Stillking Cape Town executive producer and managing director, Charlie Hey, chats to LBB’s Tará McKerr about life in South Africa and how the country’s cultural vibrancy has shaped his relationship with the production industry.
Charlie Hey has been swooning over the film industry for 25 years now. He started off in Cape Town, beginning as a production runner and then coordinator, followed by five years spent freelancing in London. Upon returning to Cape Town, he scaled the production ranks to where he is today, heading Stillking Cape Town office, part of the Compass Rose group. Charlie doesn’t describe himself as creative, but he absolutely is. His innovative approach to problem solving is one of the reasons he’s an industry veteran.
Charlie has shot all over South Africa. From barren desert and sand dunes to tropical jungle and pretty much everything in between – there are few people better suited to tell us what the country has to offer for producers. Whilst you might visit for the plummeting waterfalls with over 3,000ft drops, or escarpments wonderful enough to leave you stunned, Charlie reckons you might stay for something much closer to the ground. For him, it’s the people that make the place what it is.
In this interview, we delve into Charlie’s upbringing in apartheid South Africa, his unexpected entry into the production industry, and his deep affection for the country’s landscapes, culture and food. We find out about his memorable shoots and reflections on how production has evolved over time. He’ll even let you in on where to find an untouched paradise just over an hour from Cape Town and where to slurp some beer in South Africa’s oldest pub…
Read the full interview: https://www.lbbonline.com/news/charlie-heys-love-letter-to-south-africa