Elphin Lodge residents flirt with fame
For the second time in two months, Rand Aid Association’s Elphin Lodge has been turned into a film set, much to the delight of residents.
In mid-June, Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre, and Elphin Lodge and Inyoni Creek retirement villages in Lyndhurst, were chosen as locations for a South African film due to be released early next year, Pad na jou Hart.
On August 6, cast and crew members arrived at Elphin Lodge to shoot parts of episode seven of Sterlopers.
The youth drama series, set to premiere on kykNET in April 2014, is a Deon Opperman production and boasts an all-star cast.
The scene shot at Elphin Lodge included Cobus Venter, from soapies such as 7de Laan, Marisa Drummond from Isidingo, Jenna Dunster from Isidingo and 7de Laan and Adrian Alper, who is best known for his leading role as Calvin in Streaks.
While most of the residents who turned up to watch the filming will appear as audience members at a gospel concert, a handful of others had a more active role, interacting with the cast and speaking a word or two.
They obligingly agreed to retake after retake.
Sterlopers explores the underbelly of the South African entertainment industry.
Through 13 episodes of drama, the plot uncovers the devilishly delicious themes of disillusionment, betrayal, desire and scandal associated with the rise to fame and the inevitable fall from grace.
While Elphin Lodge and Ron Smith Care Centre residents, who took part in the filming have some months to wait before they catch a glimpse of themselves on TV, there was great excitement as they recognised the cast.
