Adrian Lazarus and the team at Mercury Productions collaborated with Hendrik Vermeulen to realise the fashion film Hickville 1978.
The idea was to show how sometimes no matter how one is dressed, the individual’s true self will always bubble to the surface.
Its against this premise that Adrian created a shabby, retro interior hairdressing shop with stylist Tegolin Markham. The cast included Mike the singing barber, who spends his days crooning the old favourites to his customers while clipping and cutting hairstyles.
We decided to record Mike singing and to use that as the backing track for the film. Its slightly melancholy, slightly off key on occasion – but its authentic and rings true to the feel of the film.
The models we shot were all sporting their own original tattoos, and spent the first part of the shoot hamming it up like real “chavs” in the salon.
The next scene sees them at the retro laundrette where they proceed to disrobe, and along with all their worldly possessions and clothing, they then enter into the washing machines.
Larry the slightly squint guitarist with a spot of tourettes, proceeds to serenade the ladies while they wash themselves clean of a dodgy past, to then emerge from the washing machines fully clothed in beautiful Hendrik Vermeulen couture.
Within no time the ladies are at the annual Hickville Fair and are all taking part in the Miss Telegram 1978 Postal Workers Pageant!
It only takes a short while to see that they have not lost their old ways.
Thanks to the Cast: Zigi Strydom
Little Harlequin
Candice Bettison
Meghan Mc Carthy
Larry Leyden
Maria Vasco
Andre van Zijl
Lucille (Snake)
Mike Verits (Singing Barber)
And Crew: Director Adrian Lazarus
1st Camera Assistant Stefan Hambsch
Digital Assistant Christo Oberholster
2nd Camera Assistant Jules Booysen
Sound Recording KAM Studios
StylingCostumes Tegolin Markham
Styling Assistant Sihle Khumalo
Key Hairstylist Mary Gouveia
Hair Chantel Jacobsen
BHT Images Karen Haacke
Key Make up Michelle Lee Collins (MAC)
Make up Clanelle Burger (MAC)
Great fun to make this film.
