NOCTURNA – Feature Film

NOCTURNA: An over the top action spectacular with a unique Cape Town flavor that will steal John Wick's puppy and take a joyride in his car, just cause there was nothing good on TV.

The What?
NOCTURNA is me sharing my creative madness with others through the art of storytelling. I wrote it, now it's time to get it made.
A project several years in the making and very near to my heart, Nocturna is an original concept that started off as a horror movie and eventually metamorphosed into a full-blooded action film with a uniquely South African look and feel.

Set over the course of a day and a night in Cape Town, South Africa, the film will start with a bang to get your blood pumping, then give you a few moments of rest to get to know the main characters. But once that's done, good luck my friend, because where we’re going, there are no brakes.

From the slums of the Cape Flats to the gilded hills of Camps Bay, this movie will showcase some of the most edge-of your-seat action, fighting and stunts put onto the screen. Working with the best stunt teams the country has to offer, the goal is to make this an action movie to equal or even surpass anything that Hollywood could bring to the table.

Setting the Mood:

The Who?
Ernst Langmann (AJ if you like), at your service.
Screenwriter, movie producer and aspiring filmmaker. Movie geek and amateur film critic, avid reader and lover of the great outdoors. I can even grow a beard.

Proudly South African, I have spent my 40-odd years on this planet residing in the Western Cape, and frankly, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else than this beautiful country.
On a mission to make Cape Town the action movie capitol of Africa and inspiring local young talent to write/act/produce short films, helping the next generation find a creative outlet for their talents and uplift our communities.

I absolutely love action movies. Ever since 12 year old me saw Terminator 2: Judgment Day with my dad I was hooked.
The 90's was the greatest time for action films anyone could ask for. Hollywood had Arnold, Sly Stallone, Van Damme, Seagal to name but a few. But my interests also lay on the other side of the coin.
The direct-to-video action movies, the stuff you couldn't see in the cinema. Billy Blanks, Gary Daniels, the guys that could kick and punch as well as they could shoot.
And don't even get me started on Chinese action cinema. Jet Lee's entire arsenal of movies and anything by John Woo and Sammo Hung were action gold for a teenage boy.

Which brings us to...

The Why?
This movie is my love letter to the action cinema of that era, to the days when punches and kicks were real and car chases did not involve green screens.
Over the past two decades a multitude of films have been made in South Africa by local and international filmmakers, ranging from quiet personal dramas to gigantic Hollywood blockbusters.

Yet when it comes to action films, we have for the most part been the sidekick, not the hero.
Only in recent years have we seen the rise of great locally funded and produced action films that show the world we are capable of going at this on our own. With the momentum created by these films, now is the time to keep showing off what we can do, and why my goal is to make one of the best action movies this country has ever produced.
And in doing so help to make South Africa, and Cape Town in particular, the heart of action filmmaking on the African continent.

Why would I do this, you say?
To entertain people, of course! That, and I love seeing bad guys get punched in the face.

But this film will also highlight the scourge of human trafficking that plagues not only our fair city, but the rest of the developing world. Modern day child slavery is more prevalent than ever in our “enlightened society” and this film will strive to shine a light on this.
This is a story of what it means to be human, what it means to connect with those around you, to not turn a blind eye to the plight of those that are vulnerable and stand up for what is right, even if this comes at great personal cost.

Our humanity is what unites us. Our humanity is our strength.

Setting the Look:

Why Crowdfunding?
It takes money to make movies, even smaller ones like proof-of-concept trailers and short films. And honestly, the scope of this project is way above my income bracket.

This is where you come in… I need your help to make this a reality!

Using the funds you so generously donate towards the project I will collaborate with local stunt artists and actors to initially create a proof-of-concept (basically a long movie trailer) to pitch to investors, along with my screenplay. You can help to get the ball rolling, grease the wheels, get this show on the road, with the added bonus of some sweet rewards thrown in for kicks.

This proof-of-concept short film will provide potential investors and production studios with a better understanding of the look and feel of the product they will be putting their money into, as well as create social media buzz around the project for further investment.

Funds from this campaign will go towards:
- Renting Camera and Lighting equipment
- Location costs
- Paying Cast and Crew
- Post production services

Stretch goal: All funds exceeding the initial funding goal will go towards expanding the scope of the project and if we're lucky, will go towards funding the feature film.

So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

(TL;DR: Wanna see great movies? You give money, I make great movies. You see great movies, feel much joy)