LOUIS NEETHLING was born into a deaf family and raised in South Africa. 'I think', says Louis, 'that my love of film making and story-telling developed at an early age, from my father. He was always making family home movies with his cine camera. Once I was old enough to be trusted with his 'baby', I would help in making these family epics. Of course, these are now embarrassingly brought out on every family occasion!'
Louis began his career as a presenter for a Deaf programme on SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation). 'It was there,' he recalls, 'that I met a scriptwriter who was interested in empowering young Deaf people in South Africa. Instead of hearing people directing, writing and producing Deaf programmes, she had a vision of a truly Deaf run television programme. Whilst still presenting, I watched the hearing directors - taking in everything that went on. Later, I studied at the SABC on directors' courses and also a multi-camera course. I became director and eventually executive producer of DTV (Deaf Television). It was there that I had my first taste of directing drama. I directed a Deaf soap called Young and Speechless. That was it! I was hooked! I now knew what I wanted to do; I wanted to direct Deaf drama.'
After working on a variety of scripts, Louis managed to secure a grant from the Department of Arts and Culture in South Africa for a Deaf film. However, having only ever worked in television drama, he wanted - and needed - to study film and was fortunate enough to win a Rotary International Vocational Scholarship. This allowed him to study at the UK National Film and Television School under the guidance of luminaries such as Leslie Manning, Brian Tufano, Pia di Caula and Alec Mills. The result was the much-admired 10 min short Dis? ABLE.
Shortly afterwards, Louis settled permanently in London and was invited by the BBC to direct their first sign language drama, the award winning Switch which was launched in 2001 and ran until 2006. Louis subsequently continued at the BBC making several factual documentaries and also directing on popular mainstream programmes such as Holiday and Crimewatch.
Determined to make his career in drama and to secure more control - and creativity - over the kinds of projects in which he was involved, Louis set up Mutt and Jeff Pictures.
Coming Home - along with its sister drama Departure Lounge illuminates Mutt & Jeff's commitment to identifying, supporting and working with the best new and established deaf screen writing talent. In Rebecca Atkinson (Coming Home) and Charlie Swinbourne (Departure Lounge), Louis believes 'we have found two important writing talents - both of whom bring a unique personal focus to issues such as culture, identity, gender and community.'
Coming Home was shot on the high resolution digital RED camera. and, off line editor, Martha Meyler, from Screen Scene in Dublin, came to Suffolk location to put together an assembly of material, often shot only hours previously. 'It was fantastic', says Louis, 'it allowed me to identify any technical/directing issues and monitor the performance of the actors - in effect it gave me the time and opportunity to make any changes required.'
With Coming Home and Departure Lounge now completed, Louis is looking to the future. More drama is planned, and the work to identify new deaf performance, writing and technical talent goes on. Louis himself is clear about what he wants. 'I just want to get better and better at what I do,' he says, 'I want the opportunity to direct shorts, features, everything. Nothing is going to stop me!'