Cannes 2011!
For the first time in 3 years we are making the journey to the South of France, to errr work, ummm to network, well to be honest to drink rose and to “meet” people on the terrace of the Majestic at 3am. Yes, lots of business gets done at 3am.
Errm now how do you blow this 'ere voovoozaylah?
Unfortunately it is not the lovely Bev that is making it, it is the lesser of the Gatehousers that is making it. You can contact Joel at his email address: joel@gatehouse.tv or Skype / Whatsapp or any of the new fangled VoIP solutions that you like to use on your iPhone.
Finns finning in the bay...
Gatehouse is sponsoring the South African party this year and it is, of course, THE party to go to on the Friday night. Please contact Joel if you want a ticket.
The better half that will not be there 
Otherwise we will see you on Le Croisette or in the Gutter Bar, passed out, at a table, clutching a beer bottle in each hand, at 6am (as a nameless London creative was).
Bev seen several years ago in Cannes
RIP Cheryl Whitehead
Cheryl of Cellular Dynamics, one of our cellphone rental companies, passed away this weekend after a short illness. This morning was her memorial service, which was well attended by many people from the film industry as well as her family and friends.
It was a time for reflection on a remarkable woman.
Cheryl, we will miss you very much.
All our love
The Gatehouse Gang
It’s not for ever, but it feels like it.
Helmke and her boyfriend Bronte are on their perennial sabbatical, where they head off to their yacht and spend time sailing the globe. At the moment they are in Whangerai, New Zealand, re-equipping their boat and buying supplies (70 litres of rum!)
We all wish them bon voyage and hope that they both have fun and are safe out there in the South Pacific.
Just think, I could be arguing with a 1st AD right now...
Office Easter Egg Hunt
This is why we love Helmke so much. She took it on herself to organise an Easter Egg hunt for the entire office, including off-spring, no matter what denomination they are. Let’s face it everybody loves chocolate.
The hunt took place just after lunch on the day before Good Friday and everyone had a plate with their name on it that they had to find. Some good natured helping of the younger hunters and quick-sticks everyone was tucking into chocolate eggs and bunnies…
Bev and Leah with their plates...
Maynu and Tharaa
Sihle and Khanyisa's plates
The owner of afore-mentioned plate
The great hunt!
"Look at my stash!"
More pictures from the Kart day!
Here are some stills from the Karting Day….
see this mild-mannered production manager? not for long...
directions to Kenilworth
Helmke grinning from ear to ear, about open up a can of whupass
Wearing the Porsche racing jacket did not make the heavy one any faster.
team pink left wondering where it all went wrong...
Martin and Joel ready to supersize your fries
Maynu proudly flying team green's colours!
Fahdwa getting ready to drive Miss Daisy and Friedericke getting ready to bite the head off of a bat in the background.
Pictures from end-of-season breakfast…
It’s the traditional end of season “thank you” to our contract and permanent staff who are the backbone of our service here at Gatehouse. Bev, with her usual attention to detail, had to have 40 minutes to prepare the table with presents, choccies and flowers. When we finally made it to the dining room of the Cape Grace this is what greeted us…
The beautiful table set by Bev and Wendy
all the Gatehousers
her no evil, speak no evil, look no evil
Everyone except Dean
The breakfast being on the friday, it was the day after the indoor karting and Helmke was full of the joys of spring, telling all and sundry about her routing of the competition.
We were only sorry that Bruce could not be there, being in Joburg and Ninja Gee had already started on another job.
To the 2010-2011 Gatehouse crew, you guys rock and we can’t wait for next season to roll around again so that we can invite you all back 
All our love
Bev and the Gatehouse gang
Kart-house!
As an end of season social, we decided to go karting on Gee’s last day (thursday last week). Personally I was quite surprised with the alacrity with which this idea got taken up. Everyone was keen, unfortunately poor Bev had to relieve the baby-sitter and was not able to join, but we all breathed a sigh of relief as we knew that her competitiveness and love of cars would mean she would win. Wendy came with but did not want to drive and the ladies Olga and Griessel were not happy to drive either.
Side bets were quickly places as the first heats were seperated into boys and girls. Helmke Schumacher turned out to be a bit of ringer, with Laila Schecter and Vanessa Hakkinen involved in a tussle for second, with Fahdwa Frantzen driving Miss Daisy to last.
Gee Lauda joined the boys and showed them a thing or two about driving a go-kart, Maynu Senna and Martin Prost being the only boys to take her on. The other places being taken by Joel Berger, Dean Alonso and Torben Brabham.
Times were calculated and it was time for the final. Gee, Maynu, Martin, Helmke, Joel and Laila being the 6 cars in the final it was always going to be tight. Joel led away from the front, but was viciously cut off at the end of the pit straight by Laila, who would have been disqualified if this had been a proper Formula 1 race for driving right up the inside. Helmke, Martin and Maynu raced away for the first three places, with Gee skidding out on the second last lap.
Pizza to finish and that was a wrap on a fantastic day
RED’s Epic and HDRx
What with the Alexa release and the plethora of stills camera manufacturers retooling DSLR’s into film camera bodies, the pressure has been on RED to up their game. We always chat to directors and producers to find out their experience with the technology and what they prefer using. Most of them will roll their eyes when you talk about RED systems. It seems that the Alexa is the date that everyone wants to take to the prom. It’s ruggedness, ease of use and ability to generate 4:2:2 ProRes footage straight to card and subsequently straight into MacBook Pro to be duplicated and to work on the offline makes it the clear winner in the race to be the commercial industry’s workhorse camera.
RED have just released the Epic system, which has a HDR algorithm as part of the package. This allows you a jaw-dropping 18 stops of latitude for your footage. Set your aperture on the lens and watch as the sensor allows you either apply HDR in camera or record RAW and apply 3 different ISO settings to the same footage.
In real terms have a look at this shot set up in Sydney, Australia that goes from the dark of a tunnel to mid-morning bright sun, without any adjustments made to a RED Epic strapped to the front of the car.
one pass, one shot, this could swing the pendulum back towards RED systems…
Expert – lipstick and football released
Finally!
It’s really hard sitting on our hands when we are sworn to secrecy around a commercial. We have loads of pictures around the commercial which you can see below and while we are waiting for hi-res version of the spot you can see it here and here.
Here are some photos of the actual German Women’s Football Team…
The set with the stars...
Lira having last minute make-up done
Kim Kulig, mmmmm Kim.
camera track and our beautiful grass patch
Edge for JWT and Smuggler
This was such a fab shoot, allowing the lovely Neil Harris to return and bringing Gus down with his as producer. Gus and Bev go back more years than they care to remember. In fact certain marketing trips back in the day, when Gus worked in South Africa, were brought up and then hastily shoved aside as naughtiness was remembered with clarity.
Drinks with JWT at La Perla was great fun, even though the wind started to howl. Our friend Marc Algranti from Pulse Music then scurried off for some Mexican with the stragglers.
After the shoot was finished sundowners were enjoyed at the last location in Llandudno, with the standing joke being blasé Gatehousers poo-poo’ing the sunset each day as “not nearly as good as the one 3 weeks ago”, which is typically Capetonian in attitude.
The fun was epitomised by the gushing toast by John, the Edge guy, to loud whoops by Kristen, Billy, Jay and the rest of the agency.
Here are some stills of very busy people on set and Garland Momsen lazing around…
Everyone enjoying a drink on the Llandudno location balcony
Kristen marveling at the totally ordinary Cape Town sunset.
Torben sporting his viking hairdo
Momsen, the dancer, the hottest one south of Habana
Bev and Laila in quite possible the nicest production office ever.
