Simon Hansen is a South African born [1] film maker who is considered by some to be leading South Africa's revolution in their local film industry. Hansen has been working in the Film and entertainment industry since 1992 and is a world class innovator. He is best known for producing Alive in Joburg, the film upon which District 9 is Based and for his ability to spot, nurture and engage with new talent.[2]
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Hansen discovered and mentored long time collaborators and friends Sharlto Copley and Neill Blomkamp. Blomkamp was still in Highschool when they began working together. Hansen mentored many animators and film makers in the South African and African Film Industry. He convinced Copley not to leave South Africa to study in the USA but rather to stay in South Africa and build the industry. Hansen was partnered with Copley in business for well over a decade. Claims the duo were instrumental in starting a television Channel in South Africa called e.tv are false. In truth they supplied etv with a show called Deadtime which ran during the dead time of midnight to 6am.[3]
Hansen still conducts workshops in South Africa to inspire and unite young film makers and grow the industry and is currently collaborating with young talent to produce a slate of films under his company Inspired Minority Pictures.
As a writer, producer and director he has partnered and collaborated with different people to build a competitive film industry in South Africa that can compete in the international arena. Hansen owns the Visual Effects company called Atomic Visual Effects, the talent agency called Slaves Talent Management and a production company called Inspired Minority Pictures which is now his flagship for creating, what he calls, commercial Independent films.[4]
Simon has worked closely with Shartlo Copley, Amira Quinlan and Hannah Slezacek on most of his projects.[5] Hansen directed and produced two very popular viral short films, 2001:a space oddity and Hellweek, both of which were featured at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 under the Cinema Du Monde Section. Hellweek also featured a then unknown Copley as a relentless US drill sergeant. The theme of Hellweek relates to the training of world-class animators in a third world South Africa. 2001:a Space Oddity shares some themes with District 9 in that it features the space shuttle Atlantis landing on a Cape Town street as opposed to New York or Los Angeles.[6]
Hansen's first feature film entitled Spoon was co-directed by Copley in 2006 and shot using brand new camera technology. The supernatural thriller produced by Hansen, Quinlan and Copley stars Darren Boyd and Rutger Hauer. Copley left Hansen to finish the project when he was offered the lead role of Wikus Van Der Merwe in District 9.[7] Spoon's long-awaited release is expected sometime in 2010. Hansen was instrumental in the development of the si2k which was used for the first time on Spoon and later on Slumdog Millionaire for which that film won the Academy Award for cinematography.[8]
In 2005 Simon and Sharlto produced the short film directed by Neill Blomkamp entitled Alive in Joburg. The film features a documentary account of aliens living in South African townships and is the basis for the 2009 summer blockbuster District 9 which starred Copley.[9] Hansen also directed some of the scenes in District 9.
In 2009 Hansen produced Pumzi, a short film which features a future sci-fi world without water, 35 years after 'The Water War'. Pumzi (which is Swahili for "Breath") is written and directed by young Kenyan director Wanuri Kahui. The short is part of the Focus Features backed Africa First Program and is officially in competition at Sundance 2010.[10] The film boasts high production values for its tiny budget which is something Hansen is known for.
Hansens company Atomic Visual Effects has produced 3D animation and visual effects for Spoon, What the Bleep do We (k)now, The Breed and Pumzi. Hansen also supervised the visual effects on Lost City Raiders, and the TV series Crusoe[11]
Inspired Minority Pictures is producing 10 Low budget films and has taken over 100 submissions and conducted 4 workshops throughout South Africa.[12] Hansen believes the process of making Spoon has shown the way for film makers to take full advantage of the new world offered through technology and innovation and refers to Spoon as the project which proved it. He calls it "a big film in a small films body". and is currently collaborating with young South African talent to produce a slate of 10 low budget, high impact, commercial independent features based on Spoons production model. Hansen intends to use technology and innovation to turn low budget films into more bankable commercial properties.