THE VOLUNTEERS The following compiled from a Yahoo enquiry (minimally edited) in 2004 about The Volunteers and a report on the Reunion in Grocotts Mail in 2013: In 1983 Tom McClelland had been working at the SABC as a documentary filmmaker. At the time, the SABCs documentary division had just completed two Afrikaans-language documentaries on the Voortrekkers. These featured re-enactments, interviews and historical archive material. McClelland then proposed making an English language documentary series about the 1820 Settlers, in which individuals were set the challenge of living as the 1820 Settlers had. Advertisements were sent out for participants and in the end, the volunteers consisted of a family and several individuals. They were Dermot Gordon Graham (43), a science teacher from Cape Town; his pharmacist wife Genie (38) and their three daughters Allanah (13), Helen (11) and Kirsty (10); the individuals were Mike Rossiter (26), a fifth-year architecture student from Wits; Penny Elliot (23), a credit controller from Grahamstown; Toni Spiller (23), an art teacher from Durban; James Burton (22), an art teacher from Cape Town; Kim Gigstead (sp?) (30), a US citizen and political speech writer for a US senator; Teresa Mead (23), a primary school teacher from Zimbabwe; Isa Weirsbye (22), a scuba diving instructor and Ashley Francis (30), a physical education teacher from Grahamstown. Shooting lasted 8 months in the Bushmans River Valley near Salem and during that time the stipulation was that the volunteers would have no contact with the outside world. The only contact afforded them was with the three-person film crew (Tom McClelland, the camera and sound person), as well as Sirian Robertson (the on-screen presenter and narrator who would interview the volunteers once a month in order to track the developments in their lives.) The volunteers were provided with the same implements, provisions and clothing that the 1820 Settlers would have had. Dee Nash in Grahamstown was the historical consultant on the series. Participation in the project was entirely voluntary. However, Tom McClelland ensured that the subjects received monthly stipends towards their mortgage payments and essential financial commitments, but this amount only covered the basics of what was needed. One can only guess at the incentive, or reason, behind participating in something like this ... perhaps it was seen as a real challenge; certainly something completely unique in South Africa at the time. The volunteers could leave whenever they chose to on condition that they gave their reasons on camera. Interestingly, the American male, Kim Gigstead (sp?), who was living in SA at the time, left after two weeks. The rest of the volunteers stayed, and as the 8 months drew to a close another male volunteer, and one of the daughters left right near the end. Although the original idea was for the volunteers to live in isolation for six months, the shooting lasted eight months. After this, the press was permitted to visit the site to interview the volunteers. The series was funded by the SABC and it was shot on film. After shooting was complete, news came of a UK documentary television project in which a group of volunteers were asked to survive in similarly remote conditions in England. However, this was after filming was completed - so The Volunteers was, to all intents and purposes, a completely original South African venture. A first of its kind! Grocotts Mail, Thursday, 17 Oct 2013 – Malibongwe Dayimani ... minimally edited. For the first time after 30 years, cast members and the film crew of the ground-breaking 80s South African documentary The Volunteers reunited recently. The documentary, long before the first Survivor-type reality show was conceived of, was an experiment that placed thirteen English-speaking volunteers in isolation for six months in the Eastern Cape veld. The idea was to discover whether urbanised 20th century people could last six months among the elements as their forefathers, the 1820 British Settlers, had. The organiser of the reunion and a volunteer Penny Elliot, who was 23 at the time of its making, said The Volunteers series was very popular - This was shown in the US on the Discovery Channel in 1987 and then about 12 times again after that. Elliot said the documentary was the first SABC production to be sold to the US and that while being filmed, created a media frenzy because it was the first production of its kind back then. She believes that ideas for reality television shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race were born out of The Volunteers. The experiment was the brainchild of the late SABC television producer Tommy McClelland. McClelland also contributed extensively to the content of SABC nature programme 50/50 before passing away two years ago. Sadly only four of the 13 cast members made it to the reunion. They kick-started the reunion weekend with a river cruise and braai on the Kowie River. This was followed by a visit to where it all happened in the Bushmans River valley on Saturday morning. Elliot said, It was very emotional, you know, to go back to where it all happened and I really felt nostalgic. Toni Spiller, Ashley Francis, Penny Elliot and Mike Burton attended the reunion. The family were unable to attend and some of the other former volunteers are currently living overseas. ________________________
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:37:07 +0000