KaNyamazane filmmaker wants to nurture local talent
Local filmmaker, director and founder of Mpumalanga Motion Pictures, Thulani Mandlazi (25), started his production company in 2016 with the hope of inspiring and creating a platform for young Mpumalanga actors to magnify their talent.
Like many other aspiring artists, Mandlazi and his team are struggling in terms of equipment and funding.
“I registered the company in 2018 and from there I have been teaching young people all over Nsikazi acting skills,” said Mandlazi.
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With actors from Matsulu, Barberton, KaNyamazane and Ngodini, Mandlazi and his team have managed to film and produce two short stories.
“We made our first film, Liphupho lelibi, in 2019 and we recently finished filming our second short story titled Ingabe ngonani,” said Mandlazi.
During an interview with Lowvelder Express, Mandlazi also revealed that they are working on getting both their short stories to Mzansi Bioskop, a DStv-owned kasi-stories channel.
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“Our stories aim to educate and entertain and to also showcase the talent we have here in Mpumalanga. Our stories also seek to teach and advise the youth on what we face on a daily basis, whether it is drug and alcohol abuse or teenage pregnancy,” he went on.
Like many other aspiring artists, Mandlazi and his team are struggling in terms of equipment and funding. “Our equipment, especially cameras, are clear but not big enough for the work that we are doing and we depend on our parents for financial support,” he said.
Mandlazi said that they hope to attract local businesses and government to help them nurture young talent in the province. To support or join this local initiative, simply send an email to makzadadreamer@gmail.com or you can call him at
067-767-0577.
