John Barker (filmmaker) explained
John Barker is a South African filmmaker in Johannesburg. He gained prominence through his feature directorial debut Bunny Chow (2006), which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). His other films include (2014), Wonder Boy for President (2015), and The Umbrella Men (2022).
Early life
Barker was born to parents Clive Barker (Bafana Bafana coach) and Yvonne. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Barker made a documentary Soccer: South of the Umbilo about his childhood growing up in the southern suburbs of Durban, which produced many soccer players and coaches including his father.
Career
Barker wrote, directed and produced South Africa's first music mockumentary Blu Cheez.[2] He next directed the music documentary Kwaito Generals produced by Kutloano Skosana of Black Rage, which focused on the stars who were at the forefront of the Kwaito movement of the late nineties and early 2000s.[3] During this time he joined The Pure Monate Show.[4] He directed sketches in season one and directed and co-wrote sketches for the second season.
Barker then wrote, produced and directed Bunny Chow, which employed a retro scripting technique with the actors improvising their dialogue to communicate the outlined script written by Barker, David Kibuuka, Kagiso Lediga, Joey Rasdien and editor Saki Bergh.[5] Barker next directed with Troye Sivan, John Cleese and Caspar Lee. Wonder Boy for President[6] is his second retro scripted film with many of his collaborators from Bunny Chow; the film is a satirical look at South African politics. Barker later completed The Umbrella Men, selected to screen at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[7]
Work
References
- Jozi Film Fest announces winners, a new partnership with Discovery, Gauteng Film Commission, 19 September 2016
- Bunny Chow, Fandor
- John Barker, African Film Festival New York]
- Anna Marie de la Fuente, ‘King’ anointed at Cape Town fest, Variety, November 21, 2008
- Christelle De Jager, Toronto hops on ‘Bunny Chow’, Variety, August 13, 2006
- https://variety.com/2006/film/news/mtv-films-boarding-bunny-chow-1117949559/
- https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/bunny-chow-know-thyself-1200511944/
- http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Local-film-to-premiere-in-US-20061023
- http://www.screenafrica.com/pls/cms/iac.page?p_t1=2054&p_t2=4714&p_t3=0&p_t4=0&p_dynamic=YP&p_content_id=639550&p_site_id=103
- http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rotterdam-fest-selects-15-tiger-127495
- http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/index.php?id=62,264,0,0,1,0
- http://www.screenafrica.com/pls/cms/iac.page?p_t1=2054&p_t2=4718&p_t3=0&p_t4=0&p_dynamic=YP&p_content_id=662912&p_site_id=103
- http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=3053
- http://artmatters.info/2008/09/sithengi-film-and-television-market-faces-uncertain-future/
- http://mg.co.za/article/2006-11-24-quest-for-bums-on-seats
- https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/king-anointed-at-cape-town-fest-1117954395/
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3121562/
- https://tiff.net/events/the-umbrella-men
External links
Notes and References
- News: Stellies boss holds back emotions after uncle Clive Barker hospitalised again . 13 March 2023 . News24 . 14 June 2023.
- Web site: Blu Cheez (2002) . https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124741/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b8978bb8f . dead . 27 April 2015 . BFI Film Forever . . 20 April 2015.
- News: Mabanga . Thebe . Kwaito, in general, . . 7 November 2003.
- Web site: John Barker . . 20 April 2015 . 27 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111629/https://www.iffr.com/en/persons/john-barker/ . dead .
- News: John Barker – the man behind 'Bunny Chow' . TheSouthAfrican.com . 12 February 2008 . 20 April 2015 . 16 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190416223524/https://www.thesouthafrican.com/john-barker-the-man-behind-bunny-chow/ . dead .
- News: John Barker . African Film Festival New York.
- Web site: The Umbrella Men.
