There are many compelling aspects to Final Solution. What was it in particular that drew you to this project?
 
Jan Ellis: Having the chance to work as a lead in any film is enough to light up most South African actors' eyes. We don't get so many opportunities down here. Still, I thought that I had a pretty good idea of what this character was like, because I grew up in a world surrounded by guys (including myself) who shared many of his experiences and views while under the spell that was spun around us by our own cultural institutions. Many of us were brought under the impression that our secure lives full of opportunity were being threatened by a dark force, often unaware of the hidden oppression that was in fact going on. Much of one's manhood was also determined by one's level of aggressive loyalty to the cause of protecting this security, and in many cases, some guys just lost it under the cultural pressure of having to be tough. Who wouldn't be a part of a project that at least gives some international audiences a chance to see this prototype's life in perspective, to see that there were a set of conditions and influences under which some people lost their way, not having done so because they were simply born as monsters? And most importantly, it's a great reminder that people can change and learn to respect each other again.

Movies like Cry Freedom and A Dry White Season have been criticized because they turned Hollywood "outsiders" into the "heroes" of South African stories. Do you feel that a South African actor brings something special to the dynamics of South African dramas?
 
JE: For many local actors, it's often not so much a question of ethics, but a question of food on the table. Of course, local actors are better equipped to fully understand and -- probably -- represent characters. Yes, some human traits are universal, and there are many great actors all over who can portray them, but these traits manifest themselves in very particular ways in particular cultures, and uniquely so through the local use of language. Authenticity, however, has never been an absolute necessity for the success of films, it seems, so it's a real credit to the producers and director of this film to have committed to using local people to do the job.

Many viewers may find Gerrit Wolfaardt an impossibly unbelievable character. Before meeting Mr. Wolfaardt and hearing his story, would you have found him believable?
 
JE: If people find him unbelievable, it could only be because of stereotypical acting on my part. I don't see why he would be perceived as such for any other reasons. Surely, he wasn't the first and won't be the last young man to have been misguided, aggressive and vindictively passionate about a cause he believed in -- and in the process, lost some of his humanity and most of his judgment. There are some politicians today whom I find more 'unbelievable' than Gerrit. Yet their actions are legitimated by their mere election and they are still out there, as real as the bombs they drop in the name of God.

Has portraying Mr. Wolfaardt in Final Solution affected you, as a person?
 
JE: Professionally, hugely so. You just gets such a great opportunity to grow in your craft when playing a lead. You're on set every day, you are in the mix of things all the time, constantly part of the creative process. Also, I was affected deeply by the people behind the project, those who followed it through under very very difficult circumstances in a place foreign to them. These people aren't driven by money, yet they worked themselves to the bone to get this done. I can't say I've ever done anything purely in the service of my faith, like they did. I hope I can one day. The role itself did strengthen my belief that it's never too late to question and redefine your belief system. It's the rigidity of belief systems that cause so much trouble between people. I still don't get why so many people reckon that if they're right, it automatically means that those who don't agree are wrong.

The scene depicting the assassination attempt on Reverend Lekota was particularly stunning. How did you prepare to play that scene?
 
JE: I paced up and down outside the house like a dog trying to bite his own tail, begging Cris to get the sequence in one take, eating about forty cookies from the craft table -- if you could call that preparation.

When choosing projects to invest yourself in, what do you look for?
 
JE: I've never really been in demand, so 'choosing projects' doesn't quite reflect my reality. Most of the time I am just thankful if there is work available so I can pay my bills and be involved in telling stories. But, I have been lucky in that all of the projects I've been involved in have provided me with opportunities to learn, to make a contribution, to become a more agreeable person and to meet people who have their heart in the right place. I believe that the right jobs get sent your way if you open yourself to trust.

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