Breaking the Silence on Men's Mental Health

 

By Fred Felton | July 17, 2025

John Craig, in partnership with Polo South Africa, has launched the Mind Matters video series, featuring iconic footballer Lucas Radebe, Leon de Beer (Director of the South African Federation for Mental Health), and designer David Tshabalala.

The Mind Matters Video Series 

The campaign shines a light on some sobering stats:

South Africa records around 13,774 suicides per year, about 80% of which are men.

Worldwide 75% of suicides are men, many of whom never seek help due to stigma and traditional gender norms.

According to a review in the SA Journal of Psychology men across occupations experience high levels of depression, anxiety and burnout, often quietly.

‘’Mental and emotional resilience is key to unlocking one’s true potential. With this initiative, John Craig and Polo South Africa are shining a light on the mental health struggles men face worldwide, especially as issues like depression, anxiety and suicide continue to rise among men,’’ said John Craig Senior Brand Manager, Kaboomo Mgibi Marshoff.

Leon de Beer called for workplaces and communities to create safe spaces where men can freely express emotional struggles without fear of judgement.

‘’My wife was diagnosed with cancer when I was still playing. I still had to focus. I still had to go and train every day and give 100%, which is challenging because you can’t share with friends. There are no excuses,’’ noted Lucas Radebe.

For David Tshabalala maintaining a healthy work life balance is key to nurturing good mental health.

Marshoff invited men everywhere to watch the full series on the @JohnCraig YouTube channel and to join the conversation using #JohnCraigMindMatters.

The good folks at John Craig are also giving away 2 x R500 John Craig Vouchers for you dear reader.

To enter the lucky draw, send your full name, cell number and email to umhlangalife@gmail.com  with John Craig Giveaway in the subject line.

Ts and Cs apply.

Registration Open for Durban FilmMart 2024

 

By Fred Felton | June 12, 2024.

Next month the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) will have the 15^th edition of Durban FilmMart (DFM), titled ‘’African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability’’, scheduled for 19 – 22 July 2024. This year the theme looks at the transformative power of film in reflecting societal issues and fighting for change, urging the industry towards better social responsibility and accountability.

This era has been marked by significant upheaval and re-evaluation of structures and norms, DFM 2024 is aiming to take a long hard look at the film industry, providing a platform for critical engagement on topical issues such as social responsibility, protection of IP, rights for artists and filmmakers, issues around labour, equality in the workplace, conduct codes, and the impact of climate change on productions. The focus will be on highlighting the potential of cinema as a tool for transformation.

‘’Film is more than an art form or a business; it is a powerful mirror for society, offering reflections that can lead to real change,’’ said Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute.

This year DFM will feature a wide-ranging programme designed to foster high-quality collaborations and provide valuable insights into the filmmaking process. Key components of the programme include fiction, documentary and animation projects being developed, showcased in the Pitch and Finance Forum. There will also be keynote talks, masterclasses, panel discussions and think tanks.

DFM 2024 aims to build on the legacy of last year’s theme, ‘’African Constellations’’, and continues to celebrate the expansiveness of the African film industry, while also pushing for a future where the film industry is as responsible as it is creative. The DFM programme will reflect DFMI’s core values of inclusivity, diversity and accessibility, with sessions aimed at addressing key industry challenges and opportunities.

DFM offers attendees the chance to be part of this conversation and to network with fellow professionals in a dynamic and engaging environment.

The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the eThekwini Municipality. 

For more info and to register visit: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/

Uber Launches New Product and Safety Features

 

By Fred Felton | Sep. 14, 2022

Uber recently announced the launch of new product and safety features which will be live across various locations in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), these features will be available in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivorie and Nigeria.

Kagiso Khaole, GM for Uber SSA. | Photo: Uber

‘’As we gear ourselves to mark our 10^th year anniversary next year, we are excited about moving into more cities enabling people to go anywhere and can get anything. Our commitment to raising the bar on safety remains relentless and we continue to work hard to grow the over 3 million earnings opportunities we have created thus far,’’ said General Manager for Uber SSA, Kagiso Khaole.

Uber will now be operational in 8 new cities; these include Owerri and Akure in Nigeria, Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru and Naivasha in Kenya and Tamale and Sunyani in Ghana.

As a way to help reduce expenses for riders and increase the demand for drivers, Uber is launching UberX Share in Ghana and Nigeria and Uber ChapChap Share in Kenya. Shared rides allow riders to save up to 30% of the trip fare when matched with a co-rider heading in the same direction and where a match is not possible, they will still be able to save 5% from the ride.

Group travel will also be introduced and with the launch of UberXL in Nairobi, Kenya, riders can now travel as a group with up to six people which is ideal for airport and business trips. In South Africa, riders can now reserve their group travel 30 days in advance with UberXL Reserve and Uber Van Reserve.

Uber Connect allows you to deliver parcels. | Photo: Uber

Uber Comfort will now also be available in Ghana and Uber Connect will soon be available in two additional cities in Nigeria. Uber Connect allows you to deliver parcels and the feature comes built-in with a PIN verification providing users security knowing that their package will be delivered to the correct person.

Uber has also taken the needs of riders into account by releasing new safety features.

‘’Safety is at the core of how we do business and we are proud to announce three new safety features to help improve the experience of users,’’ said Khaole.

These features include Audio Recording which will be tested in South Africa. This will allow riders and drivers to use the app to record and share audio of their trip as evidence in the case of a safety incident. This feature is being piloted in Pretoria and Johannesburg and will be rolled out into the rest of South Africa in Q4 2022.

Another safety feature being rolled out is In-app emergency service in Nigeria. Uber has partnered with Sety to provide on-demand security and medical response for riders and drivers. This will also provide access to a private security response unit.

The other safety feature released is Safety Check Up which will be released across SSA. This feature encourages riders to complete their safety profile and use features such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification and RideCheck.

There will also be other innovations to look out for from Uber.

These include delivery innovations for Uber Eats by creating a virtual mall experience that goes beyond just food.

Uber Eats expanding. | Photo: Uber

‘’Other categories we have ventured into include convenience stores, pharmacy outlets, alcohol and retail and this shows us that the possibilities are endless,’’ says Cikida Gcali-Mabusela, Head of New Verticals for Uber Eats Sub-Saharan Africa.

Uber Eats has also adopted the growing trend of dark stores, which gives non-traditional merchants opportunities to tap into unchartered markets that they wouldn’t have easily accessed.

You can find Uber Eats in South Africa and Kenya currently. ‘’With a 67% year on year growth of subscriptions on Eats, we are humbled and encouraged by expansion that we have seen in the South Africa and Kenya markets,’’ said Kui Mbugua, General Manager for Uber Eats Kenya.

‘’The future of logistics and technology in emerging markets looks promising,’’ noted Kui Mbugua.

Uber is also looking to expand into other African countries.

‘’Expansion into other African markets is on the cards,’’ said Kagiso Khaole, General Manager for Uber SSA.

Uber also released some interesting stats about their business.

This year Uber completed its 1 billionth trip in Africa.

The most popular drop-off destination in Africa is OR Tambo International Airport.

The number one grocery item on Uber Eats is Albany Bread.

The largest order placed on Uber Eats was for R16 000.

The most searched for item on Uber Eats is Pizza.

5 Reasons to Visit Africa's Travel Indaba

 

By Fred Felton | 2 May 2022

This year Africa’s Travel Indaba returns to Durban after a long absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There are many reasons to attend this travel and trade show in 2022.

BONDay held on 2 May 2022 was full of insightful talks. | Photo: Fred Felton

EThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said the signature travel trade show plays a major role in boosting the City's tourism economy. 

Here are 5 reasons why you should attend Africa’s Travel Indaba:

Networking

There are many events and workshops held during Africa’s Travel Indaba. These include Speed Networking events, talks and workshops about travel and tourism. At these events you might just find yourself bumping into someone who can help you with your tourism business. With around 3 700 delegates attending the travel and trade show you might even get a big booking for your accommodation venue.

Exhibition Stands

Africa’s Travel Indaba is the perfect location to set up a stand for your tourism business. It is also the premier place for buyers to visit and find out about the many tourism experiences on offer. Some accommodation stands have received huge bookings through this route.

Business Talks

There will be a variety of talks on offer at Africa’s Travel Indaba. The show will be on from 2 to 5 May 2022 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. Talks include ‘Bleisure Travel’ which will unpack what is important for tourism stakeholders and business owners in a Covid-19 environment. There will also be an insightful talk on ‘Reimagining localism and regionalism in tourism, it will look at the business case for Intra Africa Travel.

Fun Run

There will also be a fun run for Indaba delegates on the 4^th of May early in the morning. Delegates can walk or run along the Durban promenade and enjoy the beauty of Durban and the sea as they enjoy the early morning air and all that Africa has to offer.

Tourism Opportunities

With so many tourists descending on Durban there will be plenty of opportunities for tourism operators to showcase all that Durban and KwaZulu-Natal have to offer. These include the Florida Road experience, Umhlanga, the Durban promenade and so much more.

‘’The show will contribute immensely to the KZN’s tourism recovery. This translates to a much needed economic boost for the province,’’ said Acting CEO of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Phindile Makwakwa.

For more information on Africa’s Travel Indaba visit: www.indaba-southafrica.co.za

#TravelIndaba2022

Dolphins by Starlight

 

By Fred Felton | Nov 18, 2021

The annual festive season show presented by uShaka Marine World is something for you to look forward to and this year the theme is ‘’A Schrinchmas Musical.’’

Look out for dazzling Dolphins at 'Dolphins by Starlight' | Image: uShaka Marine World

The show will be on 4 nights so book early. You can look forward to plenty of music and dance as the show highlights the importance of unity, togetherness and acceptance.

You can also look forward to aquatic aerobatics from their world-famous uShaka Sea World Dolphins. It is guaranteed to warm your heart at this time of the year.

The theme of this year’s show drew inspiration from the social dynamics that South Africa has faced over the year, while we journey towards overcoming the spirit of togetherness.

‘’Dolphins by Starlight is a Christmas show like no other. It is the only show in Africa where families from all over the continent can gather and spread the Christmas spirit and enjoy our dazzling dolphins under the warm African Sky. It’s a magical show that keeps the entire family entertained from beginning to end,’’ said Ndumiso Miya, Event Coordinator, uShaka Marine World.

An all-star cast awaits you. | Image: uShaka Marine World

You can expect an all-star cast in this show which includes Rowan Bartlett, Tory Du Plessis, Lasandra Majola, Sindi Mabika, Rory Booth and you can also look out for some new talent who will be gracing the stage for the first time, including some of uShaka Marine World’s own staff.  There will be some memorable performances, celebrating what Christmas is all about and welcoming in the 2021 festive season in a lovingly and entertaining way.

Limited seats will be available and those lucky few will be able to experience the live shows from 9 - 12 December 2021 for only R199pp. So bring your blankets and jackets as the Dolphin Stadium is an open-air venue and the Durban weather as we all know, has been unpredictable at times.

 

Come enjoy this spectacle with uShaka Marine World.

 

Why not make a day of it and explore the many attractions at uShaka Marine World including Sea World, Wet n’ Wild, uShaka Kids World, Sea Animal Encounter Island, Dangerous Creatures and the Village Walk. Be sure to explore The Phantom Ship along the way.

 

Dates: 9 - 12 December 

 

Venue: Dolphin Stadium 

 

Gates open: 18:00

 

Show Starts: 19:00

 

Show Ends: 20:00

 

There are a limited number of seats available for this event, so book now at uShaka Ticketing or www.computicket.com to experience the Dolphins by Starlight Musical live.

For more information visit: www.ushakamarineworld.co.za or call 031 328 8000

Address: 1 King Shaka Avenue, Point, Durban. 

Review of the Samsung Galaxy A22

 

By Fred Felton | October 14, 2021

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is a great entry-level device for those looking to get their first smartphone device and packs an amazing amount of sophistication into a cell phone.

The Samsung Galaxy A22

This week I was invited to try out this Samsung device for myself and it certainly is impressive. The Super Amoled screen with 90Hz refresh rate will certainly dazzle your eyes. It has a 5 000mAh battery which will keep you in the game for quite some time before you need a charge. It also comes in a variety of colours including violet, mint, white and black.

The A22 has four rear cameras

“The Galaxy A22 is an impressive device at excellent value that builds on our growing Galaxy A Series portfolio”, said Justin Hume, Director: Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa.

Here are just some of the key features that might just impress you:

Camera

The device has four cameras on the back and a front camera for selfies.

The back cameras include an ultra-wide camera 8MP (F2.2) for those panorama shots.

The main camera boasts 48MP (F1.8), Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS).

The macro camera is 2MP (F2.4) for close-up photography and a depth camera 2MP (F2.4) which will help you if you are looking for that bokeh effect.

The front camera is 13MP (F2.2)

The A22 cameras take rich, vibrant images. | Image: Fred Felton

So for all of you photographers out there you can be guaranteed of hours of fun playing around with these cameras and deciding on which image to upload to your Instagram.

An example of the zoom feature on the camera. 

Professional photographers can also play around with the settings to get the best shot.

Memory and Storage

This is probably one of main selling points for any device besides the battery. The A22 comes with 4GB Ram and 64 GB Internal Storage. Some models can also have 4GB / 6GB Ram and 128 GB Internal Storage which will mean that you have plenty of space and if you run out of space the device has capacity for a memory card if you need one.

Processor

The device comes with an Octa-Core (Dual 2GHz and Hexa 1.8GHz) processor.

Display

This A22 comes equipped with 6.4 inch³ HD and Super AMOLED, 90Hz Infinity-U Display.

Network

This device comes with LTE and some devices are also equipped with 5G as well.

Security

The A22 has a range of security options for you from the side-mounted fingerprint detector to facial recognition, pattern codes and normal security codes so you can rest assured that nobody will be getting into your device but you.

Extras

To power up the device press and hold the side key for a few seconds. The A22 takes around 30 seconds from start-up to initialization.

The size of the device is adequate and it should fit into your pocket with no problem.

Some of the added features I noticed which did impress me was the introduction of many more ringtones which included a rich variety including classical music like Mozart to disco, tech, dance and even love songs. Notification sounds have also been given an update and there are many more nifty little sounds to choose from for those messages you need to hear.

The nifty side volume keys have become more visual with visual displays to show you the various volume settings to choose from.

The device also comes with Dolby Atmos for a richer sound experience.

Dark mode has also been included for all of your display options.

An eye comfort shield has also been introduced which limits blue light and uses warmer colours. This makes it easier to use at night as well.

Screen zoom also makes it a pleasure to read all of those messages and documents.

Although the A22 comes equipped with a 90Hz screen refresh rate you can also use the standard option with 60Hz screen refresh to save on battery.

As with all the other Samsung models this device comes with all the bells and whistles including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Flight Mode, Torch, Power Saving, QR Code scanner, Screen shot, NFC and Contactless Payment and much more.

Apps include Samsung Notes, Samsung Apps, Google Apps, Microsoft Apps, Samsung Members, Galaxy Store, Play Store, Facebook, Spotify Netflix, You Tube Music and the Samsung Game Launcher, Voice Recorder, AR Zone and even a Radio to listen to tunes.

The calendar has a much more visual appeal to it and you can even add emoticons, stickers and voice notes to a calendar entry which is a nice touch.

The calculator features a much more updated version which can calculate anything from area, length, temperature, volume, mass, data, speed, time and scientific calculations.  

Find My Mobile is a good setting to activate to ensure you never lose your device.

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is great device if you are looking to get your first smartphone. It currently retails for a price of R3999. Some retailers are selling it cheaper so you might even get it at a bargain price.

If you want to score yourself an even bigger bargain you can take advantage of getting a cashback towards this device by trading in your older device with Samsung.

For more information visit: www.samsung.com/za/trade-in/

Rating

7/10

Limited Launch Gifts With Samsung Galaxy Z Series 5G

 

Samsung recently launched their new Galaxy Z series with the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G and now you can get them with some extra-special launch gifts.

                                                                                          
                                    

                                               

Pre-order now to receive limited launch gifts

When you pre-order or purchase during the September to 20 October 2021 promotional period¹, you will receive an exclusive offer, that includes the new Galaxy Buds2, the must-have Galaxy Smart Tag and the peace of mind of Samsung Care+, all valued at R5 200². The free one-year Samsung Care+ plan will provide one accidental screen and/ or back cover repair, and will include a battery replacement. You can upgrade to the Samsung Care+ Premium plan at an affordable cost, for additional cover, which includes liquid, motherboard and external casing damage.

 

Select your new favourite foldable

Galaxy Z Fold3

Built for those who need the ultimate device to power their productivity and maximise every moment. Galaxy Z Fold3 5G combines power, efficiency and immersive viewing so you can check off your to-do list faster and have more time for next-gen gaming, content viewing and video calling. With a screen size that allows you to run up to three apps at once, it’s the ultimate productivity tool for modern multi-taskers. For the first time ever on a foldable, Samsung has added S Pen support⁴, so that you can jot down reminders directly on its immersive, large screen or join an online video call on your top half of screen and take notes with your S Pen on the bottom half, by just clicking the screen twice. 

When you’re enjoying some me-time, you can easily immerse yourself in your favourite show or sports game, undisrupted, thanks to the 7.6-inch Main Screen and Under display camera. From productivity to performance to portable entertainment on the go, the Galaxy Z Fold3 is the ultimate powerhouse device.

 

Galaxy Z Flip3 5G

For those who need a device that’s as stylish as they are, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 empowers you to express yourself with bold colour options, a sleek, compact rectangular design that  fits effortlessly in your pocket, and trendy new accessories. Unfold and snap a stunning selfie with the  Galaxy Z Flip3’s camera features including Flex mode and its unique ability to stand upright, with a  symmetrical and balanced design, that opens up to an angle that best fits your vision. Then add to your social feed, which scrolls smoother than ever with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Enjoy easier ways to pay, play, and check your notifications fast on its larger cover screen, without ever flipping open your phone. 

Choosing the Galaxy Z Flip3 means getting more of what you crave, your way, whatever you’re doing, whether the device is open or closed. Galaxy Z Flip3 is more than a folding phone, it’s a statement. 

Whether you flip or fold, both new Galaxy Z devices offer our most durable, connected, and expansive foldable experiences ever. Building on a legacy of impeccable craftsmanship, they are equipped with water-resistance⁵, Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™, Armor Aluminium, an optimised panel layer, and an improved protective film.

Click here for more information about the Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy Z Flip3.

 

¹Terms and conditions apply. The promotion period depends on retailer.

For Vodacom customers the Promotion Period will end 6th October 2021.

For MTN customers Promotion Period will end 30th September 2021.

For Cell C customers Promotion period will end 17th October 2021.

For Telkom customers Promotion period will end 20th October 2021.

For Takealot customers Promotion period will end 30th September 2021.

²Users that pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold3 or Z Flip3 will get a year of Samsung Care+ protection.

Samsung Care+ for Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 requires a free registration within 30 days from the phone’s purchase date through Samsung Members or the Samsung care plus page . A R 999 repair fee will be charged per incident for the Samsung Care+ protection on the Z Fold3 | Z Flip3. Protection coverage and availability may vary by market. Full information on Samsung Care+ is available at https://www.samsung.com/za/offer/samsung-care-plus/

³Price may vary by retailer

⁴S Pen sold separately. Only Z Fold3 Main Screen has S Pen capability. Compatible only with the S Pen Fold Edition and S Pen Pro. All other S Pens or stylus pens not designed for Z Fold3 (including those by other manufacturers) may damage the screen.

⁵Rated as IPX8. Based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes..

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.