It seems almost surreal to believe now but, exactly one week before he shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, I spent the day with Oscar Pistorius.
I was the director for a lifestyle television programme and our crew had been booked to spend a day with the man who, at the time, was regarded as the pin-up boy for Paralympics athletes - in fact for non physically challenged athletes as well. We were to get together and do some "guy things", have a meal and find out more about him. As it would turn out, it would become the interview that would never see the light of day.
Our first stop was to meet at an exclusive car showroom in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg. It was known that Oscar had a passion for speed and had ordered a custom -fitted supercar, for which he was awaiting delivery. In keeping with his image and lifestyle, we had arranged a few different supercars for our shoot and thus had agreed to meet at the showroom where he could show us around some of the million -dollar boy toys which so appealed to him.
On arrival we were asked to wait awhile, as Oscar was busy signing documents on an offer to purchase a luxury townhouse in Johannesburg - he already had the home in Pretoria. We were shown pictures of the property and, without being completely OTT, it matched the style of the man which the media had portrayed.
I was slightly frustrated by this delay as we had a fairly hectic schedule for the day and I was concerned that he was using his status to run the day, according to his needs, rather than ours.
When he did arrive, however, my fears were allayed.
He was humble in his apology and immediately began discussing our plans for the day, so that he could get an idea of what we were trying to achieve and how he could assist in making the shoot run more smoothly.
He greeted all the crew and introduced us to the friends who he was bringing along for the day. He was easy to approach and appeared to have an appealing manner and keen sense of humour which immediately put the entire crew at ease.
Within a short space of time, he had become one of the guys.
I was surprised by his demeanour: quiet, pleasant and in no way artificial, far removed from the edgy, forceful character that had been portrayed, on occasions, in the media.
My presenter introduced the topic of Reeva, reminding Oscar of a previous interview they had, when he had another lady at his side. Oscar's reply will stay forever in my mind. "Forget about that one" he said," this lady is for keeps!"
Almost as if on cue Reeva arrived with a friend and was introduced to the crew. What immediately struck all of us, apart from her obvious vivaciousness, was her easy, friendly demeanour and her open approach to us all, treating us as if we had known one another for a while.
She had arrived with a packed container of "breakfast goodies" for Oscar, as she had been concerned that he had left home to early to eat. The brief interaction between them was very relaxed and natural and was without some of the staginess that some couples present when with the media.
After a brief chat, Reeva and her friend took their leave of us, wishing us a fun day "to do boy's stuff!"
It was then time to hit the road.
For the ride to the lunch venue, our presenter rode with Oscar in the same model convertible which he had ordered, whilst we followed in a more sedate but no less glamorous four-seater, filming the road shots from.
Again, taking the role of courteous host, Oscar offered the driving seat to my presenter and they drove along discussing the fast life, fast cars, horsepower, acceleration and all the petrol-head passions which they both shared.
We eventually arrived at the exclusive venue which had been chosen for the lunch stop. Oscar moved through the restaurant with the relaxed, confident air of someone who has arrived. He appeared un-fazed by the stares and whispers of the other guests, as they recognised the famous personality in their midst. This was now the opportunity to enjoy a good meal and get to know the man better.
Throughout lunch, Oscar maintained his easy-going, approachable demeanour: never trying to lead the conversation, cracking jokes and sharing some of his observations about life in general whilst opening up a bit about how he pursued his goals. Again I struggled to align myself with the person opposite me at the lunch table, with the media icon who had so often been portrayed as brusque and uncooperative. I had also expected him to be a bit more "laddish", but apart from one or two risqué jokes, he remained an amiable guest who was happy to answer what was asked and to participate in the activities we required for the shoot.
As the director, I was in a position to be an observer to the interactions between Oscar and my presenter during the interview and it is only now, in hindsight, that I see the edgier side of the man!
When discussing how he sought to overcome the challenges and obstacles put to him by his physical disabilities and his determination to succeed, a harder, steely edge began to emerge.
Most of us accept and acknowledge that, in order to be the best of the best, one needs not only talent but a dogged determination and an arrogant belief that they WILL be the best and that NO-One will hold them back. Gradually, as the interview proceeded, so these aspects of his persona began to emerge.
The signs were subtle, a few words that indicated that a certain subject was no longer going to be discussed and a stare from eyes that said more than many words could: that pushing him on a point was NOT a good idea. On the surface all was fine but under that veil was a layer of stony resistance to anyone who might overstep his boundaries.
The interviews over, it was time to take to the road again: this time with Oscar at the wheel.
Here again, the veil was lifted and the edge to take on all-comers re-emerged. As he lowered himself behind the wheel, his physique seemed to change in front of us.
Suddenly he was more alert, adapting physically to almost become an extension of the machine, as well as an expression that would scatter any obstacles before him. He engaged gear and was gone.
The fact that we were filming from a larger yet no less powerful macho-machine, assisted by a driver with performance driving skills, did nothing to keep us up with Oscar on the road.
Without driving dangerously or recklessly, he pushed that supercar to its extremities and guided it along the road with such confidence and single-mindedness that had you believe he must have thought he was competing in a race.
He roared along the straights, took the tightest angles through the curves and slipped past other vehicles as if they were stationary.
When we did finally stop to have a wrap up interview, the look of the fierce, take no prisoners, competitor was still there….and then he smiled, again becoming the charming host that we had first encountered hours earlier.
So, what do I think, having spent some time one-on one with Oscar?
Pistorious?
I think that here is a person, like many of us, with multiple layers to their personality. The easy going, courteous super -athlete, comfortable in his world and confident of his status in life.
Then there is the other layer, that of the super -competitive, totally driven individual who HAS NOT and WILL NOT back down when confronted by an obstacle, no matter what that obstacle might be.
When confronted, he engages that top gear. It is then that I feel Oscar Pistorious is in danger of going off the road.