LOKI ROTHMAN – DON’T STOP
The nationwide release date for the mocumentary comedy from writer-director, Brett Michael Innes, has just been announced!
Set in a family gym in Randburg, the film sees the lovable Daryn JNR pitted against the ruthless owner of a multi-national fitness centre as he fights to keep his family legacy alive. The film will be released on eVOD (https://watch.evod.co.za) on 1 December 2021 and will be available, nationwide, for everyone to enjoy.
DARYN’S GYM introduces audiences to newcomer Clifford Joshua Young, but also boasts a star-studded cast that includes local favourites Natasha Sutherland, Hlubi Mboya, Siv Ngesi, Deon Coetzee and Carla Classen, as well as a guest appearance by Shahan Ramikissoon.
Innes, who has lived in Randburg most of his life, says: “I actually used to work out at a large fitness franchise that was situated across the road from the gym, which inspired the film, for about fifteen years. I often wondered how this little gym managed to stay open next to such a big corporate, so it was really serendipitous that, when it came into production, we ended up filming it there.”
About his role in the mocumentary comedy, Young says: “This is a dream come true and came at a time that I really needed it. Outside of the film, I got to work with Brett, who is not only one of my best friends but also someone I have admired for a long time. He created the script to showcase my strengths and I really hope that the film gives audiences an injection of hope and fun.”
Other great news is that the film features an incredible theme song called DON’T STOP, written and performed by none other than the super-talented singer-songwriter, Loki Rothman. Rothman was also the composer for the film and the single will hit local radio stations this week!
“While theme songs are not something that happens a lot these days, I’ve always loved having them accompany a film as I feel like it’s a way of capturing the entire story into a musical time capsule of sorts,” says Innes. “A few days after Loki started working on the score, he sent me some lyrics that came to him and three seconds after pushing play I knew that we had found our track. It reflects the heart of the movie and is a summer jam that I’ve been playing on repeat since it landed in my inbox. DON’T STOP is the breath of fresh air that we all need after a year of lockdowns, loadshedding and winter”.
According to Rothman, it is the first time that he has released an 80’s pop style track like DON’T STOP. “It is always an exciting space for me to create theme songs for films that push me out of my comfort zone. After Brett sent me the film and brief to create instrumental 80’s style tracks for the film, this particular song inspired me to write some lyrics based on the story. There was never a plan or brief to write a theme song, but after sending a demo to Brett he responded back and said it was the title track of DARYN’S GYM and DON’T STOP was born”, says Loki.
This is the second time that Loki Rothman and Brett Michael Innes are working together on one of his feature films. Rothman also produced Margot Rothman’s cover of Toe Vind Ek Jou for Brett’s previous feature film, Fiela se Kind.
DON’T STOP is the perfect summer track for December and your gym playlist.
Pre-release links:
Watch the trailer for DARYN’S GYM below and look out for it on eVOD
(https://watch.evod.co.za) from 1 December 2021.
Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By_u3qlcIvE&feature=youtu.be
DARYN’S GYM is proudly presented by eVOD, in association with Nostalgia Productions and TMPC.