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Bushbuckridge - An Mpumalanga writer is in the process of shooting a small screen feature movie, nine years after he wrote the initial script.
Goodenough Mashego, who is based in Bushbuckridge, has spent the past few weeks in Alexander township near Soweto, Gauteng, where his debut film, Cast the First Stone, is being shot.
"It took me almost nine years to write the script and do research. Scripts have to be developed, so the time spent on them becomes longer than expected," said Mashego, who is also the author of two poetry books.
Mashego said the ground-breaking film was about a community dealing with the scourge of crime due to unemployed youth.
The central character is Bongani, who is played by Motlatsi Mahloko.
Varsity funding is discontinued
"Bongani is a university student who suddenly finds himself out in the streets after his varsity funding is discontinued. He returns to an Alexandra plagued by violence, gangs and little value placed on human life," said Mashego.
He said at the same time a new Catholic priest, Father Nicholas, played by Jeffrey Sekele, had just taken over the local parish with an ambition to restore the image of the township to what it used to be.
"The priest suddenly finds himself caught up in the violence of the township regardless of his attempts to remedy it. His faith is tested when his niece Lesego is abducted and raped," he said. "From then on it is a rollercoaster ride as the faces of faith and lack of belief start to interplay in an environment less conducive to trust."
Mashego said he wrote the script with a question in mind, "How do young people become criminals?"
"I wanted to highlight how community members can join hands and fight crime. People must become the change that they want see," he added.
Cast the First Stone spokesperson Chabasetsho Serenyane said the movie was commissioned by M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel.
"The movie is directed by award-winning drama and film director Shaft Moropane who directed well-known TV programmes such as Tsha-Tsha IV and 90 Plein Street. He said also directed some music videos, commercials and other corporate videos," said Serenyane.
Moropane, who is also from Bushbuckridge, co-wrote the final version of the script with Mashego and Andrew Herod.
"Two thirds of the film are shot in Alexandra and only a few scenes which cannot be feasibly shot in the township are being shot in Soweto. It is going to be the voice of Alexandra and its people," said Serenyane.
According to Mashego, Alexandra was the perfect location because they wanted to use the local Catholic Church in the backdrop of a township.
Mashego advised young people who want to set high goals and follow-up on them.
"It doesn't matter where one comes from, just put mechanism and passion. People can achieve what they dream of no matter how long it takes," said Mashego.
The film stars other well-known South African actors such as actors Vuyo Dabula (Yizo-Yizo 3, Isidingo), Tu Nokwe, kwaito star Kagiso 'Gwyza' Diseko among others.
Goodenough Mashego, who is based in Bushbuckridge, has spent the past few weeks in Alexander township near Soweto, Gauteng, where his debut film, Cast the First Stone, is being shot.
"It took me almost nine years to write the script and do research. Scripts have to be developed, so the time spent on them becomes longer than expected," said Mashego, who is also the author of two poetry books.
Mashego said the ground-breaking film was about a community dealing with the scourge of crime due to unemployed youth.
The central character is Bongani, who is played by Motlatsi Mahloko.
Varsity funding is discontinued
"Bongani is a university student who suddenly finds himself out in the streets after his varsity funding is discontinued. He returns to an Alexandra plagued by violence, gangs and little value placed on human life," said Mashego.
He said at the same time a new Catholic priest, Father Nicholas, played by Jeffrey Sekele, had just taken over the local parish with an ambition to restore the image of the township to what it used to be.
"The priest suddenly finds himself caught up in the violence of the township regardless of his attempts to remedy it. His faith is tested when his niece Lesego is abducted and raped," he said. "From then on it is a rollercoaster ride as the faces of faith and lack of belief start to interplay in an environment less conducive to trust."
Mashego said he wrote the script with a question in mind, "How do young people become criminals?"
"I wanted to highlight how community members can join hands and fight crime. People must become the change that they want see," he added.
Cast the First Stone spokesperson Chabasetsho Serenyane said the movie was commissioned by M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel.
"The movie is directed by award-winning drama and film director Shaft Moropane who directed well-known TV programmes such as Tsha-Tsha IV and 90 Plein Street. He said also directed some music videos, commercials and other corporate videos," said Serenyane.
Moropane, who is also from Bushbuckridge, co-wrote the final version of the script with Mashego and Andrew Herod.
"Two thirds of the film are shot in Alexandra and only a few scenes which cannot be feasibly shot in the township are being shot in Soweto. It is going to be the voice of Alexandra and its people," said Serenyane.
According to Mashego, Alexandra was the perfect location because they wanted to use the local Catholic Church in the backdrop of a township.
Mashego advised young people who want to set high goals and follow-up on them.
"It doesn't matter where one comes from, just put mechanism and passion. People can achieve what they dream of no matter how long it takes," said Mashego.
The film stars other well-known South African actors such as actors Vuyo Dabula (Yizo-Yizo 3, Isidingo), Tu Nokwe, kwaito star Kagiso 'Gwyza' Diseko among others.
