Waldemar Coetsee | Meerkat Maantuig
Produksie Ontwerper | Production Designer
Waldemar Coetsee het sy professionele loopbaan in die filmindustrie 11 jaar gelede begin terwyl hy aan AFDA in Johannesburg studeer het deur op elke studentefilm waarop hy moontlik kon, bystaanwerk te doen. Met sy pa se betroubare Land Rover as geselskap, en baie slapelose nagte, het hy soveel ondervinding as moontlik in die industrie opgedoen. Na hy sy studies voltooi het, het Waldemar as stelversierder op verskeie internasionale en nasionale projekte, soos White Light, Tornado en ook die suksesvolle tienerkomedie Bakgat!, wat deur The Film Factory vervaardig is, gevorder.
Na hy sy eerste deurbraak as HOD op die stel van die M-Net reeks Innocent Times gekry het, het Waldemar nog nooit teruggekyk nie. Sedertdien, was hy die produksieontwerper op 21 films en vier televisiereekse. Hy het ook waardevolle ondervinding as kunsregisseur opgedoen in verskeie TV-reekse en films (insluitend District 9) en is ook vernuftig as ’n spesiale effekte kunstenaar. Waldemar pas maklik by enige situasie aan, byvoorbeeld as kunsregisseur in Ethiopië op die multinasionale produksie, Mandela’s Gun.
Hy is vir drie Safta-toekennings genomineer, naamlik vir sy werk op Roepman, Room 9 en Faan se Trein. Hy ontvang hierdie toekenning vir sy werk aan laasgenoemde.
Afgesien van sy passie vir periodestukke, kombineer Waldemar estetiese elemente met sy praktiese kennis en ondervinding. Wanneer hy ’n nuwe projek aanpak, is sy verantwoordelikheid om stories visueel oor te dra, om die regisseur se belange te verteenwoordig en om die begroting in ag te neem, van kardinale belang. Binne hierdie raamwerk en agtergrond, lewer Waldemar ’n onmiskenbare bydrae tot projekte – en dit is opvallend in sy passie asook die eindproduk van elke suksesvolle projek waaraan hy al gewerk het.
Waldemar Coetsee started his professional career in the film industry 11 years ago while studying at AFDA in Johannesburg by assisting on every student film he possibly could. With his father’s trusted Land Rover as company, and many sleepless nights, he gained as much experience as possible.
After his studies, Waldemar advanced to set decorator on several international and national projects, such as White Light, Tornado and also the successful teen comedy Bakgat!, which was produced by The Film Factory.After his first break as HOD on set of the M-Net series Innocent Times, Waldemar has never looked back. Subsequently, he has been the production designer on 21 films and four television series.
He has also gained valuable experience as art director on a number of commercials, TV series and films (including District 9) as well as familiarising himself as a special effects artist.
Waldemar adapts easily to any environment and situation, for example as art director in Ethiopia on the multinational production Mandela’s Gun. He has been nominated for three SAFTA awards, namely for his work on Roepman, Room 9 and Faan se Trein, and received a SAFTA award for his work on the latter. His nominations and awards prove his definitive attention and eye for detail, as well as for colour, form and balance. Apart from his passion for period pieces, Waldemar is able to combine all these aesthetic elements with his myriad practical knowledge and experience. When he tackles a new project, his responsibility to portray stories visually, to represent the director’s interests and to take the budget into account, is of ultimate importance.
Within this framework and background, Waldemar has left an indelible mark on projects, which is easily seen in his passion and eventually in the end product of every successful production on which he’s worked.