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www.thevillagenews.co.za
20 January 2021
Making Hermanus famous again By Hélène Truter
F
inally! After four years of negotiations, the third series of Swartwater will hit our TV screens on Tuesday 19 January on SABC 2 (DSTV 192) at 19:30. If you've missed the first episode, you can catch it on Youtube in two weeks’ time. The first series of Swartwater (2013) made a clean sweep at the SAFTAs, winning seven awards including best TV series. Swartwater is a fictitious coastal village in the Overberg. The series follows the lives of a Johannesburg couple who move to Swartwater, after the main character accidentally shoots and kills his baby son. Since I live here, it was only natural that I write a TV series based in Hermanus, dealing with local issues. After 52 episodes (series 1 and 2) I was done, satisfied that the story had come full circle. And I moved on to other projects.
(currently available on Showmax) which had to completely stop production during lockdown, I was well aware of the risks. We were determined to come up with a great story in spite of Covid. 'n Boer maak 'n plan.
Filming on Overstrand beaches
The highlight for me was to show off my beautiful hometown to the Johannesburg crew who were truly in awe of everything Hermanus has to offer. Thankfully, we managed to film the beach scenes before the latest Level 3 restrictions came into effect.
During adjusted Level 3 lockdown our beaches are closed for recreational purposes. However, the Overstrand Municipality has announced that filming, classified as a commercial activity, is allowed on beaches (including hotspot areas).
In a nutshell, Swartwater is a love story, mixed with intrigue, tension and a smattering of comedy. The dialogue is authentic and unique to each character. I'm grateful to Tessa January from Hawston for her invaluable help with the local Afrikaans dialect. Can't understand Afrikaans? No problem. Swartwater has built up a sizeable English viewership as the show is subtitled.
However, the viewers weren't done – not by a long shot – and a third series was commissioned.
With so many channels available to the viewer, a new TV series needs to be exceptional to be watched. Swartwater is unashamedly South African with universal themes. The third series has a lighter feel to it, suitable for the whole family. For those of you who may have missed the first two series, rest assured, it has been written with new viewers in mind.
Sandra Vaughan (Kleinmond resident and writer of the blockbuster Semi-Soet) and I started writing Swartwater 3 just before lockdown, and as the pandemic intensified I had to constantly rewrite and adapt, keeping in mind that we would have to film passionate love scenes while adhering to strict Covid protocols. Interesting challenge indeed. Since I'd been on the writing team of Inconceivable
In a sense we're fortunate to have a captive audience because of the curfew. However, you need to be convinced to switch from your current channel (whether it's kykNET, BBC or Netflix) to SABC 2 (DSTV 192) which is totally free, by the way. Even if it's just to spot Kammabaai or Piet se klip. Hopefully the story will keep you hooked and you'll join the inhabitants of Swartwater every Tuesday night at 19:30.
An application for a filming permit should be submitted to the Overstrand Municipality’s area management offices.
ABOVE: Local resident and owner of Amulet, Hélène Truter was the main scriptwriter of Swartwater and also stars in the series. BELOW: A scene for Swartwater 3 with actors Keenan Arrison and Antoinette Louw being filmed at Kammabaai.
A Covid-protocol plan must accompany the application and strict measures must be maintained to safeguard the filming crew and all involved. The Overstrand filming permit is aligned to processes of other coastal municipalities. Overberg Film Studio’s Petro van Dyk has offered to assist film crews with the process of obtaining a film permit. She can be contacted on 079 807 9726.
