Local with no acting experience lands plum role

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Mossel Bay woman who has no real acting experience, is in a in full-length feature film which will be screened at 19 cinemas across South Africa, starting on 26 September.

Even more amazing is that this was Chalene Havenga's first audition ever and her first film and also, she plays a major role in it.

'Unknowns'

All the actors are "unknowns". The director of the film, Marshin Cupido, won the LA Foreign Film Award for his previous movie, Die SMS.

Another startling fact is: "We did our own stunts and make-up," says Chalene.

"We worked with a lot of talented people." The movie is titled, Hydan, a play on the word, hidin' - hiding, without the "g". "That is something you will figure out when you see the movie," Chalene says.

Suspense

Sketching the story line of the suspense thriller, Chalene says she plays Paula de Villiers, who makes a mistake, falls pregnant and opts to terminate the pregnancy.

"She gets herself into trouble and then finds herself in even more trouble."

Speaking about the filming, Chalene says: "It was a lot of work.

It was filmed in Cape Town and we finished filming in eight days."

This is a huge feat, for a full-length feature film, she points out.

Chalene says the film has been bought by an overseas company.

"When the SA film circuit has been completed, it will be released overseas on a streaming service."

Mentor

Explaining how she landed this plum role, Chalene says: "I did a short film course last year with Speeltoneel and my mentor was Sean van Noordwyk from Getroud met rugby."

Speeltoneel is an opportunity-driven project that offers up-and-coming actors, dancers and singers from the age of six, the opportunity to act, sing or dance in a short film on national television.

Chalene continues: "Sean was our mentor and he sent us the information about the audition and I took a chance and auditioned for the movie and I got the role. It was very cool."

She notes that if anyone is in the Cape Town area on 26, 27 or 28 September, Grand West Casinos, will be hosting the premier for the film on those days.

Tickets are R90 and anyone may attend.

Chalene admits: "My role was difficult to play because it is about aborting a baby. I am a mom. Paula is rich, selfish and bored. She does have some redeeming moments.

"The filmmakers are discussing a sequel, because the film ends on cliff-hanger moment."

Equipment

The equipment used to make the movie was the same gear as that used to make professional films in the United States, Chalene says.

"We had a limited budget. We wished we had more funding for artistic stuff." Chalene, aged 38, says she always wanted to act.

She did study a bit of acting after school, at Tygerberg College in Bellville, but she did not complete her course.

She is an administration clerk, working for a respected specialist medical practitioner in Mossel Bay.

She grew up in Mossel Bay, attending Park Primary School and then moving to Milkwood Primary when it first opened. "I was in the first Grade 1 class when Milkwood opened."

She then went to Point High School. After her stint of studying in Bellville, she went to London to live and work for two and a half years.