNTRY, email daniel@writingstudio.co.za

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