Director Jasyn Howes is no stranger to telling gritty, genre-pushing South African stories. After making waves with the hit true crime series Boetie Boer, which we had the pleasure of working on at Pressure Cooker Studios, Jasyn has returned with a powerful new Showmax Original: The ABC Killer. We teamed up with him once again, delivering the full scope of Music and Audio.
The ABC Killer dives into the chilling case of one of South Africa’s most notorious serial killers, weaving through police files, personal trauma, and a country in transition. The story is raw and gripping, and Jasyn’s cinematic approach demanded a soundscape that could match the psychological tension while still tapping into deeper cultural textures.
Here, Jasyn shares his creative vision, his collaboration with Pressure Cooker Studios, and why Music and Audio are never just an afterthought.
What was your vision for The ABC Killer?
Building on what I had done with Boetie Boer I wanted to create a true crime series that had a stronger pacing, more compelling and provocative narrative and structure and to include a nod to bygone rave era with the title music.
And what was your brief to Pressure Cooker Studios?
Mainly we focused on the title sequence music that needed to capture the essence of a few different elements i.e. Rave music, looming danger and the struggle song era that is reflective of that transitionary time in our country. I think the team did a fantastic job of putting something together and dare I say it deserves its own single release.
How did having access to the Pressure Music Catalogue add value to the project?
It was of great value to the project as it provided music for a wide variety of scenes and moments in the film. I find the catalogue has a great variety of suitable tracks that work really well for this genre.
How did the Music and Audio elevate the storytelling overall?
I keep going back to the title sequence music and how much I love it and how I could listen to it on repeat. It really sets the tone and enhanced the production value of the series. The sound design is where the series really stands out. There is so much happening in the audio layers of this series and it’s worth watching with a good sound system to pick up on all the little details. The team did a stellar job and it made some key moments in the series really stand out.
How did Music influence your filmmaking process?
Music has a huge influence on my process. Music guides the mood and the tone I want to create in my work and whether I am in prep or on set shooting, I often listen to music during the course of the day to maintain a sense of the story I am telling and to keep myself in that headspace.
What would you do differently next time, if anything?
More time, more money. Same old same old…
Any tips for up-and-coming Directors when handling Music and Audio on a narrative project?
Don’t leave it as an afterthought. Put time and effort into this and as much budget as you can as it makes all the difference. You can have a shitty looking film with great sound but it doesn’t work the other way round and it’s for a very good reason. Make it count!
The ABC Killer will be available from 22 July 2025 on Showmax.
“The ABC Killer stands out as one of Showmax’s best true-crime offerings, thanks to the well-shot reenactments, gripping interviews and careful storytelling.” Read this recent rave review on Fortress of Solitude.
The ABC Killer will be available from 22 July 2025 on Showmax.
“The ABC Killer stands out as one of Showmax’s best true-crime offerings, thanks to the well-shot reenactments, gripping interviews and careful storytelling.”
Read this recent rave review on Fortress of Solitude.
SO WHAT IS DIRECTOR'S VISION?
At our studios we get the chance to work with so many talented creators in the industry, something we never take for granted because we know we can continuously learn from each other.
Now we’re hoping to share some of those learnings with you through our ‘Director’s Vision’ series.
Creative Executive Officer and Founder of Pressure Cooker Studios, James Matthes, says:
“We believe the best way to innovate is to grow the talent in our industry, forming a community to set a new standard with every project we touch.
We know that by sharing information and creating resources, we can build a stronger platform for everyone. We learn from each other’s failures and successes, and we believe that no mistake should be learnt twice. We know that by working together, we can all achieve greater success.”