WINNER: BEST AFRICAN FEATURE FILM JOZI FILM FESTIVAL 2016 MAGICAL REALISM WORLD-BUILDING HERMANUS LOCATION SET BUILDS

THE WHALE CALLER

FEATURE FILM • PRODUCTION DESIGN (2016)

“Adapted from Zakes Mda's acclaimed novel, the production design grounds lyrical magical realism in authentic coastal craftsmanship — charting the eccentric psyche of an outcast who serenades southern right whales from the windswept cliffs of Hermanus.”

DIRECTOR

Zola Maseko

Starring Sello Maake Ka-Ncube & Amrain Ismail-Essop

PRODUCER

Dylan Voogt

Stage 5 Films / Blackroots Productions

CLIENT & PARTNERS

Ster Kinekor Entertainment

Co-funded by IDC, GFC, DAC, & the dti

ROLE

Production Designer

Warren Gray, BFDG

PRIMARY LOCATIONS

Hermanus, Western Cape

Coastal Cliffs, Seaside Shacks & Whale Bay

ARCHIVE VOLUME

3 Presentation Boards

1080p Master Portfolio Scans

Production Design Vision & Architectural Realization

“The visual language of The Whale Caller was built around magical realism, externalizing the solitary, eccentric psyche of its protagonist through his physical habitat and coastal environment. Rather than creating generic beachside shacks, the Whale Caller’s Wendy house was conceived as a lived-in nautical reliquary — designed in 3D CAD and realized on location in Hermanus with distressed driftwood siding, weathered teal and kelp-amber color swatches, and working fisherman prop dressing. The color palette was meticulously coordinated with the DOP, balancing natural wood hues with sun-bleached coastal blues to evoke a dreamlike romance between man, land, and sea.”

— Warren Gray, Production Designer

Showing 3 of 3 Archival Presentation Slides

SHEET 01

WORLD CONCEPT & RELEASE

The Whale Caller - Production Overview, Ster Kinekor Theatrical & World Concept

Sheet 01 — Production Overview, Ster Kinekor Theatrical & World Concept

Page 47 • Theatrical Banner, Hermanus Setting & Jozi Film Festival Winner

THEATRICAL LAUNCH & MAGICAL REALISM CONCEPT: Comprehensive production presentation board highlighting the nationwide Ster Kinekor theatrical release, Jozi Film Festival award laurels (Winner: Best African Feature Film 2016), and key thematic directives. Outlines how the visual world of Hermanus was conceptualized through character design-driven interiors and a unified color palette engineered in lockstep with the Director of Photography.

Blackroots Productions Stage 5 Films Dir. Zola Maseko Winner Best African Feature Film

SHEET 02

3D ARCHITECTURE & BUILD

Sheet 02 — The Whale Caller's House: 3D CAD Architectural Drafting & Realized Set Build

Page 48 • 3D Axonometric Model vs. Realized Hermanus Coastal Location Set

ARCHITECTURAL PROTOTYPING & LOCATION SET REALIZATION: Side-by-side presentation illustrating Warren Gray's complete 3D axonometric digital CAD model of the Whale Caller's Wendy house juxtaposed against the physical, fully constructed location set in Hermanus. Showcases the elevated stone plinth foundation, distressed timber shutters, open timber-framed veranda, and authentic fisherman set dressing reflecting the lived-in solitude of a man enamored with a whale.

3D CAD Drafting Wendy House Architecture Fisherman Set Dressing Hermanus Location Build

SHEET 03

FINISHES & ON-SET STILLS

Set Finishes, Texture Palette & Cinematic On-Set Production Stills

Sheet 03 — Material Textures, Color Swatches & Cinematic On-Set Production Stills

Page 49 • Weathered Wood Swatches, Color Palette Specification & Film Frames

PALETTE SPECIFICATION & FILM STILL INTEGRATION: Detailed production designer specification board dated 30 Oct 2015. Documents the aged exterior finishes, outdoor fish cleaning workstation dressing, natural wood aging without varnish, texture palettes, and comprehensive color swatches (ranging from ocean cerulean and kelp gold to deep driftwood brown and coastal charcoal). Right side features on-set production stills showing the physical sets under camera lighting with actors Sello Maake Ka-Ncube and Amrain Ismail-Essop.

30 Oct 2015 Specification Aged Wood Palette Texture Samples On-Set Production Stills