My Dad the Alien

My Pa die Alien (My Dad the Alien) (2025) is based on a bizarre short story by the Afrikaans author RR Ryger (casted as Abraham in the film). Further inspiration stems from the experiences of contemporary young adults in South Africa, specifically those raised by working-class parents with issues involving addiction. ‘Hereditary trauma’ acts as the main theme of the production, along with a ‘slice-of-life’ style allowing the audience to view the realities of a self-destructive family unit. The overall intent, involved the creation of something new and exciting in a language rarely represented in a realistically vulgar and violent manner.
It was an opportunity to express myself and my wild ideas in a way that would test my abilities as a filmmaker. The shooting process was chaotic due to power outages, destructive stormy weather and a tight, ever-dwindling budget. This was indeed a passion project; therefore the entirety of pre- and post-production was my responsibility and mine alone. Because of the previously mentioned weather conditions, all on-set sound ended up being completely unusable and had to be overdubbed in post, which was a grueling and time consuming process. It took about a year and a half to write, shoot and edit My Pa die Alien (My Dad the Alien) (2025). It was a daunting, yet fulfilling project and I strongly believe that it will discover its audience.

(In Afrikaans)
My Pa die Alien (2025) is gebaseer op ´n bisarre Afrikaanse kortverhaal deur die skrywer RR Ryger (wat die rol van Abraham vertolk in die film). Verdere inspirasie is getap uit die ondervindings van huidige jong volwassenes wat in werkersklas huishoudings met verslawingsprobleme grootgeword het. ‘Oorerflike trauma’ vorm die hooftema en word oorgedra in ´n ‘slice of life’-styl wat die kyker toelaat om die selfvernietigende gedrag van ‘n gebroke gesinseenheid te beleef. Die plan was om iets nuuts en opwindend te skep, met ´n taal wat buite die gewone in ´n vulgêre en gewelddadige manier verteenwoordig word.
Dit was ´n kans om my identiteit en my wilde idees uit te druk in ´n manier wat my vaardighede kon toets. Dit was ´n chaotiese afneemproses te wyte aan; kragonderbrekings, vernietigende stormweer en ‘n klein, kwynende begroting. Dit was ook ´n baie persoonlike projek, dus was die algehele produksie van begin tot einde alleenlik my verantwoordelikheid. Nog tydsame frustrasies behels die op-stel klankopnames wat heropgeneem moes word omdat die stormagtige weer ´n onewe klankbaan veroorsaak het. In totaal, het dit ´n jaar en ´n half geneem om die film aanmekaar te sit. Dit was ´n veeleisende, sowel as ´n vervullende projek en ek glo dat die film ´n gehoor sal ontdek.