PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
“Pendulum” Gains Further International Acclaim
A short film “Pendulum”, directed by Jason D. Ashberg, was not only screened at the Raindance Film Festival and accepted at the forthcoming Palm Beach International Film Festival, but has also picked up a distribution deal with Australian company Imaginites Limited.
Pendulum is a co-production between Aktiv Pulse Films and Bony Entertainment. Written by Dion Scher, the film details the plight of two students, Zandi (Xolile Tshabalala) and David (David Newton), as they struggle over the decision on an unwanted pregnancy and the implications of their decision.
In June, Pendulum was picked up for worldwide distribution by Imaginites’ Mind Ignite series. “We found it to be thought provoking and deeply touching,” said Producer Anne Maryfield, “the imagery poignant and in keeping with the overall genre of the series. Very different to our other films, and that’s why we selected it, for its originality of content.”
The film was shown at the Raindance Film Festival as part of its line up and has also been selected to screen at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. It continues to achieve critical acclaim from international producers and festivals, which regularly waive entrance fees after viewing the screener tape.
Pendulum features prominent actors such as Xolile Tshabalala (Generations), Shaleen Surtie-Richards (Generations, Fiela se Kind) and Akin Omotoso (Generations, God is African).
Sundry Information
Producers: Akin Omotoso, Dion Scher, Jason D. Ashberg
Director: Jason D. Ashberg
Writer: Dion Scher
DOP: Marius Adams
Editor: Debbie Berman
Composer: Owl
PENDULUM DIARIES
My Lessons in Film making...
SHOOT DAY 1:
Its 4pm and we are getting ready to shoot outside a church near Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Were planning on a 2 night shoot and 1 day shoot. I hate night shoots in general, but it’s the only way to create the dark and mournful look of the film. We set up and the Marius, my DP, begins lighting the car interior. Everyone seems excited yet a little apprehensive. Shooting night exteriors is dangerous due to the soaring crime rate. I've employed Justice, an armed security guard. His name is comforting to me as the sun sinks deeper behind the trees. I visit the cast in their 'dressing room'. They seem upbeat as they rehearse their lines. I feel fortunate to have this cast.
David, a well known theater actor, Xolile, a TV soap star, Akin, a TV and film actor and director whose doing a cameo. He’s also one of my co-producers and helped hook me up with some talented people here. Finally, Shaleen, a seasoned veteran of SA Film and TV. We start shooting the stationary scenes that seem to take forever. The actors are getting tired and so we order coffee to get them going. We are a little behind schedule but nothing to be concerned about. The actors deliver some powerful moments and I hope I can put it all together to mean something. My editor, Debbie is very talented and so I have to put my faith in her.
By 6am, we have completed all the interior shots and we are all exhausted. I'm happy with the performances but I never feel good until I see the dailies.
It’s the first time I’ve shot on Digital Beta so I'm hoping it will look good!
SHOOT DAY 2:
I couldn’t sleep much the whole day. I hope my cast got some rest as it’s going to be a long night! Tonight we are doing driving shot and we remove the back seats of the picture car to get the camera in which takes a while to rig. Finally we're on the road. I ask David to just drive around the block. On the 3rd or 5th take, Xolile notices a suspicious vehicle following us! I'm paranoid enough, having been carjacked before. We drive back to base camp to get Justice! He has his gun and I hope he wont need to use it! On our arrival at base camp, we notice the suspicious car drive away as Justice moves towards us, weapon in hand. Justice radios his patrol cars that arrive five minutes later and patrol the block.
Its 3am, and we are behind schedule due to our little scare. We start shooting and its not going well. The Actors are getting tired and we do countless takes. Finally it’s in the can and we all get the hell out of that area as fast as we can!
SHOOT DAY 3:
It’s the last day of our shoot and I'm happy it’s a day interior scene in a hospital. I hate hospitals. They creep me out! Today we are in a state run hospital that’s falling apart. It’s a perfect location. David, our principle is late. We try getting him on his cell to no avail. Eventually he shows up looking like shit, to tell an incredible story: After the shoot last night, he went to his office to pick something up, and got carjacked! The criminals put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger, but miraculously, the gun jammed and could not fire, so they took his car and fled! I'm relieved he's alive and the fact that he showed up for the film shoot filled me with the deepest respect for him. He is a courageous, and dignified guy and we were all grateful that he is still alive.
The scene is kinda ironic as his role today is to lie in the hospital bed, trapped in a coma! We joke about how ironic it is but we all end off being reflective about the value of life. Sharleen and Akin were in the scene too, and it was great working with such esteemed actors. Sharleen offered a variety of performances to choose from which for a cameo, was really helpful.The day went well and I was grateful once again to everyone!
POST PRODUCTION:
Today I dropped off the footage to my editor, Debbie, to digitize. I returned a few hours later to view the footage and was pleasantly surprised! I helped select the best takes and left her to edit. I prefer not to be there for the first cut and I'm sure she feels the same way!
It’s been a week that I left Debbie with 'my baby'. I felt nervous as she prepared to show me the first cut. We decide I need to get some pick-up shots, so I call Marius, Dion and Akin to set it up.
Pickups: Tonight we returned to the same night exterior location for some pick up shots of trees etc. It didn’t take very long as we had planned exactly what we needed.
A week later, I was back in the edit room. I was happy to see the final cut and happier to learn my friend at the post house was going to color grade my final cut before we go to Titles.
Today is color-grading day and Ian does a great job at it! It takes a few hours and then I drive over to my friend Owl, composer and lead man for the SA band "Q-Zoo". I hand him the final cut and we go through it to re-enforce our ideas for the music.
Exactly a week later, I'm back at Owl's house to hear the soundtrack, which is amazing! It works perfectly for the feel of the film. I call Ted at AVO SOUND who is doing the final sound mix for me for free, which I'm very grateful. He has a time open tomorrow so I'm taking it!
Today, final sound mix day and I'm glad that Owl can make it! I lounge on the couch at the back of the sound studio; allowing Owl and Ted to work their magic. It feels like a day off for me. At the end of the day, they are done with the placing and start mixing down. I continue to watch these wizards work Pro Tools!
Ted needs to go and promises to have it ready for pick up tomorrow!
Today, I'm picking up the final sound mix and when I hear and watch it I'm really happy it came out well!I drop a copy off at Dion who wants to submit it to film festivals. I hope it gets in!
FILM FESTIVALS :
Dion calls me to say that "Pendulum" made it into the "Palm Beach Film Festival" and locally into "Apollo Film Festival".
I feel relieved yet also nervous. The usual feelings that are normal for a filmmaker I guess!
A few days later I hear that a company in Australia is interested in licensing it for
distribution! I look forward to negotiating with them...
VIEW THE TRAILER
WATCH THE FILM
TOP
HOME