THIS Youth Day, KwaMsane born casting director, Bongani Mbatha, will be creating opportunities for the young people of AbaQulusi to break into the entertainment industry.
Bongani has invited South African television stars, as well as DJ’s, to address the youth on how to pursue a career in acting or music.
At an event taking place at the Barren Hall in Bhekuzulu, between 10am and 5pm on Youth Day, Zululand’s young talent will not only be able to learn the tricks of the trade from professional performers, they will also have the chance to showcase their own acting, singing and modelling talent with the possibility of being cast in Bongani’s first movie, ‘Imbangi’.
Bongani was introduced to the entertainment industry when he was approached to play a ‘goon’ (bodyguard) to a drug dealer, ‘Big Ben’, played by George Christou, on Mzansi Magic soapie, Zabalaza.
“I left to Johannesburg to study after completing matric at Umfolozi High School. One day, a director approached me as I was walking to the gym and asked me if I could act. He was impressed by the way my biceps looked. That is how I ended up playing one of Big Ben’s goons on Zabalaza. While working there, I was often called upon to find extras for the show and the director suggested that I open a casting agency. That’s how I made my start,” explained Bongani. “Now, I am one of the casting directors for ‘High Rollers’ on SABC 3.”
He continued, “I enjoy helping people and being in a position to groom them for the entertainment industry. I mostly work with people from the rural areas and the townships, where there is a lack of opportunities and resources. Now, I hope to help people here in AbaQulusi. We have a lot of talented people here in KZN , but their talents never lead them anywhere because they don’t know how apply them to pursue a career.”
Bongani’s movie, ‘Imbangi’, is about a young man who grew up in Gauteng, looking for his father in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
“The young man meets and falls in love with a woman in the rural area and is compelled by his desire to be with her to go back to his roots and adopt the traditional Zulu culture and lifestyle,” said Bongani.
Spending time in a rural Zulu village in Zwathi to do research for the movie, gave Bongani the opportunity to reconnect with his own cultural roots.
“I learned how to milk a cow and how to farm. I learned just how important women are in the Zulu culture, and I learned how important it is to show respect,” he explained.
“I would like to invite all the schools in the surrounding area, children and parents to attend the Youth Day event at Barren Hall and to showcase their talent for a chance to be cast in ‘Imbangi’ and to help me show the world what it truly means to be Zulu,” concluded Bongani.
For more information on the Youth Day event, contact Bongani on 084 344 6015.
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