South African filmmaker Mr B (Bonginhlanhla Ncube), director of the telefilm 48, participated in a workshop run by Raindance Canada at the University of Toronto from 23 to 24 June. Raindance is a non-profit independent organisation involved in the training and development of filmmakers.
Mr B was invited to the workshop by his long time international mentor Peter D Marshall, who is originally from Vancouver. At the workshop Mr B, whose participation was made possible by assistance from South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation, met 40 other filmmakers from Hollywood, Singapore, England and Toronto.
Says Mr B: “I want to position myself as a “world’ filmmaker and to do that I believe I need to consume filmmaking thoughts and traits from the best. However, I in no way wish to undermine South Africa’s local training facilities. I still plan to tell own South African stories but in a universally accepted manner.
“For local stories or films to be accepted worldwide, we need to look into how we produce our films and how the international community produces films. I believe that in South Africa we make films as if we are in a hurry to finish them. It’s true that we don’t have much financial support but technology enables us to make great quality films at very low costs.’
Mr B maintains that local filmmakers do not pay enough attention to music. “Our music scores are lacking, almost as if we do not understand how music affects the mood of a film.’
He is currently working on a five-part adaptation of 48 and is also in production with Form 36, a documentary about baby dumping in Pretoria.
Says Mr B: “Form 36 focuses on an angelic organisation that has set up a window in a wall, allowing moms who do not want their babes to leave them in the window. I think this film should be shown to every young girl in the country in order to save lives. There has been a lot of resistance to the film but I’m determined to tell the story.
“I have already spoken to three moms who have used this baby dumping technique and they have unique and touching stories that should be heard by any mother, young girl and even their male counterparts.’
Mr B has been invited to direct a film called I Can, I Will, I Must and has written two film scripts.
