Lights, Camera, Action

[Tom Macrery]

When I arrived on Saturday morning it looked like half of SABC had taken over our site. Someone, Bomb something, not SABC, was filming for a commercial for Nampak tissues. The theme was the 1980's. I don't know why they also hired the new Metros. There were loads of serious cameras and lights and reflectors and shading and viewing monitors. There were also the ponytails, literally, yelling and telling everybody what to do; and hoards of technical staff, grips and gaffers and such, setting up and moving things around. There were 4 agencies with their 'extras' ready to 'act' in period costume. And, of course, all those guys had to eat so catering canteens were set up all around. I did not count but I'd guess it took over 50 people to shoot this, probably, 30 second advert. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Rand it must have cost Nampak. Fortunately our own activities were not much affected and we got away with a fairly full train almost on time. Presumably we will see it on TV sometime, OUR train, but, unfortunately, none of OUR people.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Well done Tom, was wondering what it looked like with all those vehicles.