#ATYPICALINTERVIEW: SAMEER NAIK

WRITER, producer and director Travis Taute is known for his work on the hit Netflix series Blood and Water, where he stars as an actor. He is also a writer on the show.

Taute is also responsible for directing South Africa’s latest action film Indemnity, which opened in cinemas last month, and Nommer37, which won a Safta in 2015 for best short film.

Taute, co-founder of Gambit Films, has also directed and produced 20 short films and numerous music videos, commercials, and documentaries, and is a producer on the popular local soap drama, Suidooster, which has already aired more than 1 500 episodes.

You are stuck on an island with the cast of Indemnity. You have to split into teams of two to gather food and survive. Which cast member do you team up with?

Jarrid (Geduld). He’s the most physically capable person I know so he would be extremely handy if we were stuck on an island. Nicole (Fortuin) would be a close second. though. I feel she would just know things I don’t. Like which plants are poisonous and which are safe to consume.

You are able to cast any actor and actress in a new movie. Who do you choose to cast and why?

Actor Tom Hardy, he is one of the most versatile and magnetic actors in Hollywood today.

And actress Viola Davis – I’m just obsessed with everything she does. What a powerhouse of a performer.

Quentin Tarantino or Martin Scorsese?

Scorsese. I might be one of the few people in the world who is not a major Tarantino fan.

You can shoot a film in any location around the world. Where do you choose to shoot?

For selfish reasons, I’m going to choose an island like Mykonos in Greece. But that’s more about the off days and the lifestyle around shooting than about the project itself. Otherwise I might go with Bangkok, Thailand. You can point a camera in any direction and have a stunning visual.

What makes a great film director?

Someone constantly willing to learn from those with more experience, and with the innate ability to collaborate and be a leader. Film-making is a team sport and your job as a director is to bring out the best in your team so they can help you create the vision only you have in your imagination. It’s impossible to do alone and without a clear vision and a strong leader.

Your favourite restaurant to eat out at?

Chef’s Warehouse. Because I don’t have to pick one dish. It’s a tapas style set menu, so you get the best of everything. I highly recommend it.

If you had the opportunity to make a biographical film about any South African, who would you choose and why?

Probably Christian Barnard or Penny Heyns. My favourite biographical films are ones that inspire, be it through overcoming immense challenges to achieve a goal or changing the course of history.

Your biggest regret in life is?

I genuinely don’t believe in regrets. I think all of life’s experiences (good and bad) ultimately make us better versions of ourselves. But I’m sad about certain things. Like missing the world premiere of Indemnity in Montreal, Canada due to Covid travelling restrictions.

A restaurant wants to pay homage to you with a Travis Taute dish. You can choose the dish. What is it?

Most likely a risotto. But they better not mess it up. I’ll know.

What movie can you watch over and over again?

Can I say The Lord of the Rings? It’s technically one movie split into three. I’ve seen it about a thousand times and will probably continue to watch it for the rest of my life.