Edenvale filmmakers present film project at Johannesburg Comic Con Africa

A labour of love debuted at the Johannesburg Comic Con Africa when Edenvale residents and filmmakers presented Verified.

Written and directed by Waleed Majiet Al-Yamani, the film was produced by his wife Melissa Kahn of Target Practice Pictures.

The film had its first screening at the convention on September 23.

Waleed explains the film discusses the immediate culture the world lives in and our society’s need to have its voice validated on social media.

ALSO READ: Community gather at St Benedict’s College for band entertainment

“We live in a social media distorted matrix where we believe if strangers validate us, we are valuable. We seek the likes, the comments and at times infamy in this way.”

Based against this backdrop, the film’s main character, Dillon, played by Richard Gau, is introduced while chasing a lifelong dream of verification.

“As Dillon is about to commit to another night of digital debauchery, which will make him more infamous, reality comes knocking in the form of the secret validation he has always wanted.

This is after his sister and confidant, Madison, played by Angela Sithole, told him that they found his estranged father slumped over with alcohol poisoning,” said Waleed.

ALSO READ: Modern entertainment areas for the whole family

Armed with this information, Dillon must choose between two paths – to save his father, played by Gerard Rudolph, from the abyss or to continue seeking his infamy and verification.

Waleed said through the film, the audience can see the choices Dillon makes and whether they will define him as a despicable person or if he will become the person he is uncomfortable to be.

“The film is designed to express such decisions and choices.”

Filmed during lockdown this self-funded project started with three people and took six days to finalise.

Although filmed in Edenvale, Cape Town, Portugal and Dubai, access to filming locations and actors posed a challenge.

Over three years, the project expanded and grew into the film it is today.

Although they still fine-tune the film, it will be officially released at the start of December.

ALSO READ: Samsung launches The Freestyle, a portable screen for entertainment wherever you are

Waleed said working with the cast felt like working with Titans.

Melissa said that having the film shown at Comic Con felt good.

“For us, this is just the beginning. Over the last three years, we have put a lot of effort into the film.

“Not only was it a tough time for all of our families, but this is a personal story for Waleed. It was beautiful to share this story with everyone at the convention,” said Melissa.

Melissa said Verified is meant to make viewers uncomfortable and make the audience think.

“A lot of the content we consume today keeps you in a gluttonous state. What Verified does is it shines a light, with Dillon being almost a mirror taking you with him to look at your wounds and to make you feel uncomfortable.”

Following the debut of their film, the crew intends to go on a roadshow across South Africa.

Starting in Johannesburg, the roadshow, still being planned, will head to Durban and end at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town.