BLINDSPOT FILMS

What started out as a fixed team filmmakers developed into a creatively led film-collaborative. Today, Blindspot is directed by Philip du Plessis and invigorated by a trusted team of co-creatives. Based in Stellenbosch and vested in Amsterdam, we’re often the preferred film-team to record European-funded projects in Africa.

APPROACH

We do film production from start to finish and swear by the following: If documentary, cultural immersion is key. When promotional, we tackle the process as follows:

  • Analyse
  • Concept
  • Storyboard
  • Voice Over
  • Record
  • Video Edit
  • Animate
  • Colour Grading
  • Sound Design

At first, we meet-up and have an explorative session. We don’t only do this to collect heaps of information – this is very important of course – we also do this to step into your world, getting to the bottom of your culture and most importantly, understanding your target audience. This we do for free!

When we have a proper understanding about what it is that makes you tick, we go back to the drawing board and develop a concept. Although presented to you in an informal feedback session, the concept forms a valuable part of our offering and is therefore paid-for.

When everyone’s happy with the concept, we shake on it and work out a guideline for the recording phase. When leaning towards a documentary, a shot plan will do, but if explainer, a detailed storyboard is developed.

Based on the information analysis, we draft a voice over script in a tone and style that rings true for yourself and your target audience.

At this point, pre-production is officially finished and we start off of with the production process. Not only does this involve filming, but also sound and voice over recording.

As soon as recording is finished, we start with film editing. The more the footage, the longer the editing. The more extensive the interviews … same story. When finished, we present to you a rough cut.

Based on the voice over script and the storyboard, the information is visualised by means of moving graphics. This clarifies the message and makes for a more convincing video. Within this phase titles and are also added.

An important part of post-production is the colour grading of the footage. ‘Why is this necessary?’, you may ask. So when footage are colour graded, flat colours are brought to life in such a way that it contributes to a particular mood in the film.

Equally important to the film editing is the sound design. Within this stage the sound is mixed, optimised and designed to draw the viewer closer to the story.

APPROACH

We do film production from start to finish and swear by the following: If documentary, non-judgemental cultural immersion is key. When promotional, we tackle the process as follows:

Analyse

At first, we meet-up and have an explorative session. We don’t only do this to collect heaps of information – this is very important of course – we also do this to step into your world, getting to the bottom of your culture and most importantly, understanding your target audience. This we do for free!

Concept

When we have a proper understanding about what it is that makes you tick, we go back to the drawing board and develop a concept. Although presented to you in an informal feedback session, the concept forms a valuable part of our offering and is therefore paid-for.

Storyboard

When everyone’s happy with the concept, we shake on it and work out a guideline for the recording phase. When leaning towards a documentary, a shot plan will do, but if explainer, a detailed storyboard is developed.

Voice Over

Based on the information analysis, we draft a voice over script in a tone and style that rings true for yourself and your target audience.

Record

At this point, pre-production is officially finished and we start off of with the production process. Not only does this involve filming, but also sound and voice over recording.

Video Edit

As soon as recording is finished, we start with film editing. The more the footage, the longer the editing. The more extensive the interviews … same story. When finished, we present to you a rough cut.

Animate

Based on the voice over script and the storyboard, the information is visualised by beans of moving graphics. This clarifies the message and makes for a more convincing video. Within this phase titles and are also added.

Colour Grading

An important part of post-production is the colour grading of the footage. ‘Why is this necessary?’, you may ask. So when footage are, flat colours are brought to life in such a way that it contributes to a particular mood in the film.

Sound Design

Equally important to the film editing is the sound design. Within this stage the sound is mixed, optimised and designed to draw the viewer closer to the story.

CLIENTS

In half a decade, Blindspot has partnered with all sorts of clients. From local, community-based organisations to internationally acclaimed universities; from high-tech innovation managers to multi-national NGO’s. Not only have they played a fundamental part in establishing our portfolio, they’ve also shaped our approach in building reliable client relations.

PARTNERS

Blindspot stands in strong partnership with the following parties.

partners-unravelling
Unravelling is a cause-based organisation that inspires leaders to explore their vocation. Led by Francois Malherbe, Blindspot has often partnered with Unravelling to document his travels within Africa.
partners-dewebtuin
Owner of De Webtuin, Bram Roenhorst, has played a significant part in establishing Blindspot on European shores. On an ad-hoc basis, Bram represents Blindspot in the Netherlands.
partners-gosse
Based in Amsterdam, independent filmmaker and scriptwriter Gosse Bouma extends Blindspot international arm when filming in Europe is required.
SG
Stellenbosch Gemeente will be housing for 2017 while collaborating on a variety of short documentary films.

SECTORS

Ever since 2011 we’ve become used to being thrown into the deep end. From hearing dozens of life-changing stories to witnessing the positive impact of many organisations. In the process our film experience has deepened within the following sectors:

Health

Education

Socioeconomics

Sport

Technology

Travel

HISTORY

1

June 2008: A Blind Spot Productions was founded

In 2008, A Blind Spot was founded by Stephan Fourie and Benjamin Marnewick when they produced the music video, Music Box for the Orange Stilettos.

4a

November 2009: Feature film

During the course of 2009, Benjamin Marnewick wrote, directed and filmed his first feature film, Preek. A Blind Spot had the honour of producing this acclaimed film.

2

April 2011: Two additions to the family

Shortly afterwards, sound designer, Rhyno Jansen, and fine artist, Hanrie van Heerden, joined the filmteam.

4a

May 2011: It’s official!

As work started piling up, A Blind Spot was registered as a company in 2011. The acting directors were Benjamin Marnewick, Hanrie van Heerden, Rhyno Jansen and Stephan Fourie.

5

March 2012: And the family got bigger

In March 2012, Philip du Plessis joined as producer.

6

April 2012: Africa meets Europe meets Africa

In April 2012, the company was selected to produce 9 documentary promo’s for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Managed by the Seeds Consortium, the team told the stories of 9 educational initiates sponsored by the Dutch government.

7

February 2013: Oxford University Press

In February 2013, friend of A Blind Spot, Liezl van Zyl from Stellenbosch University, linked us up with Oxford University Press. What followed was four promotional short films for the publisher.

8

September 2013: Critical acclaim

Director Benjamin Marnewick’s feature film, Preek, received critical acclaim when it was chosen to screen at the KykNET Silwerskerm Festival in Kalk Bay, Cape Town.

9

August 2014: I Amsterdam

With meetings at Oxfam Novib, Stop Aids Now and Doctors Without Borders, Philip du Plessis went on the company’s first networking expedition to Europe in August 2016.

stephan

September 2014: Skills development in Angola

In August 2014 Stephan dared to travel with a light aircraft to a remote part of Angola. This was to film the development of theological and skills development centre in Kinkuni, Angola.

11

March 2015: Victory with an international bid

When A Blind Spot was asked to take part in an international bid for producing four documentary portraits in Zimbabwe, the team grabbed the opportunity with all fours. In March 2015, the company was chosen as the preferred film team by the acclaimed Dutch organisation, Stop Aids Now!.

12

September 2015: European stint

When asked to film a Dutch festival for South African television, A Blind Spot did its first European filming stint at Harlekijn en de Zuid-Afrikaanse Dagen. This also led to an interview with internationally acclaimed artist, Herman van Veen in September 2015.

13

October 2015: HIV in Swaziland

Philip du Plessis, Stephan Fourie and Nathi Mphindwana joins Stop Aids Now! Communications Officer, Maureen Sellmeijer, for a visit to Swaziland. Their mission? To document the progress made with the country’s national HIV prevention programme.

14-1

March 2016: Reporting on the war in Syria

In March 2016 Philip du Plessis and Nathi Mphindwana visited Al’Mafraq – a small Jordanian town next to the Syrian border – to film the stories of Syrian refugees.

15

April 2016: Celebrating South African culture abroad

In the run-up for the second Afrikaanse Kultuurfees Amsterdam, A Blind Spot filmed promotional interviews with artists Karen Zoid, Emo Adams, Antjie Krog and Nicola Hanekom in March 2016.

16

April 2016: Dis hoe ons rol met Jack Parow

In April 2015 Philip helped film an episode for a South African travel programme starring South African rapper, Jack Parow.

17

July 2016: World Aids Conference

After the team’s finalised the documentaries on HIV in Zimbabwe, it was screened at the International Aids Conference in Durban in July 2016.

18a

July 2016: New director

In July 2016, Philip du Plessis steps in as sole director of Blindspot, with the rest of the team collaborating on an ad-hoc basis. With new leadership, the company was given a fresh coat of paint. What used to be known as A Blind Spot Productions changed into Blindspot films in August 2016.

19

September 2016: West-European festival

Back again in Western Europe, Blindspot crossed the lowlands to do a weeklong report on a literary road show for ShowMax International. Moving between the cities of Amsterdam, The Hague and Brussels, Bram Roenhorst and Philip du Plessis followed literary heavyweights such as Marlene van Niekerk, Marita van der Vyver and Simon Bruinders presenting their work to a European audience. An exclusive interview with veteran journalist, Adriaan van Dis was also thrown into the mix.