Interview with South African director Teboho Tema
Welcome Mr Tema we are very excited to have you today and discuss about your work. Who is Teboho Tema and how did the passion for filmmaking start ?
Teboho Tema is the son of the soil of Afrika, the son of Mary Moletsane and Tema Tema, I am the product of three nations, my Father’s father,grandfather originate from the Basotho land in a country called Lesotho, my father’s mother came down from the Tchope people that are based in a village called Zandamela,named after my great great ancestral lineage in a country known as Mozambique and of course my Mother’s mother,my grandmother was born where I was also born, born in South Africa.I was born in a township called Sebokeng . I have no formal educational background when it comes to Films, I went to Tshemedi Primary School and Thuto Tiro Comprehensive School then I went to further my mechanical engineering studies that bored me to death and dropped out later and ventured into business.
When I was young, 7 years old boy I participated in Drama Acting,I didn't even know what I was doing however I remember playing a husband role and and cheered the crowd that day, we used to call it call it sketch back in the day ,we performed that in front of our parents and it happened just once. I remember when I was in High School I took a book and pen try to write a script and got nowhere with that, I did know what I was doing and that ended right there. Later in life, in 2013, I embarked on a journey of self discovery, a journey of trying to understand why am here on earth, what is my calling, trying to understand my purpose on earth, spiritual and doing introspection about life and my life. While I am on the journey then I met an old man,who was in his 90’s, an incredible who wrote and wrote films For other people, a true prophet, this is the man who told me that I am a storyteller and I am going to make films . At that moment that idea was not even in my head , not even near my thoughts and plans and I never imagined myself being a filmmaker. Look here I am now, the old man prophecy was right, I am producing, shooting, writing, directing, doing sound design and editing. I don’t know how I got to know about all of these things I am busy with right now. An old man reignited and evoked something I never knew that existed in me. For me it is a gift from God and I am being guided by my ancestors not a passion for me. Please Just give me a pen and paper and I will give you a good story. I have a traceable record already, won 3 international film awards thus far and I am expecting more wins.
Talk to us about your short film. What inspired it ?
MMAMELLO is exactly what happened in my life, it is a story of my life. When I was 23 years old, I met a beautiful woman, with a good heart who helped me with my first big business breakthrough, when I met her already I was running a community project . We were helping students who did not perform well in their subjects , students who got low marks in in their subjects and they were coming from variuos Schools, we call it matric in my country. I wanted to expand the project by turning it into a private school. She jumped on board and sacrificed a lot, she put her studies on hold just to see that my project it becomes a success. The project became a success and life started changing and a whole new world opened for me and I became selfish and that success changed everything about my life, it changed me and comprised our relationship. I also saw some of the people in my circle doing that as well then I decided to write and make a film about it. It is a true story to many people, men and women
CONVERSATION ABOUT: MMAMELLO
What would you describe as your directing identity style ?
I do not think I have a directing style,I am not that formal as long as I am happy with what the actors, the light people, the camera people with their shots ,the sound people are doing the best and giving me the best. The location and the preps should look the part. Everything should not be convincing but should look real.
Are the characters based on actual people and is there any hidden symbolism in your work ? Talk to us about our characters,Ntando, Sehlolo and Mmamello. Who are they and what is their chemistry?
SEHLOHO
SEHLOHO got his business breakthrough , money started coming in, a life changing moment for him,he is not coming from a rich family, not even an average family. A new door is opening for him, start cheating ,starts with parties,buys fast cars and now that affect his relationship with the girlfriend who helped him with the expansion of his business.
NTANDO
Ntando he is into nature, relaxed. He just lost his wife, thewife passed on. He is in a process of healing, mourning his wife,he is trying to move on with his life, he has this lady friend from their childhood called Mohanuwa. Mohanuwa loves Ntando but Ntando takes her as his sister and nothing more.
MMAMELLO
MMALELLO goes all out for SEHLOHO thinking that they are both building a family together, she becomes fed up with SEHLOLO eventually with his cheatings and his new behaviour. She has a good heart and she is a very smart woman. She finds a new relationship just to comfort her heart from the long pain she has been going through. She falls out of love with Sehlolo and moves on.
What is the message the audience should convey leaving the screening of your film ?
Do not take your partner for granted and what brought both of you together AND BUILT TOGETHER !
FUTURE WORK AND CLOSING LETTER
What is the target audience of your project ?
MMAMELLO is for young couples, who just met or who have been in a relation for sometime and both trying out to be in business as individuals or as a couple or people who just graduated and who are about to start working. Couples that are about to get their breakthrough as individuals or as couple in business together.
Any upcoming projects in the near future ?
I am wrapping up a feature film that we shot called ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, it is also produced, written and directed by me. I am busy with the post production work. I worked with an amazing cast and crew.It is a Collective effort. I can not do it alone . I can not wait to put it out there.
That was the interview with our beloved creator Teboho Tema. Our community is rising everyday, new talented filmakers and screenwriters get onboard. Be sure to check the rest of our interviews and why not schedule one for yourself to promote your work. To publish an interview simply submit on the INTERVIEW OF YOUR FILM category on our Filmfreeway page.
