The Arts industry remembered and celebrated filmmaker and producer at Atlas Studios
Filmmaker and producer Teboho Moseling Mahlatsi worked on Yizo Yizo, Shaka iLembe and Ayeye among many other television series and commercials.
Family, friends and veterans in the media and arts industry remembered filmmaker and producer Teboho Moseling Mahlatsi at Atlas Studios on July 12.
Mahlasti died on July 3.
Friend and comedian David Kau said Mahlatsi was one of the people who played an important role in helping him decide what he wanted to venture into in terms of a career.
“Between Teboho and Akim Omotoso, those are the two people who inspired and influenced my decision to make films on top of whatever I was trying to pursue. If there is any filmmaker that will be remembered, I cannot help but think of Teboho. When one googles him, usually his work which speaks for itself comes up, including the work he produced which changed television forever.”
Filmmaker and producer Mahlatsi worked on Yizo Yizo, Shaka iLembe and Ayeye, among many other television series and commercials.
The late filmmaker’s sister, Motshewa Mahlatsi, said she was not surprised that Teboho became one of the most-loved and respected filmmakers because while they were growing up in Kroonstad, he was always visited by his friends with whom he would watch films or rap to Dr. Dre’s music.
Bomb Productions partner and filmmaker Angus Gibson explained that he met Teboho in Yeoville in 1993 when he was an intern.
“I met Teboho when I was part of a collective, made up of artists and actors. Teboho was quiet and full of ideas and sketches; he made an impression which made him stand out from the many other interns.”
Gibson added that he and Mahlsti spoke about films Teboho read about but not seen, which was an indication of his passion for film.
“This was also when I knew that this was the type of person I wanted to work with. Years later, after squatting in an office together he suggested we create a ‘trash’ movie where the characters would be their authentic selves which is how we came to make a film called Street bash. This is also when we also came up with ideas for Yizo Yizo, and went on to direct it which was a seamless process.”
The filmmaker concluded that he and Mahlatsi were creative collaborators. “There was an enormous amount that he brought to the table I was never going to bring. I think that the original spirit of that Yizo Yizo came from the first conversation about wanting to do a ‘trash’ movie.”
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