“WHAT THE f—k nigger – what the …!” an albino female character dressed in designer tracksuit whilst lying prostrate on the grounds of the ruins of what was once an electrical power station along the shore of the Orlando Dam, rolled off the bemused expletives upon being struck by a blow on her stylishly coiffured hair from an assailant who had sneaked in from behind her along with an accomplice.
The ire of the duo of assailants, risibly referred to as Dill and Pickle, had been provoked by the albino, known as Zaza, a brief moment after she had fired a gunshot at their partners-in-crime, Mo and Thandi.
From the vantage point of a concrete mound whence I stood whilst photographing the scene being played out on a winter’s Saturday afternoon – I surveyed the to-and-fro of repeated takes and all-hands-on-deck enthusiasm of both the cast and crew on a location teeming with overgrowth of blackjacks which were pricking my trouser pants.
As the camera rolled whilst the scene – a penultimate one toward the epilogue of three weeks of filming, as well as one just before a much needed lunch break – segued into Dill and Pickle ending up rescuing Mo and Thandi, upon the director bellowing, “cut!”, everyone on set let out a loud cackle as a result of Zaza’s reaction!
The general reaction wasn’t out of place though, since the flick is billed – to borrow the description of its producer, Shaun Naidoo (an erstwhile print motoring journalist) – as a comedy-action. A light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek gaze into the routine of drug dealers and gangsters existing on the streets of Soweto – the media release inviting members of the Fourth Estate to an Open Day on the film set, partly described it.
A case in point is where Mo and Thandi advance into full view of the camera whilst wearing grins instead of grimaces on their visages – after having come under fire and by implication, escaped with their lives!
During a brief makeover break, I enquired of actor, Matli Mohapeloa – who plays the role of Mo – as to how it compared with past ones of his career? Unsurprisingly, his riposte was forthright: “I think it sucks!” In between and between takes, coaxing a comment regarding her character from Palesa Mosiea (the actress cast as Zaza – the main squeeze of a notorious loan-shark) induced an instant chortle when she let me in, in Sotho: “She’s a nonsense of a person – spits out insults all day long!”
One cast member though who appeared in no joking mood on set was veteran actor, Sello Sebotsane – aptly roped into the production as “Lebo the Lion”, a loan-shark the terror of the underworld scum – who stood behind the camera crew whilst taking in the on-goings and simultaneously drawing lung-filling pulls on a cigarette. Of a fairly tall frame and donning a crime kingpin-esque hat, he loomed menacing around everyone else – even though the scenes being shot didn’t require his involvement.
Also present on location at the toes of the Soweto Towers was a future filmmaker, 21-year-old Tshwane University of Technology, second year film student, Zanele Ngwenya, who was on set as part of an activation geared towards offering aspirant filmmakers an opportunity to experience life on a film set.
According to the media release, the Meadowlands lass was part of 40 young students which 33 Films, the South African film company hosting the Open Day, picked as part of Youth Month celebrations.
Yet another stakeholder in attendance who couldn’t escape a curious gaze was the ostentatiously dressed wardrobe master of the Netflix flick, namely, Nthato Mashishi.
The picture of a worldly jetsetter, the fashion designer for such celebs as Bonang Matheba appeared in place in an eye-catching Adidas tracksuit (embroidered with gold dollar signs) created by American designer, Jeremy Scott.
Nonchalantly showing me the price tag, Mashishi mentioned that he was wearing the apparel for the very first time in 15 years after Scott had gifted it to him, after making his acquaintance pending a trip to New York.
Soon-to-be released, Soweto Blaze, is directed by SAFTA-winner, Bradley Katzen, and stars amongst others, Dimpho More (in the role of Thandi) and Nyelethi Khoza.
Image (Senior Photojournalist Jacob Mawela snapped alongside actor Matli Mohapeloa, the lead actor in the film Soweto Blaze, pending a media open day on location on the shore of Orlando Dam).
