(b. Johannesburg, 13/07/1924 – d. Pretoria, 09/08/1989). Director, scriptwriter, playwright.

Jan Mellet Perold’s first known film credits were on two 1953 Jamie Uys films, first as a cameraman on 50–50 and then as assistant director on Daar Doer in die Stad. The following year he wrote, photographed and directed Lobola, a short film that was well received and was picked up for distribution by Contemporary Films in New York. He then joined African Film Productions and worked on several documentaries for Caltex, the South African Bureau of Standards, the Department of Information, etc. His three features as director – As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is! (1962), Die Ruiter in die Nag (1963) and Piet My Niggie (1963) – were all made for South African Screen Productions / Suid-Afrikaanse Rolprentproduksies. In 1968 he moved to Pretoria where he joined the National Film Board of South Africa, occasionally directing, but more frequently as scriptwriter.

Biography

In 1953 he married the botanist Sarie Magdalena Perold (née Lombard) (1928-2011). Their son, Dr. Jan J. Perold, born in 1967, is a research psychologist.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Theatre

Wrote and published one play about the race situation in South Africa called Winde van Verandering ("Winds of change"), 1966.

Film work

As scriptwriter, he is credited with: Kruger Miljoene (story, 1967), Kavaliers (1966 ), Piet my Niggie (1964), Die Ruiter in die Nag (1963), As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is! (1962), En die Vonke Spat (story, 1961) and Matieland! (1955, story).

As director he is credited for: Piet my Niggie (1964), Die Ruiter in die Nag (1963), Daar Doer in die Stad (assistant director, 1963) and As Ons Twee Eers Getroud Is! (1962).

As Cinematographer credited for 50-50 or Vyftig-vyftig (1953).