EThekwini Women Doing Wonderful Things

 

The month of August is Women’s Month. This is the month when we pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of the Pass Laws to women and demanding equal rights for all citizens.

‘’We would like to pay tribute to these remarkable women of our country who fought during the liberation struggle and those who continue to contribute to the development of our country today,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

This month we celebrate some of the amazing women around Durban and all they do for the City of Durban.

Tarryn Bristow. | Image: eThekwini Municipality

Tarryn Bristow is a Bird Curator from Mitchell Park Zoo, and Umgeni River Bird Park. She is lending a hand in her way to help the community out.  

‘’Our Bird Park and our Zoo play a major role in attracting tourists to Durban,’’ said Tarryn Bristow, Bird Curator, Mitchell Park Zoo and Umgeni River Bird Park.

She is helping to rebuild Durban’s tourism industry through her efforts.

Find out more about what she is doing to help the industry in this video on our YouTube Channel Umhlanga Life TV:

The Umgeni River Bird Park was designed and built by Dr Alan Abrey. It’s situated in an old quarry site which used to contain water. Dr Alan Abrey used to visit the site when he was a young boy. In later years when he was looking for a site for a bird park he remembered the location and found it to be the ideal location.

The Umgeni River Bird Park was opened in April 1984 by the then Mayor of Durban, Councillor Sybil Hotz.

The Bird Park is located on 3.5 hectares of tropical landscaping and has a vast collection of more than 800 birds from 200 species. Some species are the only representatives of their kind in Africa and others are sometimes kept as pets.

They have some great membership packages available at the ticket office.

Address: 490 Riverside Road, Durban North on the banks of the Umgeni River.

Contact number:  031 322 5750

For more info email: grant.aggett-cox@durban.gov.za

Website: www.umgeniriverbirdpark.co.za

Covid-19 regulations are in effect when visiting the Umgeni River Bird Park.

 

Mitchell Park Zoo was named after Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell. This park was established in the early part of the last century. It was originally established as an ostrich farm. It was then changed into a zoo.

At that time they had a variety of animals, the most famous being Nellie, an Indian elephant. The park also consists of some beautifully landscaped gardens.

Today the park has many small animals including crocodiles, bucks, raccoons, cranes, monkeys, and tortoises. There is also a walk-through aviary that allows you to see the many bird species up close.

One of the many feathered beauties you might spot at Mitchell Park Zoo. | Image: Fred Felton

There is a sand-filled playground where children can play on swings, jungle gyms, slides, and other rides. The park even has paraplegic facilities, which also means that everyone can enjoy the facilities.

‘’They have a lovely outdoor park for children and the zoo is also nice,’’ said local Durban resident Cindy Polydorou.

Mitchell Park’s workers also assist in teaching children all about the animals and plant species.

Concessions for school groups and pensioners are also available.

Address: 10 Ferndale Road, Morningside, Durban

Contact details: 031 303 2275

Covid-19 regulations are in place when visiting the park.

Support Durban Tourism by visiting attractions like this and telling your friends and family about attractions such as these.

It is for this reason that eThekwini Municipality is hosting Community Tourism Organisation (CTO) Roadshows to reignite the tourism industry.

‘’It is vital for the economy to attract more tourists to the City,’’ said Durban Tourism Senior Manager, Sibusiso Mngoma at a recent Durban Tourism Stakeholders Workshop.

 The eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda is also encouraging women to get vaccinated.

‘’We urge women to vaccinate and be at the forefront of leading the campaign in their families and the community. Women have always championed the cause of building strong family structures and we commend you for fulfilling the role in our society. We once again appeal to you to rise to the occasion as we strive to save lives and build a healthy nation,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

 

Celebrating the inroads made by eThekwini women

 

Celebrating the inroads made by eThekwini women

 THE month of August is celebrated nationwide as Women's Month. It is born out of the historical and monumental events of 1956 when over 20 000 women marched against unjust pass laws. This year's commemoration of the fateful day come at a time when eThekwini is reeling from the aftermath of the recent civil unrest. 

As efforts to rebuild communities, families, businesses, and the City get underway, it is evident that the women of 1956 have multiplied. EThekwini women from all walks of life have shown similar resolve to those of yesteryear, to get eThekwini back on track. They have initiated or joined initiatives to clean-up, feed the hungry and continue to play a pivotal role in rebuilding the City.

GRANT-IN-AID

Women in eThekwini have been in the forefront of building communities for a long time. When the Municipality launched Grant-In-Aid (GIA) in 2002-an initiative that provides support to organisations that improve the standard of living and quality of life in local communities-women dominated the number of community building initiatives that applied for funding.

In the past financial year (2019/2020), the Municipality, through its GIA programme funded non-profit organisations (NPOs) to the tune of R5.6 million. Interestingly, out of the 111 wards up for consideration, 60 of the beneficiaries were organisations run by women. 

The sectors that are supported are: early childhood development, social welfare, economic development, skills development, sports, arts and culture as well as faith-based organisations.  

Measures put in place for organisations to qualify ensure accountability, fairness and that communities really benefit.

Applications are advertised in newspapers, radio stations and social media platforms in March. The partnership between eThekwini and NPOs is crucial as these organisations are considered the ears and eyes of the Municipality.

AGRI-BUSINESS 

The difficulties presented to communities by the  Covid-19 pandemic and the unrest have given some women an opportunity to start businesses to fill in gaps presented by the lockdown and closure of most shops. We have witnessed emerging farmers, some supported by the Municipality through its Agri-business Unit, step up in the quest for food security.

The Municipality’s Agri-business initiative seeks to grow the economy by improving the productivity of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the agriculture business value chain. It has over seven percent of female farmers registered with it. The sector plays a huge part in food security, especially in the aftermath of the July unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, Council approved and adopted the eThekwini Agribusiness Master Plan which proposed five key commodities which the Municipality will focus on for the next 10 years. These are vegetables, sheep, broilers, cannabis and piggery.

The agri-business sector provides key services to emerging farmers such as business advice, advice on mentorship and extension, technical advice on business planning and financial management, support for access to markets and incubation. These services ensure the development and sustainability of farmers operating in the agricultural value chain, especially with the five commodities mentioned above. 

Soup kitchens are another intervention by the Municipality to fight poverty and create jobs. Once again, women of eThekwini have raised their hands to offer their services. Out of the 81 operating soup kitchens, about 75 of them are supervised and run by women. Besides the co-ordinators, there is also employment for 715 women who cook, serve meals and drive to deliver the food to feed people who are poverty-stricken. This is another level of women nurturing and building their communities. Soup kitchens are operated daily. There are many other Municipal interventions to uplift and empower women to have a stake in the in the economy. 

EMPOWERING WOMEN

As per the amended Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) of 2017, women have been classified as one component of the targeted groups in terms of the Contract Participation Goals (CPG) implementation on projects. This means that any tender worth more than R30 million, 30 percent of it will be subcontracted to targeted groups which includes women. Municipal line depatments are also encouraged to set aside a budget for contracts which will be advertised specifically to target group-owned entities, through the Municipality's Supply Chain Management. Targeted groups are entities which are 51% or more black owned and its ownership is composed of women, youth, military veterans and people living with disabilities. In the last financial year, the Municipality awarded work to the tune of over R1.1m to these groups. 

Internally eThekwini Municipality has also risen to the challenge of ensuring that women are in the forefront of empowerment and leadership through its many endeavours and programmes. These interventions include, amongst others, the Employment Equity Policy.

The Municipality started to prioritise gender equity soon after the promulgation of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. The Municipality has many success stories to tell about women empowerment. There has been an increase of female representation in clusters that were previously dominated by men. 

It is projected that by 30 June 2022, there will be a 45.43% female representation at the top three management levels and a total female representation of all occupational levels of 43.12%.

It is through such endeavours that the Municipality earned the Standard Bank Top Women Award in 2020 and more recently the Top Empowerment Award at the prestigious Oliver Top Empowerment Awards. This award recognised the Municipality for its unfailing vision and innovative leadership which positively impacted women in the country especially during the pandemic. 

Women's Month Spotlight on Umhlanga Councillor Nicole Bollman

The month of August is Women’s Month and this month we focus on Councillor for Umhlanga, Councillor Nicole Bollman. Learn more about this focus-driven lady in our spotlight interview with her and how she is helping out those in her community.

Councillor Nicole Bollman. | Image: Supplied

As a single mom she works as property practitioner and a Ward Councillor. ‘’It’s imperative that I plan my day, getting the most important work done first,’’ said Councillor Nicole Bollman. No two days are the same for her as critical matters can crop up at any given time and she has to get through great deals of admin work daily.

Her objective since becoming the Ward 35 Councillor in August 2019 is to foster, nurture and maintain a healthy working relationship with the city officials that work within the region. ‘’The eThekwini Municipality has ensured a relatively great turnaround time in respect of resolution,’ ‘ shared Councillor Nicole Bollman.

She is typically a ‘hands on’ type of person and likes to drive outstanding matters but she also takes an interest whilst the teams are on the ground. She likes to understand the processes, learning about systems whether it be water or electricity and then effectively communicating this to the residents within her Ward. ‘’I do believe that communication is king and so by educating our residents I empower them in also understanding processes, working in an inclusive symbiotic environment,’’ noted Councillor Nicole Bollman.

Her advice to young women wanting to make a success of their lives is to be confident and believe that you will be successful. ‘’Be open to other people’s opinions and listen with an open mind,’’ shared Councillor Nicole Bollman. She also advises young ladies to be respectful of yourself and everyone else around you. Life is a series of lessons, good or bad. ‘’Not everything ‘bad’ that happens to you is the end of the world,’’ continued Councillor Nicole Bollman.

Did you know that a Councillor is someone elected to represent their local community in the running of their local council and they have an important role in many of the major decisions that affect the lives of people in their community?

Recently the communities of Durban, Umhlanga and eThekwini Municipality all helped to clean up the community after the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal. 

‘’We saw members of our communities band together and get involved in cleaning up our neighbouring suburbs, such as Cornubia, Springfield Park and Queen Nandi together with the various municipal departments such as DSW,’’ said Councillor Nicole Bollman.

This was echoed by Durban North resident Gordon Reid, ‘’We weren’t left feeling alone and helpless, the community came out in droves and it showed how powerful we still are when we unite against a common cause,’’ said Gordon Reid.

‘’It’s reassuring to note the many business engagements, including business formations, after the unrest, they have given much help to work with the eThekwini Municipality in a bid to rebuild,’’ noted eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

There is much she loves about Umhlanga including the warm Indian Ocean, the vibey Umhlanga Village with countless restaurants and the landmark Oyster Box Hotel, the sanctuary of the Hawaan Forest, to the play, work live node of the Umhlanga Ridge area with the ever popular Gateway Theatre of Shopping not to mention summer all year round.

The tourism sector has been hard hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has severely impacted hotels and B&B’s but restaurants too. ‘’It’s imperative that we, the greater North Durban community, continue to support these establishments as often as we can,’’ shared Councillor Nicole Bollman. She advised people to take advantage of specials on offer for local staycations and use social media to promote these destinations. ‘’Umhlanga is the place to go,’’ said Councillor Nicole Bollman.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the riots in KZN eThekwini Municipality will be giving bed and breakfasts an extension of rates rebates for a further 3 months. This begins on 1 July 2021 with an additional 29% rebate over & above the current 35%.

There are concerns from some people about whether or not to get vaccinated. ‘’I would recommend that people educate themselves,’’ advised Councillor Nicole Bollman. 

In her spare time she is an avid equestrienne and so enjoys spending time with her horse when she can.

‘’Women’s Month is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on not only my own challenges and successes but those of various women who make up our community – a celebration of contributions we, as women, make day to day, whether as single moms or as accomplished business people/leaders,’’ said Councillor Nicole Bollman.

Young Durban Designers Shine

 

June is Youth Month and we look at four young designers who are dazzling the design world thanks to eThekwini Municipality.

In 2020 four young designers from Durban were selected to design the outfits that will be worn by athletes that represent South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics’ opening ceremonies in 2021.

Mbali Zulu, Nompumelelo Mjadu, Sandile Sikhakhane and Sipho Lushaba were tasked with designing the kit that will be worn by South African athletes at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics’ opening ceremonies.

The designers are products of the Durban Fashion Fair development programme.

‘’We welcome such progressive strides by one  of our flagship programmes, the Durban Fashion Fair which skills and empowers budding talent in the fashion industry,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Umhlanga Life sat down with the four designers to find out more about them.

Mbali Zulu | Instagram: @MbaliZulu6

For Mbali Zulu the fashion madness started when she played with her Barbie dolls. ‘’I used to sew clothes from fabric around the house and have my own fashion shows,’’ said Mbali Zulu.

She praised the Durban Fashion Fair development programme which is an initiative of eThekwini Municipality. ‘’The programme helped with training me to be a better business women, opening doors to promote our brand on an international level,’’ emphasised Mbali Zulu.

The designer that inspires her most is David Tlale.

The outfit they designed for the athletes is very functional. ‘’The outfit was inspired by the Athletes. They wanted an outfit that will unite us all, we created a print by combining different animal prints and we added in the Olympics print. The outfit is ready to wear so they can even use it after the opening ceremony,’’ shared Mbali Zulu.

She gave this advice to young designers, ‘’Apply for programmes like the Durban Fashion Fair mentorships, they really help to mentor you and launch you as a designer. Start designing and making your clothes,’’ said Mbali Zulu.

Her brand ZuluM specialises in ready to wear, with an African celebration through colours and fabrication.

‘’Start doing what you love today not tomorrow, start with the little you have and build from there, start with making clothes for your family,’’ advises Mbali Zulu.

Youth Month is a reminder to her that we can all make a difference. ‘’We can contribute and make a change to better our lives,’’ stated Mbali Zulu.

Sipho Lushaba | Instagram: @svl_designs

For Sipho Lushaba the entrance into the fashion world was early. ‘’I used to watch my mother sew and from playing dress-up, using me as her own personal mannequin to style me, I developed a love for fashion so I decided to study fashion design at Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion,’’ said Sipho Lushaba.

‘’The Durban Fashion Fair helped me by giving me the platform to develop my skill through the mentorship programme where we were mentored by Fezile Mdletshe and had the opportunity to showcase our talents through the fashion, so it actually helped expose me to the fashion world,’’ notes Sipho Lushaba.

He got involved in designing the Olympic teams opening ceremony kit by being offered the opportunity by Durban Fashion Fair, eThekwini Municipality and Mr Price.

He is inspired by Alexander McQueen and Thebe Magugu.

Where did he get his inspiration for the kit? ‘’Mainly from the Madiba dream and how he wanted to unite us as a nation through sports and how we wanted to represent the athletes and their dreams of stepping foot in the world’s biggest stage, so we also incorporated elements of our cultural diversity which are represented by the big 5 and the Protea,’’ adds Sipho Lushaba.

His advice to young designers, ‘’Start now, look for opportunities which will help you in developing your skills and which help you get exposed to the world of fashion and also to value your craft, love what you do and never lose focus of what you wish to achieve,’’ shared Sipho Lushaba.

He uses his artistic brand SVL Designs to tell stories through art and fashion by fusing both in garments. 

‘’You can’t do everything by yourself at all times, seek out help where you can and be patient with yourself and the process,’’ advises Sipho Lushaba.

‘’Youth Month to me means that we shouldn’t let the sacrifices which were made for us to have a better future go to waste, we should take the opportunities given to us and make the most out of them, so those who made the sacrifices can be proud at the end of the day,’’ states Sipho Lushaba.

Nompumelelo Mjadu | Instagram: @jado_mjadu

‘’I started as a self-taught dressmaker. I was very passionate, this led me to pursue fashion as a career at Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion,’’ said Nompumelelo Mjadu.

She graduated with a fashion diploma in 2019 and had a specific interest in starting her own business.

‘’When I joined the DFF mentorship programme I was very green. I had just come out of college. I was given a platform to prove myself, through the programme I developed innovative skills,’’ notes Nompumelelo Mjadu.

Coco Chanel and Laduma Maxhosa are designers that inspire her.

‘’It is ok to start small wherever you are, prove yourself! Make use of programmes like Durban Fashion Fair,’’ advises Nompumelelo Mjadu.

Her brand Jado Mjadu is an original feminine brand that focuses on the timeless style of women who value quality.   

‘’The hardest times are the best time to grow or create something new,’’ advises Nompumelelo Mjadu.

‘’Youth Month means that we as young people remain conscious of our vision and pave the way for the next generation to fight a different battle to ours,’’ said Nompumelelo Mjadu.

Sandile Sikhakhane | Instagram: @sandile_da_creactive

 ‘’My whole life has been fashion and design. I’ve been doing this since I was 13. I’ve always been thinking outside the box. I had a vision of turning people into walking canvases’’ said Sandile Sikhakhane.  

‘’The DFF Mentorship programme in 2020 gave me the tools that I needed to be where I am now,’’ stated Sandile Sikhakhane.

He is inspired by Alexander McQueen.

‘’If you can see it you can achieve it. Don’t stop, never stop. Just keep pushing. It takes a whole lot of hard work,’’ advises Sandile Sikhakhana.   

His brand sAnd!Le_da_creActive uses arts and crafts to bring value to what people think is nothing.

‘’I’ve learnt to turn my losses into lessons and my lessons into my earnings. If you learn you will earn. I’ve learnt how to cut costs. Collaboration is key, ‘’ advises Sandile Sikhakhana.

‘’Youth Month means it’s a reminder that I as a Youth have the power to change the world. We can do a whole lot to change. We can move mountains. We can become future kings and queens thus passing on knowledge,’’ said Sandile Sikhakhana.

For more information on how eThekwini Municipality is helping you visit: www.durban.gov.za

5 Reasons to visit uShaka Marine World

 

By Fred Felton | 10 June 2021

There is plenty to see and do at this theme park situated in the Point Waterfront of Durban, South Africa.

Here are 5 highlights to add to your bucket list:

Wet n’ Wild

The theme park has a great adventure park featuring many water slides, a variety of pools and of course the Lazy River where you can sail along at your own pace. There are also some extreme slides for the thrill seekers out there.

The Aquarium

The sunken plane | Photo: Fred Felton

uShaka Marine World has a huge collection of fish species that you can observe. The Aquarium features some amazing species and you might even spot a sunken plane. It is also where you can experience the Phantom Ship. It is certainly something to experience on your next visit.

The Village Walk

The Dangerous Creatures Exhibit at the Village Walk | Photo: Fred Felton

Not many people know this but situated next to the theme park is the Village Walk. uShaka Marine World has its very own outside mall. So if you are in the mood for some retail therapy you can experience one of the many boutique shops in the Village Walk. No matter what you need you can find anything from clothing to food to gourmet coffee and even banking right there. Many of these shops rely on tourists and locals and during these tough times it is important to support local shops.

The Dolphin Show

The theme park also has its very own Dolphin Show which is held at different times during the day. You can also experience the shows online by visiting the uShaka Marine World website.

The New Promenade Extension

Spectacular views from the new promenade | Photo: Fred Felton

Ethekwini Municipality has just recently extended the promenade further along from uShaka Pier. So grab a coffee at one of the nearby restaurants and take a leisurely stroll.  The promenade leads right up to the harbour entrance where you can experience some breath-taking views of Durban and the ships that enter and exit the entrance.

It’s important to check their website to find out their latest updates on opening and closing times based on the latest Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Please remember that all Covid-19 regulations will be in place at the park.

For more information on uShaka Marine World visit: www.ushakamarineworld.co.za

Human Rights vs. Covid-19 Lockdown

 

By Fred Felton | Apr 28, 2021

Are South Africans okay with having their human rights restricted during the Covid-19 lockdown?

Image: Pixabay

Apparently so according to recent surveys conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)¹ and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

There does also appear to be abuse of human rights on a global scale while using Covid-19 as the scapegoat. This is according to a research article by Ben Odigbo, Felix Eze and Rose Odigbo.²

In it the authors go on to explain how certain countries have committed human rights violations and used Covid-19 rules as the excuse. As a result other human rights have also been abused and crimes against women have escalated.

The United Nations (UN) has warned that some countries are ignoring peoples’ human rights under the disguise of counteracting the coronavirus, and called this ‘’a human rights disaster’’(OHCHR 2020).³

Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that such countries should stop infringing on peoples’ basic rights in the implementation of these emergency measures.

A UN report gave mention of 15 countries where allegations of Covid-19 lockdown enforcement gave rise to human rights abuses. South Africa was listed as one of these 15 countries.

In South African there have been reports of shootings, beatings, teargassing, and water bombing people, sexual abuse and exploitation. There has also been reported gender-based violence during lockdown. Police have used rubber bullets, tear gas, water bombs and whips to ensure social distancing, especially amongst the poor in South Africa.

Wearing of masks in South Africa is now mandatory and anyone who does not wear one is liable for a fine or criminal offence. Certain people have even been arrested for not wearing masks. In certain places people have been arrested for walking on or near the beach during lockdown.

So are South Africans really okay with giving up their human rights if it means benefitting everyone due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Umhlanga Life took to the streets of Durban to find out and this is what we discovered:

We asked various residents of Durban if they felt that their human rights were being restricted by being forced to wear a mask when in public spaces.

‘’It’s difficult to make everyone happy especially during a state of emergency such as the Covid-19 lockdown. It’s better for everyone as a means to combat the virus. I don’t think it’s unreasonable,’’ remarked Ms Tembe, a Glenwood resident.

Ms Tembe also noted that gender-based violence has increased during the lockdown as most people are now restricted from movement and they cannot go to shelters during lockdown.

Other residents also felt the government was right in making you wear a mask.

‘’I think it’s right to wear the mask to protect all but not everyone is wearing it. I do think it’s not good to wear the mask all day. How do people breath like people who work,’’ said Addington Beach resident Cindy Polydorou.

‘’I think my human rights include being protected from this virus much as I hate my mask,’’ noted Carol De Wet of Umbilo.

It seems that most residents are quite happy to sacrifice certain human rights for the greater good of the country, especially in times such as this pandemic. Love them or hate them face masks will be with us for some time to come.

In South Africa your human rights are protected in the constitution.

South Africa has just celebrated Freedom Day and it is up to all of us to make sure our human rights are not being restricted in anyway.

If you feel your human rights are being abused you do have recourse and you can report such abuses to various places and institutions such as:

South African Human Rights Commission – www.sahrc.org.za

Lawyers for Human Rights – www.lhr.org.za

Journalists for Human Rights – www.jhr.ca

 

References:

¹ Bohler-Muller, N., Roberts, B., Davids, Y.D., Gordon, S. & Majikijela, Y. (2021) COVID-19 and  human rights limitations: taking public opinion into account. (HSRC Policy Brief, March).

 

²Odigbo B, Eze F and Odigbo R. COVID-19 lockdown controls and human rights abuses: the social marketing implications [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations] Emerald Open Research 2020, 2:45 https://doi.org/10.35241/emeraldopenres.13810.1

 

³https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25722

Interview with Ryan Kruger the director of Fried Barry

 

Fried Barry hits cult status.

By Fred Felton

17 Mar. 2021

Fried Barry is the debut feature film by director Ryan Kruger. It follows the story of Barry, an abusive man, drug-addled he goes on yet another bender, gets abducted by aliens and takes a backseat as the extra-terrestrial visitor assumes control of his body and takes it for a joyride through Cape Town.

The film has achieved cult status and has gone on to garner 22 awards around the world. It features an all-star cast including Gary Green, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Chanelle de Jager, Sean Cameron Michael and Brett Williams.

Ryan Kruger, the director of Fried Barry | Image: Supplied

I sat down with Ryan Kruger and asked him some questions about the film and his life:

 

You have shot many music videos. What has this experience taught you?

I think experience is everything in the film industry and actualy being on set is where you going to learn the most. Having done over a 100 music vids it’s a lot of years in experience and with my style of stuff am not always doing performance videos. I’m always doing short narrative films within a music video or something very visual. Which is where I think I got more of my style from, it’s almost like commercials as you only have a certain amount of time to get the idea or story across in a short amount of time.

How did you get the idea for ‘’Fried Barry’’?

Fried Barry was born out of total frustration where I was in my career. I am known in South Africa as a music video director for doing narrative storytelling within music videos and sharp visuals. Although I always came up with my concepts and bands trusted me and let me do anything I wanted, I was still in a box as I had to think about their audience and their music and being able to get it on major music video channels. So I couldn’t really do my style. Originally Fried Barry was just a three minute long experimental film that did really well. We had 59 official selections around the world at festivals and picked up 13 awards. But what came from that was all of these amazing pieces of fan art from all over the globe, which was a surprise because people just seemed to really love the main character. I never planned to make it into a feature film at all. I just looked at it as that short was a success and that’s it. But where I was at the time I was in a bad place. I had an operation on my kidney and got sepsis and nearly died, went through a break up and my cat got cancer and I went into depression. It was all too much for me at the same time. So while I was in this dark hole I just said to myself what is the number one thing I’ve always wanted to do with my life, and it was to make a film. I just got the idea one night and I knew that this was the film to make.

How big was your crew for ‘’Fried Barry’’?

We had a big cast and crew on this film but we used multiple different people for certain crew members as we shot the film over a year and a half but only shot 28 days in total. Some days we had a small crew depending on what we where shooting on that day. Other days for big set ups we had a large number. When we shot the hospital riot scene on that day we had over 90 people on set including cast which was crazy but a lot of fun.

Did you get any big financial backing for this film?

Fried Barry is definitely the first of its kind for SA cinema! It’s a cult-style film with mashing up genres like horror and comedy and the height of indie-dark cinema. In SA we normally make dramas or comedies or films about the history of our country, So its not the type of film that gets made here and the content is really out there and not for the faint hearted so I new nobody would back this type of film, so me and my producer set out to make it ourselves. But things are starting to change in SA cinema which is great. There are so many amazing films coming out. But it’s good to show that this type of film can make money and there is an audience especially overseas. At the end of the day the film business is a business you need to be able to sell your film so you can make another one.  And if we keep making the same type of films here the industry will never change or grow.

What camera models did you use to shoot ‘’Fried Barry’’?

We used a Red Dragon for all of the film and a Phantom camera for high-speed slow motion scenes.

For a first time director what budget-friendly camera would you advise them to use to shoot a film?

I think making content is the most important thing. Getting out there and creating stuff so if you haven’t got budget for a nice camera its ok. You can use a 5d or a black magic and maybe get good lenses which will make all difference.

For a film shoot what is the minimum crew you should have on set?

Well I love indie cinema and I’ve done a lot of stuff super low budget with minimal crew, and there’s so much you can do with less than 5 people. I guess it all depends on what you are making. One of the last experimental films I made was just me my camera guy and my producer and we all helped in different areas and it looks amazing. I think it’s more about getting the right people that know what there doing.

What advice do you have for first time directors looking to make their break in the film industry?

Get out there and make movies! It’s a cliché, but it’s true! Worrying about whether your gear or your movie will be good enough only leads to praxis paralysis. A bad movie is better than no movie. It’s all about creating content to share.

You can watch the trailer here:

Fried Barry is set for international release in May 2021.