Aspirant filmmaker Mpumi Tshabalala from Vosloorus is the winner of the 2012 SA’s Next Top Filmmaker (SANTF) competition for her reality format pilot, Look at Me Now.
The pilot stars cross-dressing socialite Iko Mash as a self-appointed fashion police officer who arrests unsuspecting male fashion offenders in malls and gives them an instant makeover.
Tshabalala was mentored by Anton Burggraaf from Ochre Moving Pictures. He says: “We are thrilled that Mpumi won as she has great vision. She’s an eager learner who takes guidance in her stride and was a pleasure to work with. I feel very proud that Ochre could contribute to her production. I think Mpumi came up with a brilliant idea.”
“It was an amazing experience,” comments Tshabalala, “I got the opportunity to work with top professionals and I had lots of fun.”
She wins a year’s internship with award winning production company Quizzical Pictures. In addition, Ochre Moving Pictures and SANTF initiator, General Post, are looking at partnering with Tshabalala to develop her pilot into a full series in 2013.
Finalist Tebogo Kgakoa’s pilot, Above All Ls, explored the thrills and spills of learner drivers trying to get their license for the umpteenth time. He was mentored by Quizzical Pictures.
“I’d really like to thank Quizzical Pictures and General Post as I’ve learnt so much and really enjoyed the process,” states Kgakoa.
Mondli Magenuka, whose reality show titled, Dinner With the Kids, had two celebrities making dinner for the children of Yenzani Children’s home, was mentored by Endemol SA.
Says Magenuka: “It was an awesome journey working with Endemol, they really welcomed me as one of their own and taught me so much.”
The competition was supported by Digitalfilm, Finetune Audio, The Bladeworks, and the talents of many dedicated top professional crew including General Post’s very own Andrew Dixon, William Kalmer and Keith Fraser.
Says General Post’s Kirsty Galliard: “The steep learning curve that results from working alongside top professionals can never be underestimated. A huge thank you must go to Ochre, Endemol and especially Quizzical who are on board for the second year running, for their enthusiasm and commitment. These are companies who really put their money, time and resources where their mouths are.”
Galliard’s aim is for the competition to grow more young filmmakers each year. She hopes that 2013 will see five partner companies participating and more industry sponsors on board.
Any companies wanting to get involved in the competition can contact Galliard on Kirsty@generalpost.co.za.
By Joanna Sterkowicz
Screen Africa magazine – November / December 2012
