Meet the family filmmakers

André Scholtz and Dries Scholtz have taken the filmmaking industry by storm and they still growing. This father and son team has produced and edited some of the best South African films of all times. Dries has produced and edited Ek Joke Net! and Agent 2000. He has also worked as an assistant editor and unit manager on Mr Bones 2, Bakgat sequels, Nightdrive, Superhelde, Running Riot and Rainbow Skellums.

On the other hand, André has produced and co-produced 27 films and seven TV dramas and sitcom series and some have been on SABC, Mnet and Kyknet.

Inspired by his parents Dries said it was fun growing up in a house of filmmakers as there was always something to do or watch.

According to André the influence of a contracting economy and the struggle to identify commercial properties [scripts], they are never sure of what is going to happen next.

“The film industry is definitely not for the fainthearted and times have and they will always be tough and demanding,” André said firmly.

He also pointed out that internet piracy is of one of their major challenges in the film industry.

“Our government must create the will power to set legislation with regards to piracy,” André said.

André began his career in the film distribution part of the industry in 1970.

Having worked with Leon Schuster on numerous productions André said “it is always a challenge working for a perfectionist but knowing that our end product will have a positive result makes it better”.

“I aim to produce until I cannot add one and two together,” André said with great enthusiasm.

Like his father, Dries said he will produce films until he is unable to work. The last two films that André and Leon Schuster produced are Schucks I am Gatvol and Schucks your Country needs you. Together the films grossed R50 million. André hopes to produce his 30th film with his son in the next five years.