Mr. Bones 2

GRAY HOFMEYR
Director

As a WRITER and DIRECTOR of feature films and television drama, Gray Hofmeyr is generally regarded as being at the top of his profession in South Africa. He has won more awards for direction than any other director in the country. He holds the distinction of having more than twenty actors and actresses win best performance awards under his direction.

He began directing television drama in 1975 after training in the United Kingdom and working for the B.B.C. as a floor manager and then 9 years ago began script writing and has garnered seven Best Script awards for his work in this field.

He has directed five feature films, three of which he co-wrote, and has directed numerous television commercials. In January, 1997 Hofmeyr became Head of Drama for Endemol South Africa, a division of the largest television production company in Europe, Dutch based Endemol Entertainment.

FEATURE FILMS
1986	*JOCK OF THE BUSHVELD* was Hofmeyr’s first big-screen feature - adapted from the classic novel by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, this family movie did good business in South Africa. Vita awards - runner up, best film
1988	Directed his second feature and shared the screen-writing credit, adapted from a Geoffrey Jenkins thriller, DIRTY GAMES, starred Jan Michael Vincent and Valentina Vargas.
1989	LAMBARENE was Hofmeyr's first big budget feature film. The story is an encounter with Albert Schweitzer in the late forties. Starring Malcolm McDowell and Susan Strasberg. Vita awards - best film
1991	SWEET & SHORT was Hofmeyr's first comedy feature film. At the beginning of 1992 it was the second biggest grossing film (local or international) in S.A. history. Starring Leon Schuster.
1993	THERE'S A ZULU ON MY STOEP - this collaboration with Leon Schuster was released internationally as ‘Yankee Zulu’ and found success in overseas markets.
2001	MR BONES – co-wrote with Leon Schuster and directed this hit film which is the most successful South African film of all time, earning more than R33million at the box office.
2005	MAMA JACK – co-wrote with Leon Schuster and directed this film which grossed more than R28 million at the South African box office
2008	MR BONES 2 – co-wrote with Leon Schuster and directed this film which is scheduled for release on 27 November 2008

TELEVISION
1977/78	He single-handedly directed 52 episodes of a popular studio-based series called THE VILLAGERS which sat consistently at the top of the ratings. 2 Tonight! critics awards - best director
1979-83	Directed two more series and then a season of adapted short stories shot on film. Inclucing: THE MUSIC MAKER - by H.C. Bosman THE HIDING OF BLACK BILL - by O. Henry
1982	THE OUTCAST was generally regarded as a milestone in South African television drama. Apart from achieving high critical acclaim, it dealt with the issue of a half-cast half brother in a rural white family. Hofmeyr directed and wrote the original story. Tonight! critics awards - best director, best script
1984	TWO WEEKS IN PARADISE (tv movie) was a further political breakthrough. This was a comedy about a white and a black couple who find themselves down and out and sharing accommodation on a tropical island. Tonight! critics award - best director Artes award - best director
1985	THICKER THAN WATER (tv movie) was Hofmeyr's first solo venture into scriptwriting as well as directing. Tonight! critics award - best script, best director Artes award - best director S.A. Script Writers' Association - best script Academy of Art and Science - best script
1987	Hofmeyr again rattled some cages with PEOPLE LIKE US, a 26 episode comedy series about a coloured couple moving into a "white" area when it was still officially illegal.
1990/92	THE BIG TIME has probably been Hofmeyr's biggest television success since the early days of "The Villagers". Not only did it sweep the boards, awards-wise, but when the first series was broadcast it reached the top of the ratings in only seven episodes. A second series was made and a third has been written. Artes awards - best script, best director Tonight! critics awards - best script, best director Academy of Art and Science - twice best script. S.A. Script Writers' Association - best script
1995/6/7	SUBURBAN BLISS was an unbelievable success story. This sit-com ran for four season and was consistently the most popular programme on television amongst in audience categories. Hofmeyr created the series, was co-writer, story editor and executive producer.
1998	present ISIDINGO has become SABC 3’s flagship production. This daily drama series has captured the vast majority of audiences across the cultural spectrum. Hofmeyr created the series and produced.
2000	BACKSTAGE, a daily youth soap for e-tv.

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