Andre van Heerden
Encyclopedia
André van Heerden is an African born Canadian citizen who is a film director
, producer
and screenwriter. He is a graduate of Carleton University
's School of Journalism in Ottawa, Canada, where he earned a combined High Honors Degree in English and Journalism. The National Film Board of Canada purchased his film thesis. He is known for his Horror
/Action
film Revelation
(1999) which was on the best seller lists for over two years. He also co-produced the feature Left Behind: The Movie
(2000) which went on to becoming the top selling independent video of 2000. In December 2007, he became the CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures
.
, Zambia
to a family of mixed ancestry: South African and Canadian. Van Heerden is the son of two teachers. His father, Johan Anthony van Heerden from Port Elizabeth, South Africa
, was a teacher, a member of the Rhodesian (Zimbabwe
) National Waterpolo team, and was also on the Rhodesian national swim team for the individual medley. His mother, Rosemary (NMN) Martin from Niagara Falls
, Canada
, traveled to Zambia
as a teaching volunteer. Johan and Rosemary met as colleagues and two weeks after meeting, they were engaged and later married in April 1970. He would be the first of two children for the family. His younger brother, Jason Aaron van Heerden (b.1972), works in Research and Development for a Canadian textile manufacturer.
Van Heerden immigrated to Ontario, Canada
in 1974 and became a Canadian citizen in 1975. He attended Canadian Martyrs elementary school in Hamilton, Ontario and went on to Dundana Public School in Dundas, Ontario. As a pre-teen, van Heerden had a passion for writing and telling stories. While attending Highland Secondary High School in Dundas, Ontario, he was given an in-depth aptitude test by one of his High School's guidance counselors (who happened to be his father, who taught at the same High School). The results of this test showed that van Heerden was best suited to be a University Professor or a Film Director
.
In 1993, at the age of 22, van Heerden made his very first documentary: a film about the effects of video games on children, entitled, It Ain't Just Pac Man Anymore.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and screenwriter. He is a graduate of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
's School of Journalism in Ottawa, Canada, where he earned a combined High Honors Degree in English and Journalism. The National Film Board of Canada purchased his film thesis. He is known for his Horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
/Action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
film Revelation
Apocalypse II: Revelation
Apocalypse II: Revelation is a 1999 Christian/thriller and sequel to Apocalypse by Cloud Ten Pictures.Three months have passed since the events of the previous film. Franco Macalousso has convinced many of those left behind that he is the true Messiah. But is he?Counter-terrorism expert Thorold...
(1999) which was on the best seller lists for over two years. He also co-produced the feature Left Behind: The Movie
Left Behind: The Movie
Left Behind is a Christian based film released in 2000 and starring Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Gordon Currie and Clarence Gilyard. It was directed by Vic Sarin. Left Behind was proclaimed by its creators as the biggest and most ambitious Christian film ever made...
(2000) which went on to becoming the top selling independent video of 2000. In December 2007, he became the CEO of Cloud Ten Pictures
Cloud Ten Pictures
Cloud Ten Pictures is a film production and distribution company located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, specializing in Christian-themed films.- Overview :Cloud Ten was formed by brothers Peter LaLonde and Paul LaLonde in 1994...
.
Filmography
- RevelationApocalypse II: RevelationApocalypse II: Revelation is a 1999 Christian/thriller and sequel to Apocalypse by Cloud Ten Pictures.Three months have passed since the events of the previous film. Franco Macalousso has convinced many of those left behind that he is the true Messiah. But is he?Counter-terrorism expert Thorold...
- Director - Shadow Government - Director
- TribulationApocalypse III: TribulationApocalypse III: Tribulation is a 2000 thriller film by Cloud Ten Pictures, starring Gary Busey, Howie Mandel, Nick Mancuso, and Margot Kidder...
- Director - Judgement - Director
- Deceived - Director
- Vanished - Director
- Saving GodSaving GodSaving God is a 2008 Christian drama film written by Michael Jackson and directed by Duane Crichton. The film stars Ving Rhames, Dean McDermott and Ricardo Chavira, and was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 18, 2008 by Cloud Ten Pictures and Clear Entertainment.- Plot :Saving God follows...
- Executive Producer - Left BehindLeft Behind: The MovieLeft Behind is a Christian based film released in 2000 and starring Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Gordon Currie and Clarence Gilyard. It was directed by Vic Sarin. Left Behind was proclaimed by its creators as the biggest and most ambitious Christian film ever made...
- Executive Producer/Cameo: Man in News Building - Left Behind II: Tribulation ForceLeft Behind II: Tribulation ForceLeft Behind II: Tribulation Force is a Christian Bible-based apocalyptic/thriller film, and the second in a series of films based on the Left Behind book series written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. It was produced and distributed by Cloud Ten Pictures and Namesake Entertainment. The film was...
- Executive Producer - Left Behind: World at WarLeft Behind: World at WarLeft Behind: World at War is a Christian Bible-based apocalyptic/thriller film and the third in the series of films based on the Left Behind book series. It was produced by Cloud Ten Pictures. The film premiered in churches on October 21, 2005 before its release on DVD and VHS on October 25, 2005...
- Executive Producer/Co-Writer
Childhood
Van Heerden was born in LusakaLusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
to a family of mixed ancestry: South African and Canadian. Van Heerden is the son of two teachers. His father, Johan Anthony van Heerden from Port Elizabeth, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, was a teacher, a member of the Rhodesian (Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) National Waterpolo team, and was also on the Rhodesian national swim team for the individual medley. His mother, Rosemary (NMN) Martin from Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, traveled to Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
as a teaching volunteer. Johan and Rosemary met as colleagues and two weeks after meeting, they were engaged and later married in April 1970. He would be the first of two children for the family. His younger brother, Jason Aaron van Heerden (b.1972), works in Research and Development for a Canadian textile manufacturer.
Van Heerden immigrated to Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1974 and became a Canadian citizen in 1975. He attended Canadian Martyrs elementary school in Hamilton, Ontario and went on to Dundana Public School in Dundas, Ontario. As a pre-teen, van Heerden had a passion for writing and telling stories. While attending Highland Secondary High School in Dundas, Ontario, he was given an in-depth aptitude test by one of his High School's guidance counselors (who happened to be his father, who taught at the same High School). The results of this test showed that van Heerden was best suited to be a University Professor or a Film Director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
In 1993, at the age of 22, van Heerden made his very first documentary: a film about the effects of video games on children, entitled, It Ain't Just Pac Man Anymore.