Moving from the television production environment to the world of short film taught South African filmmaker Uzanenkosi a whole new way of telling a story.
“When you shoot a television drama you have to complete a prescribed number of minutes each day, so it can be a bit of a compromise. But making my first ever short film Tshingwe na Tshingwe (Anything) allowed me to work in a more freely creative way. It was a great learning curve,’ says Uzanenkosi.
Tshingwe na Tshingwe is the 20-minute end product of the 2010 MultiChoice Film Talent Incubator (FTI) Grooming Exceptional Talent (GET) course, which allowed Uzanenkosi to do a short film course at an overseas institution of his choice. This was the National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield, UK.
“The FTI, which is done in conjunction with the Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking, is a marvelous community initiative for previously disadvantaged individuals. If you are chosen to do the FTI’S advanced course (GET), then you come away with a short film after finishing the course, which is amazing. GET also allows you to choose a mentor for your short film and I picked Robbie Thorpe of TOM Pictures, he is a wonderful filmmaker and person,’ explains Uzanenkosi.
Tshwinge na Tshwinge was inspired by a story from a homeless man called Tshabalira Lebakeng. Uzanenkosi wrote the screenplay that centres on a 15-year-old boy desperately trying to fit in with his new community. It is a story about the abuse of power.
Compromise
The film was shot late last year over three and a half days in Everton, which is an hour outside of Johannesburg. DOP Eran Tahor shot the film on a Canon 5D camera.
Uzanenkosi continues: “Each day we lost so much time because of travelling to the location that we ran out of money. As I didn’t want to compromise the film, I approached MultiChoice Corporate Social Investment (CSI) manager Itumeleng Letebele and she kindly granted us extra funds.’
Uzanenkosi notes that local crews are very willing to assist in making the film beyond the limited budget.
Three days of rehearsals helped to build a relationship between the actors and director. He says: “Some scenes were hard to do because it was necessary for the actors to embarrass themselves. As a director I had to figure out how to make them do what I wanted.
“The short film course in the UK taught me to keep a diary of things that I learnt every day while directing Tshingwe na Tshingwe. Making the film was a process of growth for me.’
Uzanenkosi has always been keen to help other previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs) forge their careers. Three years ago he created the website www.pitchit.co.za, an online market where writers can pitch their scripts.
PRODUCTION CREW:
Executive Producers: MultiChoice, Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking
Producer: Robbie Thorpe
Production Designer: Martha Sibanyoni
Production Manager: Kamohelo Mokoena
Sound: President Kapa
Off-line Editor: Ziggy Hofmeyr
Equipment: Media Film Service, Digital Films, CJ Photographic Solutions
Key Cast: Mpho Sebeng, Anele Mnguni, Junior Singo, Nkhodeni Ramagwede
