-- --
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Pinterest
When Sibusiso Khuzwayo read Thabo Mbeki's biography, The Dream Deferred by Mark Gevisser he was inspired by a small story about a boy who read letters to villagers at a time in our country when it suited the regime to keep black South Africans illiterate. Sibusiso's mind started churning, imagining the challenges of being a letter reader' for a young boy. What powers could Sibusiso give the young boy?
The result is a short film that crew and cast fell in love with and that was shot recently in a remote mountain village in the magical Drakensberg.
-- --
The film tells the story of Siyabonga, a 12-year-old boy from Johannesburg who is sent to a village in KwaZulu-Natal to live with his grandmother while his parents are sorting out their marital problems. As a city boy who is not accustomed to doing household chores, Siyabonga struggles to adapt. He discovers the power of words as he reads letters that put a smile on people's faces, until one day, a letter with bad news lands in his hands. A letter addressed to Nobuhle a beautiful 25-year old wife of a migrant worker living in Johannesburg. He takes one look at this beautiful woman and falls in love with her. As Nobuhle waits anxiously to hear the words of a long-awaited letter Siyabonga realises that the letter outlines the end of Nobuhle's marriage he can't bring himself to break her heart, so in that instant, Siyabonga decides that Nobuhle deserves better.
Over the last three years, producers Cati Weinek and Dumi Gumbi have worked closely with Sibusiso to make his dream of directing a film come true. It has been a privilege working with Sibusiso, a writer who has created the most exquisite script and who is a beautiful visual story teller on set. So, we wanted to make sure to surround Sibusiso with the best talent in the country, from Lance Gewer as Director Of Photography and stars like Andile Gumbi as the lead, said Cati Weinek.
The young man who steals the show in front of the camera though, is Bahle Mashinini, the 13-year-old Jo'burg based actor who plays the letter reader in the village. Sibusiso states that the casting took many months as everything hinges on the authenticity of the boy's performance.
Dumi Gumbi points out that this initiative is part of The Ergo Company's young directors' programme to develop new voices in industry, but like all films it needs investors! In this instance finance was secured via the KZN Film Commission, the National Film and Video Foundation and Panavision and Panalux, who donated equipment. The film was shot on the Red Dragon and will be seen at local and international festivals and hopefully on our television screens. Usually broadcasters don't buy short films but we hope that the quality of the film will speak for itself', said Dumi Gumbi. Sibusio Khuzwayo hopes to make a full length feature based on his short.
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Pinterest
-- --
Most recent headlines
17/02/2019
Ghosts of Sugar Land was awarded The Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction at the Sundance Film Festival this year
Logline: In Sugar Land, Texas, a group of young...
16/02/2019
Are you ready for the Lotto and Lotto Plus draw on Saturday, 16 February? It's yet another chance to find out whether or not you're South Africa's l...
16/02/2019
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach, Giovanni Solinas had his sights set on out-of-favour Orlando Pirates defender, Justice Chabalala, Goal reports.
The Italian was rel...
16/02/2019
This Sunday sees the Elimination Chamber PPV take place from Houston, Texas. While it feels like the annual PPV happens at the beginning of each year, it may su...
16/02/2019
The broadcaster can boast with the most nominated shows in all major categories, including feature film, TV comedy, TV Drama, soap and telenovela.
Yolisa Phah...
16/02/2019
Yes, we know the weather is wreaking havoc this week, but you can't stay bundled up indoors whole weekend either? Catch a movie instead.
Show load sheddin...
16/02/2019
Bexel Now Offering Ross Video XPression Graphics Rental in the USA posted: 16/02/2019
Bexel, an NEP Broadcast Services Company, have expanded their graphi...
16/02/2019
BNC Malaysia Equips 24-Hour News Studio with Ross Video posted: 16/02/2019
The BERNAMA News Channel, also known as BNC, is a 24-hour international news and ...
16/02/2019
Ottawa, Canada, 16th February 2019 - Bexel, an NEP Broadcast Services Company, have expanded their graphics offering to now include Ross Video's XPression -...
16/02/2019
ABC and CBS tied for the win in Thursday prime ratings, both putting up a 1.0 in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and a 5 share. That beat the 0.9/4 t...
16/02/2019
Cox Enterprises said it reached a deal to sell a majority interest in Cox Media Group's broadcast stations and newspapers to fund managed by Apollo Global M...
16/02/2019
FrameTrunk Takes on UltraHD Production and Post with AJA Corvid 88 posted: 15/02/2019
Pop-up production and post best describe the flavor of services that F...
16/02/2019
NAB 2019: Slomo.tv extends Ripley capabilities posted: 15/02/2019
the worlds most compact 662 replay server and mobile videoReferee -R solution in the dim...
16/02/2019
Panasonic AK-HC5000/ AK-UC4000 cameras and slomo.tv's Arrow-II server @ NAB2...
16/02/2019
NAB2019: Fulcrum AT/12G server - Now supports more 3G/HD channels. posted: 15/02/2019
Modernized 4K multichannel recording and replay server
At NAB Show...
16/02/2019
Friday 15 February 2019 UKTV has commissioned its first Original scripted drama for leading crime drama channel, Alibi.
The six-part series, Traces (6x60), is ...
15/02/2019
Live From NBA All-Star: Celebrity All-Star Game Brings ESPN Team Together Operations usually handled out of Bristol are fully staffed onsite By Ken Kerschbaume...
15/02/2019
Around the Biz 2/15/19: Activision Blizzard Feels Effects of Massive Layoffs; CB...
15/02/2019
Ratings Roundup: First Night of AAF on CBS Tops Thunder vs. Rockets; ESPN's ...
15/02/2019
Behind the Mic: Fox NASCAR Adds Jimmie Johnnson, Kevin Harvick, Chad Knaus; ESPN...
15/02/2019
ESPN To Produce Full Court Press Second Spectrum Broadcast of NBA Game on March ...
15/02/2019
Brightcove Signs Agreement to Acquire Ooyala's Online Video Platform Busines...
15/02/2019
Euro Media Group acquires Telegenic in move to expand global presence UK-based OB firm added to roster that includes CTV, Videohouse and United By Ken Kerschba...
15/02/2019
Fox Sports' Daytona 500 Innovations Include Rail Cam, Drone, Digiboom, and V...
15/02/2019
Fox Sports Sets Pace for NASCAR Studio Ops With New Virtual Studio in Charlotte The facility will serve as backbone of all Fox NASCAR studio programs By Jason ...
15/02/2019
Compact Size and Accurate Capture of True Sound Proves Ideal for House of Worshi...
15/02/2019
The extended top end delivered by d:facto gives this internationally renowned artist the extra presence he loves when he performs live.
It isn't often tha...
15/02/2019
Composer and musician Hans Andia rode around Chile and France with a pair of d:screet 4060 mics to capture audio for a series of unique sound maps.
Running wa...
15/02/2019
It's Friday night and that can only mean one thing; cash dollar bills (not really) are ready to be won in the Powerball draw.
Powerball and Powerball Plus ...
15/02/2019
When it comes to the question of whether one should buy or rent property, many factors come to mind. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. T...
15/02/2019
Preparing for and hosting house guests can be a very enjoyable experience. There's something satisfying about helping your visitors feel especially welcome ...
15/02/2019
Tonight on Generations The Legacy: Zondiwe wants revenge for the money she lost out on. Sphe realises her nightmare might be far from over. Cosmo and Mrekza are...
15/02/2019
On tonight's episode: Bushang unwittingly sabotages Alfred. Lehasa is horrified by what he finds out about Lelo. More burden is added on top of Kwaito's...
15/02/2019
In today's episode of Uzalo: The church holds a thanksgiving service for Sibonelo and Qhabanga welcomes Sibonelo. Is Qhabanga sincere when he prays for Sibo...
15/02/2019
Don't let the weather get you down this week. Instead, make some popcorn - go all out and make a blanket fort too, you know you want to - and settle in with...
15/02/2019
Naomi Smalls gagged RuPaul's Drag Race fans the world over when she eliminated Manila Luzon after claiming the Lip Sync for Your Legacy at the end of episod...
15/02/2019
One Born Every Minute due in 2019
We're just bursting with baby joy as we welcome the life-changing factual series, One Born Every Minute to the 10 family....
15/02/2019
Tokyo Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today published the English edition of Toshiba Group Environmental Report 2018.
In recent years, as social issues such ...
15/02/2019
Net Insight enables largest Remote IP Production ever, produced by SVT In collaboration with Grass Valley during 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
Stockh...
15/02/2019
Mexico City, Mexico - February 12, 2019 - Netflix, the worlds leading internet e...
15/02/2019
Netflix has renewed multi-cam sitcom Alexa & Katie for a third season of 16 epis...
15/02/2019
The new version of Vizrt's Graphics Plugin now supports installation of Edius 8 and 9. The plugin now also gives editors access to Viz Pilot Edge, part of t...
15/02/2019
The BRIT Awards 2019, the British Phonographic Industry's annual celebration honoring the best in British and International music, takes place just a few da...
15/02/2019
Image courtesy of Sylvia Rhone
Epic Records President Sylvia Rhone will receive an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music on Friday, April 5, at the ...
15/02/2019
FUJIFILM MEDICAL SYSTEMS EUROPE HIGHLIGHTS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVE AT...
15/02/2019
FUJIFILM MEDICAL SYSTEMS NEVER STOP DEVELOPING INNOVATION FOR HEALTHCARE IMAGING At ECR 2019, FUJIFILM will show advancements in their clinical imaging portfo...
15/02/2019
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has been recognized for excellence in brand design and user experience implementation, winning two prestigious iF DESIGN AWARDS 2019.
T...
15/02/2019
Published: Fri 15 Feb 2019
ITV Studios to unveil Spring slate at its Formats Festival
Exciting new shows will be presented to buyers at its annual event
More...
15/02/2019
Published: Fri 15 Feb 2019
ITV and Red Planet Pictures announce cast as filming...
-- -- 
