Film crew downed by apparent food poisoning
The 26 film crew that apparently suffered food poisoning was part of an international Disney movie shot in Pretoria.
More than half of an international film cast and crew suffered apparent food poisoning while working in the city centre on Saturday.
Details were still sketchy at the time of going to print, but emergency services confirmed that 26 people involved in the filming of The Queen of Katwe, were taken to Steve Biko hospital for alleged food poisoning.
ER24 confirmed at the weekend that 26 of the 40 international film crew members complained of stomach cramps and nausea after having lunch on a site they were filming at in the city centre.
Other scenes from the film, which is based on the true story of a young girl who grew up in an informal settlement called Katwe in Kampala, Uganda and later went on to become a world champion chess player, will be filmed in the small disadvantaged community of West Fort in the west of the city, Wonderboom Airport and in Atteridgeville.
However, when the international film crew were busy in the CBD on the weekend, many involved in the film, based on the book The Queen of Katwe: One Girl’s Triumphant Path to Becoming a Chess Champion, fell ill.
“As time went by, more and more people started to develop the same symptoms,” said ER24 spokesperson Pieter Rossouw.
According to reports, the international Disney film, starring Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and actor David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo, shot scenes of the movie when the crew fell ill. The film is expected to be released next year.
The set moved to Pretoria this week after filming part of it in Johannesburg was finalised.
Mayoral spokesperson Blessing Manale said the film was being shot in Pretoria West until 14 June.
“The film is part of the Gauteng Film Commission that brings movie filming to some parts of the province. The cast is highly protected as there are a few international actors avoiding attention,” Manale said.
It is not confirmed whether Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, and Oyelowo were among those who had been affected by the suspected food poisoning.
Genevieve Hofmeyer, spokesperson for Moonlighting Films which is shooting the film locally, could not be reached to confirm the filming nor the poisoning of the crew.
“ER24 treated the crew and they were transported a to hospital by various other services,” Rossouw said.
“The exact cause of the incident remains unknown but it is believed to be food poisoning caused by a chicken dish that was served.”
Despite the weekend’s misfortune, some residents of Wes Fort were reportedly very excited about the film being shot in their humble place of residence. At least 80 adults and 40 children from the Wes Fort community will be used as extras in the movie.
The Holy Trinity High School in Atteridgeville was another location to be used for shooting the film.
Filming in the Tshwane area continues until 18 June.
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