Production Paradise

Here is your copy of the May edition of Showcase Cape Town, where we bring you the latest from South Africa's best production and postprod companies, model agencies, hair & make-up agencies, hotels, nightlife and more.

The annual Loerie Awards, recognising greatness in advertising, communications and design, will be taking place on 28-29 July, and the deadline for entries is 15 May. See our feature below for more on this.

Don't forget to search our Cape Town directory for a complete range of visual media companies - www.productionparadise.com.

Our cover was shot by Cape Town photographer Crispian Plunkett [Infidels] for "Holland's Next Top Model".

cpt photography/photo agents: INFIDELS

Infidels photo agency has represented photographers, stylists and hair and make-up artists since 1996, with 2007 proving to be very busy.

Crispian Plunkett - shot and starred in latest edition of Holland's Next Top Model (Netherlands), and Aricept (Finland) with the entire production handled by Infidels.

Igor Polzenhagen - travelled to London to shoot for retail client Arc Angel and has just completed his second campaign for SAB.

Caroline McClelland - her R1 clients shot in South Africa this year, adding local Infidels stylist Anna-Tina to their team. Caroline shot a billboard campaign for Brantano shoes (Belgium) and shot the new Maxmara (South Africa) campaign, styled by Anna-Tina, hair by Merle Titus and make-up by Johanni Nel.

Stephen Greeff - two editorials that he shot for French FHM are now out in the May and June issues.

Luke Foreman - has been busy with clients from the UK, shooting Myleen Klass for Marks and Spencer, You Magazine UK, JD Williams UK. You Mag UK commissioned Luke to travel to Nairobi to shoot reportage shots. He also worked on covers and editorials for Natural Health Magazine UK. Currently working on a photo library project.

cpt production/commercial production: MOONLIGHTING

'One company. Three countries. 100% service. 100% production'. That is the strategy Moonlighting has followed since 2004 when it first took its services beyond South Africa to Chile and Romania.

The company continues to move its producers between countries to accumulate experience and maintain the 'Moonlighting way'. And feedback from clients is good - both at bidding stage, on the different solutions proposed, and during production on the consistent service.

Here, in Cape Town, the firm continue to build its experience and is proud to have shot its 900th international commercial in March. On the feature side, they have just wrapped on Doomsday, starring Rhona Mitra and Bob Hoskins and in production on The Deal, starring Meg Ryan and William H Macy.

Recent Moonlighting credits include:

Coca-Cola for Got Films, Spain
Kohl's for DNA, USA
Flensburger Beer for ChickenShack, Germany
Alfa Romeo for Outsider, UK (shot in South Africa)
Vanity Fair
Post Finance for Rosas'n'Co, Switzerland
Guinness for Acne Films and RSA, USA

cpt production/photo production: VIAGGI INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS

Viaggi International Productions, or V.I.P., have started booking for their approaching European season in Barcelona, Marseille and Athens.

The company would like us to pass on its thanks to its established customers for continuous loyal support, and new customers for giving it the opportunity to prove the quality of its services.

This season's list of clients includes:

• Catalogue clients - Texmoda, Cora, 3 Suisses, ELC, Eastex La Blanche Porte and Stockmann
• Editorial clients - Vogue Ninos, Junior, Gloria, and Cosmopolitan
• Picture libraries - Jupiter Images, Getty Images and MRF
• Advertising campaigns - for brands such as Nokia, Manetti, Valege, Kor@Kor, Jucca, Red Sound, Magilla, Chicco, Guru, Lapin House, Swiss Life, Frutapura, Take Two, Seventy and Pucci Perfumes

cpt production/photo production: FREELINK

It was "Back to Nature" for photo production company Freelink when they went on a shooting safari for Etincelle Couture.

Usually known for their striking studio shoots, Etincelle called on Freelink to lead them into 'uncharted territory'.

The images we bring you here - shot by French photographer Frederic Meylan on a safari lodge north of Johannesburg - evoke the timeless mystique and romance of the African bushveld.

The model, Lorraine van Wyk (represented by Topco), is one of the shooting stars locally.

To capture the authentic African feel of the camp, Freelink called on an all-local crew for production, styling and make-up.

cpt production/photo production: STEEL PRODUCTIONS

Brother and sister team, Caryn and Andre say they had an incredible start to their summer season, and that Steel Productions continues with 'an exciting array of productions and great clients making the 2006/2007 season one of the best yet'.

cpt production/photo production: NORTH SOUTH PRODUCTIONS

North South Productions has been producing throughout the season in Cape Town, Johannesburg, North West Province, Kruger Park and Mauritius.

Projects have included the BMW X5 campaign, Mazda MX-5 launch campaign, Dove, Sony, Tui, AOK, Fa, Marie Claire, Celebrity, more than 14 Tschibo productions and the Azzaro Chrome Legend TV commercial and print campaign, among others.

The company operates in German, French and English, has extensive knowledge of the overseas advertising market, and is technically equipped to handle all levels of production.

Three words that sum up the company - 'dedicated, dynamic and diverse'....

cpt production/photo production: FIRST PRODUCTIONS

First Productions welcomed the latest Miss Switzerland, Christa Rigozzi for Swiss Illustrated and Voegle Shoes for the 5th year running, shot by Sabine Liewald as well as regular client Heine, shot by Dorothea Craven and Peter Schreiber and four productions with Peter Hahn shot by Torsten Ruppert, Magnus Gerwien, Nicole Neumann, Claudia Knoepfel and StefanIndlekofer.

New clients for First Productions this season include:

• Peek und Cloppenburg campaign with Holger Eckstein
• Impressionen & Herti/Karstadt with Torsten Ruppert
• OTTO - Redwood Publishing UK with David Burton
• OTTO image campaign with Silvie VD Vaart as cover model shot by Gyslain Yarhi
• Quelle with photographers Dorothea Craven, Ole Graf, Torsten Ruppert and Nicole Neumann
• Nivea with Sabine Liewald
• Baur with Peter Prix
• Maxima editorial with Peter Schreiber
• Motorola Campaign for Groovy Singapore

First Productions would like to extend their thanks to all their loyal, regular and new clients for their contribution to a successful season.

First Productions' owner Melanie Bold will be marketing in Europe in September. Please contact her should you wish to set up a meeting.

cpt production/photo production: EUROCONNECTION SOUTH AFRICA

EuroConnection South Africa say the last couple of months have been incredible thanks to Pim Thomassen, Claudia Trucco, A&R Photographic, Paul Steenbakker, Bjorn Tagemose, Michael Langhoff and Rene Rozendaal.

Recent productions include:

• C&A with photographer Annabel Sougne
• Vroom & Dreesman with photographer Carmen Kemmink
• Wallis with photographer JP Pietrus
• Philips worldwide with photographer Paul Steenbakker
• Kuyichi Jeans winter campaign with photographer Vivianne Sassen
• Neye with photographer Michael Langhoff
• Body one lingerie with agency Link
• 3 Suisses with photographers Patrice van Maldergem, Rodolphe Pichot and Andre Carrara
• Daxon with photographer Marc Kayne
• Myself Magazine with photographer Wendy Carrig
• Bee Bites with photographer Bruna Rotunno

cpt production/photo production: CAPE TOWN PRODUCTIONS

Over the last few months, Cape Town Productions has shot campaigns for Swatch, Karstadt, Cialis, Opel, Adidas and Tesco.

They report that they thoroughly enjoyed producing M&S with international superstars Twiggy and Laura Bailey - shot by William Garret and wish to thank Lisa Gorman agency in that regard.

They want to pass on their thanks to Uwe Duettmann, Christopher Thomas, FA Cesar, Anatol Kotte, Simon Puschmann and Dan MacNally for their continued support. And they wish to thank everyone at Agency Schierke - for introducing young upcoming photographers (Frithjof Ohm for Holsten); Klein Photographen - for entrusting them with their Breuninger shoot in Mauritius; and Michael Klein - for giving them the opportunity to produce for him in Dubai and Bangkok. Thanks too to Otto UK for Kaleidoscope, and Photolink UK for their continued support.

With autumn approaching in the southern hemisphere, the firm is now quoting on jobs in Greece, Croatia and Portugal.

cpt production/photo production: GAVIN SCHNEIDER PRODUCTIONS

Gavin Schneider Productions produces TV commercials, print advertising, catalogue, photo library and editorial shoots.

Campaigns in the last few months include:

• Philips worldwide
• Allianz Insurance worldwide
• David Mayer Italy
• New Balance worldwide
• Pantene
• Sportmaster TVC
• VO5
• Tesco celebrity campaign

When asked to sum up its service, they say 'The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra'

cpt film/film post production: CONDOR CAPE TOWN

Condor VFX recently had a firm hand in Sony Wega, an award-winning commercial with Velocity Films, where two rooftop soccer players kick around their old TV before kicking and smashing it against a wall. The ad was shot in one take.

Caprisonne 'Jungle', for Cinergy, applied Matte paintings early on in the process, as this would increase production value by creating geography of enhanced scale and adding a greater sense of wonder and adventure to the commercial.

In Nissan 'Lights', for Kiss Films, Condor were given complete creative freedom, manipulating light and motion, and creating a virtual city of lights.

'Hot of Flame' was Condor's first project using the Massive Software.

cpt talent/model agencies: MAX MODELS

Max Models has been busy:

• Minki van der Westhuizen in the latest lingerie campaign for Woolworths, photographer Joe Barberi.
• Loryn van Wyk once again in this summer's latest Prima Donna campaign, photographer Maria Dawlat.
• New face Zilke just three  months after finishing school is jetting off to London and Paris. They say, 'watch this beauty develop'
• Anahi was the cover of South African GQ for April.
• Jenna Peterson appeared on billboards throughout Europe.
• Gina Athans heads to London and has been signed up by Sarah Doukas of Storm London.
• Nicola Breytenbach became the new face of Heaven USA.
• Maryke Pietersen has worked non-stop for the last three months, since leaving school. She is off to Europe for the coming season, one to watch out for...

cpt talent/model agencies: BASE MODEL AGENCY

Base Models have had a busy season so far:

• Saroja - took the lead on television commercials for Pampers, BMW print campaign, Fegro, Leroy Merlin, Hyundai, Splenda and Epi Cheese, among others.
• Chrismo - led on Shauma, Peugeot, Phillips print campaign, Somfy, Elos and Tesco catalogues and Nescafe TV.
• Hanna S - one of Base Model's newest - did her first ever editorials in SA Glamour, French FHM's Bi-Annual Fashion Supplement and BA's In Flight magazine and is now preparing to star in her first TV commercial and local music video.

The recent growth in the agency has been in the area of representing international celebrities worldwide.

CEO Neal Vincent started the agency, a Division of Base Holdings, 8 years ago after returning to South Africa from his modeling and casting/scouting career in Europe that lasted nearly twelve years. His 'very specific' eye has landed on many unsuspecting faces, and turned them into major players in international markets. He has also hosted big-name models from all over the world here in Cape Town.

The agency's motto: 'You are not what you do, you do what you are!'

cpt talent/model agencies: ICE MODELS

Ice Models recent projects:

• Angie Schmidt - appears on the cover of the May issue of Cosmopolitan
• Jamie Carroll - is on the cover of the April edition of Men's Health
• Elbe Van De Merwe - has clinched the SA Sports Illustrated model search and will soon be seen in this year's swimwear edition
• Claire Winstanley - after returning from HongKong, she is now the new face of FCUK
• Megan McKenzie can be seen as the worldwide face of Neutrogena
• Pierre Dolmans - has landed the David Mayer campaign
• Candice Swanepoel - adorns the pages of German Elle's March issue

Steffi Freier, owner of Ice will be participating at the SHOWCASE event as an exhibitor in Zurich on the 14th of June 2007.

cpt talent/model agencies: FUSION MODELS

Fusion Models have been extremely busy.

They highlight campaigns for the following major brands:  

• Nivea
• VO5 Shampoo
• Castrol
• Nissan
• Citroen C4
• VW
• Johnson & Johnson
• OTTO
• Ponds
• Avon
• Moss Bros
• Hanes
• GQ (Russia)
• Elle (Romania)
• Marks & Spencer
• Freemans
• Men's Health
• US Basic
• Lacoste

cpt talent/model agencies: BOSS MODELS

Nina Milner - billed as 'South Africa's next big export', this young model has been a professional dancer and actor or life and is now highly rated by fashion editors throughout South Africa. She has already worked for South Africa and Milan's major photographers and prestigious magazines, and has recently secured the worldwide Wella TV campaign.

Alex ­- has just returned from her successful trip to the Collections in Tokyo and is now on her way to Europe where she is already in demand.

Annelie - following a successful season in Cape Town, Annelie is now gracing many European magazine covers. Boss Management says, 'she is not just a fashion model but a drop-dead performer as well'.

Misha Taylor - coming from a photographic background, Misha is doing very well in the advertising and fashion world, having secured campaigns including Levi's, Carducci, Castrol, and VW.

David Rosenberg - has recently returned to Cape Town after a successful trip to Milan, London and Paris.

cpt talent/model agencies: OUTLAWS MODEL AGENCY

Jemimah Goosen - "Jessica" from the Jetta Mardi Gras ad continues to do very well in commercials, having recently been shot as one of the new faces of Palette Radiance. Outlaws comments, "Her doe-like beauty and soft-spoken manner adds to the TV commercial appeal that she already exudes."

Landi Swanepoel - referred to by Outlaws as the South African Anita Palenberg, this "Peroni Pincess" is London-based but will be jetting in and out of Cape Town for local and direct bookings.

Wade Cowan - one of Outlaws' favourite bachelors, Wade is the star of the latest Revlon South Africa ad that is currently airing. He is also the lead in Simply Red's latest music video. Heading off to Milan in May.

Lyndall Jarvis - contracts for Guess and Bebe is proof enough, say Outlaws, that "Houtbay can produce hotties". She is based in LA, but returns home regularly.

cpt talent/artists & stylists: MONOPOLE HAIR & MAKE UP + STYLING AGENCY

Another successful season has passed and Monopole would like us to pass on its thanks to each and every client that has supported them over the past months and years.

Recent major international campaigns include:

• New Balance International - Liz Olivier (hair & make-up) and Shelly Rankin (styling)
• Philips - Fiona Waddell (hair & make-up) and Leanie Van der Vyver (styling)
• Marks & Spencers - Roan Pinnoy and Sandy Seale (hair & make-up)
• Nike - Renee De Wit (hair & make-up)
• Speedo UK - Roan Pinnoy (hair & make-up) and Shelly Rankin (styling)
• Sony - Kirsty Haupt (styling)
• Adidas - Colleen Paioni (hair & make-up) and Claudia Loureiro (styling)
• Neutrogena - Roan Pinnoy (hair & make-up).

The work of the agency's artists has also been on the pages of Marie Claire (Sweden), Solo Magazine (Sweden), Elle (Holland), Northstar (UK), Vogue Nino and local magazines Cosmopolitan, GQ, Marie Claire and Glamour.

cpt hotel/hotels: KIA ORA BEACH VILLA

Kia Ora is described as 'a soul-soothing and sympathetic blend of modern and luxurious minimalist interior décor built on one of the globe's most beautiful coastlines'.

Glen Beach is sandwiched between trendy Camps Bay with its restaurants, nightife and spacious beaches and the world-famous Clifton Beaches where the beautiful people sunbathe and play.

The 5-bedroom house is built on three levels and offers Meditteranean-style beach living at its best.

Staff are friendly, and are more than happy to organise the services needed for a production project, as well as accommodation.

cpt food/restaurants: MANOLO RESTAURANT

cpt event/advertising events: THE LOERIE AWARDS

The Loerie Advertising Awards were first held in 1978, as a mechanism to support and grow television advertising. Since then they have expanded to encompass every area of brand communication including radio and print advertising, design, architecture, direct marketing, non-broadcast video, live events, and digital media.

The awards are now regionally focussed on Africa and the Middle East, and entries from outside of this region are not eligible.

This year also saw the introduction of 'Everyone's Loerie Award' - a partnership with the SABC, providing an opportunity for the general public to have their say and vote for their favourite radio and television commercials. Most noticeable was the fact that the finalists in the Everyone's Loerie Award were all Loerie winners in the main categories too - a sure signal that the industry has its fingers on the pulse of the consumer!