Writer, producer, author and speaker Frank Rautenbach knows what it takes to grab an audience’s attention
Why did you become an actor?
Frank Rautenbach: I think it’s more a case of acting finding me. It was not an option as a career choice where I grew up, so I auditioned for TV commercials while studying for my B Com degree in economics and psychology. I needed to pay for my course and modelling and commercials would help with that. I quickly realized that what used to get me into trouble at school was now being looked at like something of an asset – I had the personality and the enthusiasm.
You are also a writer, producer, author and speaker. Tell us a bit more about those different disciplines.
I’ve written a memoir called The Vagabond – Is Your Life Worth Living? Writing a book was interesting because you need to explain everything. You need to create a picture, like a movie in people’s minds, and you require a lot of words for that. Writing a screenplay is the opposite. You want to use fewer words, so the more blank the page, the more space you create for the audience to occupy your story.
The best line I ever heard from a Disney producer was “The world is falling apart, and it’s your job to keep it together”. That’s such an apt description, as producing is a tough and thankless job. Everyone thinks it’s your fault that everything’s gone wrong, but meanwhile, you’re just trying to keep the world together. As a producer, you need to be good at managing relationships and getting people to fly in formation and achieve the one goal you’re all trying to do, which is to make the show happen.
Being a speaker comes naturally to me. I’ve always felt comfortable in front of an audience. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve understood more about the dynamics of speaking and what makes a person good to listen to and what doesn’t. The key factor is that the audience is the hero, and you’re just the guide.
What makes you decide whether to say yes to a role or decline it?
The number one component is believability. Can I play this character? Do I believe this character? Do I believe the story they’re trying to tell? For me, believability is so important. Here’s the key – you lose your audience if they don’t believe the story, and then the project’s a waste of time. If I’m playing a dark character like Jason Hugo in Lioness, I’ll ask myself: does he get his comeuppance? Another important factor is do I agree with it morally. I love exciting roles, action, comedy and drama.
What has been your most challenging role?
Jason in Lioness was challenging because he’s very much against the type of role I would portray. Jason’s calculated and strategic. He’s a dark horse and withholds information, and in his view, he’s not lying, he’s just not telling you the whole truth, only a portion of it. It was quite a stretch to get into that mindset and channel that into the character. He doesn’t get excited or angry – he’s very measured.
And the most joyous character?
Angus Buchan in Faith Like Potatoes. The real Angus has so much heart and a deep love for people.
How do you prepare for the different roles you portray?
By doing some of the things the character will be doing and also doing research. I go through personality structures in psychology, how a character like that thinks and what the behavioral psychology behind the character and his behavior is. I read a lot about why people think what they think. As an actor, you need to find your voice – your own distinctive signature voice.
You and your wife Leigh emigrated to America in 2005 and lived there for more than a decade. What lessons did that experience teach you?
We returned in 2018 as American and South African citizens. What America taught me as a devoted Christian – I had my identity, work and achievements. When your reason for being is in something other than God, it will eat you alive; you’ll become a slave to it. I involuntarily ended up being a cab driver for three years and a janitor for two years, both because I had to put food on the table. This made me take stock of what the purpose of my life is and who was I living for. And when that switch came, it really changed everything, and that’s when I found my voice as an actor. It gave me the freedom to be an actor and do it fearlessly, as opposed to someone who’s a slave to other people’s opinions.
You and Leigh moved to Cape Town in 2018. What do you enjoy most about the lifestyle there?
We live in Cape Town’s northern suburbs and within a small radius of where we live, there are wineries, restaurants, hiking trails and incredible kilometers of beaches. I love the ocean.
Exciting projects on the horizon?
A series called Summertide on M-Net, which is being broadcast for 52 weeks. I host a talk show called Hier Sit Die Manne on Via. And Leigh and I are in talks with Netflix about a new series. Watch this space!
Text | Heléne Ramackers Photography | Courtesy of M-Net
For more information, go to instagram.com/frank_rautenbach/.
