Odette van Rensburg on dancing her sons into the world, itchy feet, and putting up her hand

An independent documentary film maker and producer of Dogs on the Run writes about living with the Bedouin, films that have to be made, and the most spoilt member of her family.

1 What’s one of your earliest memories that shaped who you are today?

At junior school a new student arrived, she couldn’t walk without assistance. In those days we had hard cover cases without straps. The teacher asked the class who would carry the suitcase to help the student, I immediately put up my hand.

2 Travelling is part of who you are …

I love visiting new places, meeting different cultures, sampling local food, living as close to the way people live, to experience their daily life. I find travelling brings a new perspective on our circumstances and life. I must’ve been a gypsy in a past life cause I get itchy feet regularly and move often.

3 You spent some time living with the Bedouin. What were the joys and challenges?

In this photo you can see me dancing with a bedouin woman in a wadi in the Sinai. I loved the 3 years living with the bedouin who taught me about silence. When people meet and sit round a fire there are long moments where nobody says anything. It made me aware of just how much people talk about nothing. I also learnt how little we really need, I arrived with a big suitcase and realised I didn’t need so much.

Also listen to Odette highlighting the reasons for and the difficulties & rewards of making documentaries on taboo issues like suicide, suicide ideation and domestic violence in unexpected forms.

4 Where do you truly feel at home?

I feel at home anywhere where there is nature. I’m not a city person. To feel at home I need to hear birds and not people.

5 What does it take to make a living as an independent filmmaker?

I wake up every day and know I have a purpose, that there are films that have to be made. If I was willing to comply and tick boxes, life would be so much easier. I have faith that our films will get the platform they deserve and will make a difference.

Odette with Oskar and Roman

6 In our podcast episode on “Creating documentaries on social behaviour” you mention “dancing your sons into the world.” How did you do this?

Our bodies are so incredibly powerful, women are designed to give birth. I gave birth to my eldest son on my own, no prenatal classes, just intuition. It’s the most powerful I ever felt. With my second son I was teaching belly dancing when my waters broke, I told the women and they said “stop the class”, but I knew I was going to dance throughout the labour so we carried on. My youngest son was born at 6am the next morning.

7 What do you appreciate about each of your boys?

My eldest, Oskar, is incredibly kind, he is a bush baby and is carving a future in wildlife conservation. Oskar will help anyone, I love that about him. Roman, my youngest, doesn’t need people around him, he is a talented singer/songwriter and has created hundreds of songs. He also taught himself to design on-line games, and is very shy with great depth.

8 Someone called Isla also shares your home. How about providing an introduction?

Isla is the most spoilt member of our family, she is a mixed-breed dog with blue eyes. She loves swimming and walking with her ball. She is a wanderer and takes herself on visits in the neighbourhood. My boys come up many times a day to kiss and hug her. She is our angel in disguise.

More about Odette

Odette van Rensburg is the Producer of Dogs on the Run, independent documentary film makers in the Western Cape. Since 2013, she and Eric Gauss have been documenting social behaviour:

“As independent film makers, we have the freedom to document without limitation, agenda or restrictions. We make documentaries that document what is, capturing issues steeped in stigma and shame. By unveiling the masks worn as armour, we shine a light on issues our society chooses to ignore.”

Email: dogsontherunproduction@gmail.com

Website: https://www.dogsontherunproduction.com/

YouTube: Dogs on the Run Production https://www.youtube.com/@dogsontherunproduction7336

You can support Dogs on the Run on Patreon: patreon.com/disconnectedthedocumentary

Online store: https://www.dogsontherunproduction.com/

X or Twitter: twitter.com/DogsontheRunDoc

Facebook: facebook.com/dogsontherunproduction and Odette van Rensburg Podcast

Instagram: instagram.com/dogsontherunproduction

Thumbnail image: Unsplash. Model used

Other images supplied by Odette van Rensburg