Namibia’s film industry is set to receive a major shot in the arm shortly if Charlize Theron, Oscar-winning South African movie star, can be enticed to accept the female lead in a film to be shot on location by a local producer in Namibia.

Joel Haikali, well known producer and actor, and proprietor of Joe Vision Production cc, told Artlife this week that he and Rodney Charles of Los Angeles plan to produce the Namibian based feature film titled ‘Feral.’ Haikali said this joint venture is the first of a proposed slate of independent feature films for the two companies which have previously produced award-winning projects.

‘Feral’ is the story of a Namibian man who falls in love with a beautiful American tourist while driving her across the country, but discovers she is searching for an idyllic location to kill herself.
The film will star Haikali, in the male lead role, and will also feature Los Angeles based South African actress/singer, Charlie Charles. The two producers are currently seeking to cast the lead female role, and will shortly be approaching the agents of the well known Charlize Theron and Thandie Newton as potentials.

Thandie Newton, of Zimbabwean and English heritage, is famously known for her role opposite Will Smith in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness.’ She has also starred in movies such as Run, Fat Boy,
Mission: Impossible II, Crash and The Chronicles of Riddick.
Theron has become well known for being the first South African to win an Academy Award for her portrayal of a serial killer in the film ‘Monster.’ She also received a second Oscar nomination for her performance in ‘North Country.’

Joel Haikali, who will play the lead male role, is the Executive Director of Joe Vision Productions, chairperson of The Filmmakers Association of Namibia (FAN) and also the award-winning writer, director and producer of ‘My Fathers Son,’ a Namibian feature film that has recently been screened at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, FESPACO and Festival Du Cannes. Haikali is also recognized as an actor starring in films such as the Charles Burnett feature ‘Namibia: The Struggle for Independence.’

Rodney Charles is the President of Rodney Charles Media Inc. based in Hollywood, California. He is the writer, director and producer of the award-winning feature film, ‘The Disciple,’ which has screened in Toronto, London and the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles where he was awarded the ‘Best New Director’ award. Charles is also recognized for his work as a Hollywood actor and as an international male model for fashion brands like Macy’s, Banana Republic, GAP, Izod and L’Oreal.

The two producers are currently scouting locations throughout Namibia with the support of the Namibian Film Commission, Namibian Tourism and the Namibian Environment and Tourism departments.

Haikali told Artlife: “This is our first project together, and that is why it is important to both of us that this collaboration should work.”
He said ‘Feral,’ being a feature film, would make provision for many supporting and minor roles that will all be played by Namibians. With regard to other possibilities for Namibians, he said: “As a matter of fact, we will only bring in the director and the cinematographer; the rest of the crew will be Namibians.”

If all goes according to plan, shooting is expected to start early next year and the entire film will be shot on location in Namibia, Haikali announced.

Source: New Era