Just three months after the release of season one of the Afrikaans show, Die Fakulteit, written and directed by George van Rooyen of Humansdorp, the highly-anticipated new season premiered on eExtra on July 14.
Well-known arts and entertainment personality, Jocelyn Scholtz from Gqeberha, features as one of the many new additions.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, for eight long years Van Rooyen worked to develop Die Fakulteit for national television, finally getting his “big break” when the show premiered on eExtra on April 14, with the production company CoolerBox Brothers as producers.
CoolerBox Brothers was established in 2017 by Van Rooyen and his friends, Marno Koen and Michael van Zyl.
Since Die Fakulteit’s premiere in April the show, eExtra’s first original Afrikaans comedy series, has seen 500 000 viewers glued to their screens enjoying young people navigate life as adults at “Hoërskool Oos”.
Thankfully, the entertainment did not end after one season, and continues with the release of season two.
Van Rooyen said writing one season was tough, but writing a second season had added pressure.
“People already loved the show, and you want to do it justice. We had also set a standard for the jokes and physical comedy, and I knew we were going to have to go even bigger,” said Van Rooyen.
“I am in a position where I am the writer and director, so when I think of something elaborate, I first have to sit and figure out how to film it as well.”
Van Rooyen said he also faced many difficulties while writing season two as his father, Corneels, was diagnosed with cancer while they were filming season one, and passed away shortly after they began filming season two.
He said he spent some time writing while in Humansdorp with his family, and was grateful for the support he received from his crew members during this time.
He said they always knew that the show would be selected for season two; however, the timeline between writing and producing the two seasons was quite difficult.
As Van Rooyen writes and directs, he said he is not able to write while on set.
An additional challenge occurred when Carien Botha fell pregnant in season one, with her expected due date occurring while they were filming season two.
Since “introducing” her pregnancy on the show would redirect her character, it was decided to temporarily say goodbye to Botha’s character, Susan, while she was on maternity leave.
“Together we decided that she would film up until episode eight of season one, and that we would find a character to replace her,” said Van Rooyen.
He said he contacted Scholtz, whom he studied alongside at Stageworld Theatre School in Gqeberha more than 10 years ago, and she agreed to audition.
She then joined the show as Bernadine “Beast” Booysens, a feisty geography teacher.
Scholtz graduated with a degree in performing arts in 2010, and is a radio presenter at BayFM.
Since graduating she has participated in various arts-related programmes and has done voice overs, starred in TikTok short films, and has worked as a Master of Ceremonies.
Some of the many projects she has worked on include starring in Mpuma Kama TV’s Return of the Moon, Gqeberha: The Empire, and various short films on the Swirl Kouse Production platform.
Scholtz said acting in Die Fakulteit has been an amazing experience.
However, she said it has been difficult to adhere to the specific Afrikaans dialect used on the show.
Describing her character, Bernadine, Scholtz said she can be seen as being “rough around the edges” and feisty but has a softer side as well.
“Throughout the show I wanted to provide the viewer with a background on my character’s culture. She is brave and confident and she is not bothered by the opinions of others,” said Scholtz.
She further said it was an amazing feeling being selected as the only actor from the Eastern Cape to work alongside talented cast members from various provinces.
“As an artist in the entertainment industry, there were many times when I doubted myself, but being selected for Die Fakulteit helped to remind me of my talent,” said Scholtz.
Van Rooyen said he truly hopes that viewers will enjoy the new season.
“We are like a small family, and when people reach out to us on social media it feels as if our family is getting bigger,” he said.
He said it has not yet been confirmed whether there will be a third season; however, season two will have an “open ending” in the hope that there will be another season.
“I feel extremely lucky to have been able to have this experience, because it takes a bit of luck and a lot of hard work. I, however, believe that you cannot sit still and celebrate because you are only as good as your last work, so you have to get to it,” said Van Rooyen.
Die Fakulteit can be watched on eExtra (Openview Channel 105) at 19:30 on Sundays.
