South African Jonathan Liebesman, director of new 3D blockbuster Wrath of the Titans, has told Channel24 that his fellow South African filmmakers “lack the confidence to make it big internationally’.
He noted that South Africans think everything from overseas is better, but he believes South Africa is “20 times better than anything in America’ and that more local filmmakers will eventually make international breakthroughs.
Screen Africa reported earlier this week that Wrath of the Titans, released on 99 prints, was the top earner in South Africa over the weekend of 20 March to 1 April, making R2.4m. The film was number two at the US box office, earning $33.5m in its first week.
Liebesman, who was born in Johannesburg and studied at AFDA, is known as director of Hollywood films such as Battle: Los Angeles, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and Darkness Falls, and will next take on the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film produced by Michael Bay.
