A film about love in all its crazy wonder and confusion

Trouvoete (2015) marksTarryn-Tanille Prinsloo’S second screenplay. The film is set against the backdrop of a Christmas wedding, with Erica Wessels and Bouwer Bosch playing the romantic leads in a story about love with a comedic touch amongst some serious moments.

Daniel Dercksen shares a few thoughts with Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo

Tell me about Trouvoete, what is about in your own words?
Trouvoete is really just a film about love in all its crazy wonder and confusion. The film comments about how love can ruin you whilst at the same time rescuing you. It is about weddings, bridezillas, groomzillas, misunderstandings and happy endings. It was inspired by the true life events of every broken heart, every love, at first sight, every true love and every happily ever after.

How did you get to write the screenplay?
I am the in-house writer for Phoenix Films and I write most of the screenplays.

Why did you write Trouvoete?
I sat with producer Samuel Frauenstein in a brainstorming session and what was clear from the start was that we wanted a slice of life, the romantic film most people who have been or are in a relationship, not limited to romance, can relate to. It had to be a reminder of the love that has been lost and new love that pulls the carpet right from under our feet.

Did you ever have ‘trouvoete’?
Uhm… I’ve had “birthday feet – yearly”, “heartbroken feet – more often than not”, “happy feet – almost always” and I’ve spotted a few “crow’s feet” but no sign of “trouvoete”.

Was it a difficult screenplay to write?
Every screenplay has its own challenges and with “trouvoete” it was difficult to write something that is fresh and somewhat unpredictable. Films are set in a world where everything is scripted; everyone has sharp comebacks, knee-numbing dialogue, and perfect timing, unlike life. I enjoy watching films that I can relate to and trying to translate that onto paper and ultimately onto screen, can be a challenge at times.

Were there any particular films that inspired your screenplay?
A personal tradition to my festive season is to watch Love Actually and although I’ve been inspired by the film it was rather the idea that there exists this seasonal film, that I can watch anytime throughout the year but almost always on Christmas. There has yet to be such an Afrikaans film. Films that resemble a similar tonality to “trouvoete” is for instance You’ve Got Mail, Bridget Jones’s Diaries, Notting Hill and (500) days of Summer.

What do you think it is about ”wedding films” that makes it such a winning formula?

Melancholia written by Lars Von Trier is a great example of the way in which a wedding forces family and friends together to celebrate a couple’s matrimony. But then again Von Trier prides himself in showing unsettling relationships between his distinct characters. Saying “I do” is a big deal, and many films in the past including Konfetti written by Louw Venter, have emphasised just how big of a deal organising a wedding can be. The list of “wedding films” is extensive. It comes down to conflict and action. Conflict reveals character. Although “trouvoete” is not in any way similar to Melancholia there are two simultaneous conflict triggering events that manage to send the characters through a fair deal of ups and downs i.e. a wedding during silly season. I find the idea of a “winning formula” somewhat contrived and restrictive, as I believe each screenplay has a life and mind of its own. What makes writing so much fun and challenging at the same time is to constantly try to tell the same story differently by relentlessly turning the formula on its head.

Did you write the screenplay with any actors in mind?
No, not specifically. It’s far more liberating to write interesting characters placed in fascinating universes as opposed to keeping actors and their repertoire in mind.

Briefly tell me what the process was from page to screen.
It’s often the case that once the screenplay is submitted to a production studio the writer surrenders and walks away only seeing the finished product for the first time on screen. Being part of Phoenix Films we have brainstorm sessions around the screenplay, along with inputs from the director and producers. After the first draft is submitted, we discuss the screenplay after which rewrites ensue. The number of drafts and rewrites per screenplay can vary anything between three and seven, with that said a lot of rewriting takes place within a single draft. Writing is rewriting. Once the script is locked, scheduling and casting happen followed by production which usually lasts up to four weeks. Post-production takes up most of the time before the film releases along with the marketing campaigns and creatives. It is a gruelling process of non-stop management, administration, deadlines and deliveries from sound to colour grading, picture-lock, and music clearance in order to ultimately sit in front of the big screen and watch the culmination of everyone’s hard work. It is an overwhelming feeling which makes everything worth it.

Were you happy with the end result? Watching it on screen?
Rita Mae Brown says that “you sell a screenplay like you sell a car. If someone drives it off a cliff, that’s it.” I have yet to see one of my screenplays driven off a cliff. The Phoenix Films crew and the team have done a wonderful job with this screenplay.

What was the most exciting part of writing the movie?
I suppose one can only say this in hindsight, but the rewrite stage is as exciting as it is agonising. Shifting scenes around, polishing dialogue, and editing the words, plot points and characters until everything slots into place is exhilarating. It’s like you’re playing pickup sticks, trying to move crucial parts without the entire structure falling apart. It’s a balancing act.

Your views on the future of screenwriters in the local industry?
More and more films are being produced yearly in South Africa which shows that there exists a definite future for screenwriters. Yet to a screenwriter an unproduced screenplay means nothing. Screenwriters writing specifically for the local industry can only grow and become established when given the opportunity of having their screenplays produced. It is crucial that the role of the screenwriter is not undermined or bypassed. The screenplay is the foundation.

What do you think makes a great screenwriter?
It is different for everyone. I would say that patience with yourself and the process is vital, a willingness to evolve and be challenged, and resilience yet receptiveness towards critique.

Any advice for screenwriters who want to see their name on the big screen?
Aaron Sorkin, a master screenwriter of dialogue says it best: “The trick is to follow the rules of classic storytelling. Drama is basically about one thing: Somebody wants something, and something or someone is standing in the way of him getting it. What he wants—the money, the girl, the ticket to Philadelphia—doesn’t really matter. But whatever it is, the audience has to want it for him.” Apart from that, I would say, write every single day, finish your screenplays, send your polished screenplays to producers, keep your eyes open and your ears on the ground and persevere.

What is your next project?
I have two films releasing early next year, Skorokoro in February 2016 and Mignon “Mossie” van Wyk which releases in April 2016. Apart from the new releases I have a screenplay that is set to be filmed in February 2016.

What do you hope audiences will get from watching the film?
That’s the great thing about films. In a cinema with a certain amount of people, not one of the audience’s experiences will be the same. They each walk out with their own personal satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Films prod, poke and provoke, they remind us about memories, people, our mistakes and our triumphs. To everyone who walks out after seeing “trouvoete”, my hope is that they walk out with at least one of these experiences.

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