Gray Hofmeyr
Encyclopedia
Gray Hofmeyr is a South Africa
n film and television director.
In a career that spans almost three decades, Hofmeyr's films have touched many themes and genres.
and writers in South Africa
. He has won more awards than any other in South Africa and over twenty actors and actresses have won best performance awards under his direction.
at the BBC
.
He began directing for television in 1975 and in 1992 began an award winning scriptwriting career. He was a key figure in the early days of television in South Africa, having directed this hit series: The Villagers and popular comedy series People Like Us, The Big Time and Suburban Bliss. He also directed the made-for-TV films The Outcast, Two Weeks in Paradise and Thicker Than Water.
Hofmeyr also created and produced the popular South African drama
series, Isidingo which has become the flagship series for SABC 3
and has captured audiences across the cultural spectrum. In addition, he created a daily youth soap for the independent free-to-air channel eTV
.
He has directed six feature films, four of which he co-wrote. He directed Leon Schuster's
Sweet and Short, There's a Zulu On My Stoep
, Mr Bones
and Mama Jack
. He has also directed the film of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick's classic novel Jock of the Bushveld
and Schweitzer which starred Malcolm McDowell
and Susan Strasberg
. In January 1997 Hofmeyr became Head of Drama for Endemol South Africa, a division of Dutch-based
Endemol Entertainment, one of the largest television companies in Europe.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n film and television director.
In a career that spans almost three decades, Hofmeyr's films have touched many themes and genres.
Biography
Gray Hofmeyr is considered to be one of the foremost film and television directorsFilm director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and writers in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He has won more awards than any other in South Africa and over twenty actors and actresses have won best performance awards under his direction.
Career
Hofmeyr began his career in television in the 1970s in the United Kingdom where he was a floor managerFloor manager
The Floor Manager is the Director's representative on the studio floor, and is responsible for giving instruction and direction to crew, cast and guests. It is closest to the role of an Assistant Director, as the job frequently entails barking orders to keep a production moving to schedule. The...
at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
He began directing for television in 1975 and in 1992 began an award winning scriptwriting career. He was a key figure in the early days of television in South Africa, having directed this hit series: The Villagers and popular comedy series People Like Us, The Big Time and Suburban Bliss. He also directed the made-for-TV films The Outcast, Two Weeks in Paradise and Thicker Than Water.
Hofmeyr also created and produced the popular South African drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
series, Isidingo which has become the flagship series for SABC 3
SABC 3
SABC3 is a commercial South African Broadcasting Corporation television channel that carries programming in English and, as of April 2009, Afrikaans....
and has captured audiences across the cultural spectrum. In addition, he created a daily youth soap for the independent free-to-air channel eTV
E.tv
e.tv is the fifth terrestrial television channel in South Africa, following three channels operated by the state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation and the privately owned subscription-funded M-Net, operated by Multichoice...
.
He has directed six feature films, four of which he co-wrote. He directed Leon Schuster's
Leon Schuster
Leon Ernest "Schuks" Schuster is a South African filmmaker, comedian, actor, presenter and singer.- Early life :Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age...
Sweet and Short, There's a Zulu On My Stoep
There's a Zulu On My Stoep
There's a Zulu On My Stoep is a 1993 South African comedy film by the comedy filmmaker Gray Hofmeyr starring Leon Schuster and John Matshikiza...
, Mr Bones
Mr Bones
Mr. Bones is a 2001 slapstick comedy film made and set in South Africa. Leon Schuster, well-known figure in the South African film industry, starred in the title role. He also created the story and co-wrote the screenplay...
and Mama Jack
Mama Jack
Mama Jack is a 2005 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr and distributed by Nu Metro.Tagline: He's hiding out... in someone else! or alternatively He's back... in black!-Plot:...
. He has also directed the film of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick's classic novel Jock of the Bushveld
Jock of the Bushveld
Jock of the Bushveld is a true story by South African author Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick. The book tells of Fitzpatrick's travels with his dog, Jock, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, during the 1880s, when he worked as a storeman, prospector's assistant, journalist and ox-wagon transport-rider in the...
and Schweitzer which starred Malcolm McDowell
Malcolm McDowell
Malcolm McDowell is an English actor with a career spanning over forty years.McDowell is principally known for his roles in the controversial films If...., O Lucky Man!, A Clockwork Orange and Caligula...
and Susan Strasberg
Susan Strasberg
Susan Elizabeth Strasberg was an American film and stage actress.-Background and career:Strasberg was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of theatre director and drama coach Lee Strasberg of the Actors Studio and former actress Paula Strasberg...
. In January 1997 Hofmeyr became Head of Drama for Endemol South Africa, a division of Dutch-based
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Endemol Entertainment, one of the largest television companies in Europe.
Selected filmography
- Jock of the BushveldJock of the BushveldJock of the Bushveld is a true story by South African author Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick. The book tells of Fitzpatrick's travels with his dog, Jock, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, during the 1880s, when he worked as a storeman, prospector's assistant, journalist and ox-wagon transport-rider in the...
(1992) - Sweet 'n ShortSweet 'n ShortSweet 'n Short is a 1991 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr.Tagline: Oh Schucks...it's the New South Africa!.- Plot :...
(1992) - There's a Zulu On My StoepThere's a Zulu On My StoepThere's a Zulu On My Stoep is a 1993 South African comedy film by the comedy filmmaker Gray Hofmeyr starring Leon Schuster and John Matshikiza...
(1993) - Mr BonesMr BonesMr. Bones is a 2001 slapstick comedy film made and set in South Africa. Leon Schuster, well-known figure in the South African film industry, starred in the title role. He also created the story and co-wrote the screenplay...
(2001) - Mama JackMama JackMama Jack is a 2005 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr and distributed by Nu Metro.Tagline: He's hiding out... in someone else! or alternatively He's back... in black!-Plot:...
(2005) - Mr Bones 2 (2008)
- Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South AfricaSchuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South AfricaSchuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa is a 2010 comedy film directed by Gray Hofmeyr, co-written by Gray Hofmeyr and Leon Schuster and starring Leon Schuster and Alfred Ntombela....
(2010)