Mitchells Plain local Robin Van Der Byl combined his passion for movies with his love for his community to create a 100 per cent self-funded film addressing the ups and downs of this complex, historic township.
Mitchells Plain, situated some 30km from Cape Town CBD, is one of the largest townships in South Africa. Populated predominantly by the coloured community, it was conceived as a ‘model’ township by the then apartheid government and was built in the 1970s to provide housing for the forced removal of coloured victims as a result of the Group Areas Act. While it’s impossible to be accurate – it is estimated that over 300 000 people live there and the township has gained a reputation for drugs and violent gangsterism leaving local residents living in a constant state of concern and fear.
Local resident Robin Van Der Byl was a member of a group called C.I.A. (Children in Action), which organised holiday clubs for children in the Mitchells Plain community, as well as surrounding areas.
“I also did various youth camps for the city,” says Van Der Byl, “but this had to stop when I started working. I then decided to do a community project at least once or twice a year, and because I have a passion for media, I decided to make a difference by using this passion and I started to write a script. I became part of a media group and we made one movie – but I felt I had to do one more focused on the community in which I live.”
The movie which Van Der Byl conceptualised covers various social elements that are found in Mitchell’s Plain. These include gangsterism, drugs, rape, teenage pregnancy and various other issues. The movie tells the story of three matric students who are faced with different challenges that are found in life today. They manage to conquer these challenges after the message about change gets out on the streets. The change starts when the main focus of the movie, which is love, is shown to the kingpins who basically control the gangster elements in the township.
“There was no funding for this project,” says Van Der Byl. “Right in the beginning, when I met with the cast and crew at the start of our weekly meetings, I made it clear that this is a community upliftment project and that there were no funds to pay any of the cast and crew. Everyone, without exception, agreed to be part of the production on a purely voluntary basis.”
All the locations were in Mitchells Plain. The cast and crew all came from Mitchells Plain including the lead players Sergio Miller (Ryan), Miche Gilbert (Tammy), and Anthony Walters (Romano) – none of whom had previous acting experience.
“Transport, location bookings, refreshments, supply and maintenance of equipment were problematic as a result of the location, but we were fortunate to have all our equipment sponsored by AB Video Productions. We shot with a Sony V1 HDV camera, used normal flood lights and boom microphones. We used Adobe Premier for post-production. We did everything at the same time. We would film over the weekend, and then during the week we would edit what we had filmed the previous weekend. So basically, everything came together as we went along.”
Mitchells Plain – the Movie was launched on Saturday 14 May at the City of Grace Living Waters Auditorium in Belhar. “The premiere was a great success,” enthuses Van Der Byl. “I would say around 400 people attended the premiere. We had a pre-gala ceremony for the cast, crew, media and invited guests, just to say thank you for all the hard work. Ward Councilor Eddie Andrews was the Master of Ceremony for the evening.”
Van Der Byl is planning a road show at various Schools, churches and community halls right across Cape Town, the Western Cape, and if all goes well, the whole of South Africa and the international market. He is also optimistic for a flighting on local TV channels.
“I believe that this movie will open and change people’s mindset about Mitchells Plain and any other community in the Cape Flats. Not everyone is a gangster, drug addict, or prostitute. There is good in these communities as well and I hope this movie shows this.
“I feel really proud for what the team and I achieved with no financial aid and considering all the limitations imposed on us as a result of this – we did it.
“I really believe that change is possible in Mitchells Plain, and that there is still hope for this community. There is no doubt that there is amazing talent here and it just needs to be identified and cultivated and who know where we could go.”
There will be a further viewing of Mitchells Plain – The Movie at the Shikenah Full Gospel Church in Mitchells Plain on 6 August.
