Pretty Neat may describe itself as a boutique production company, but its capabilities aren’t small-fry. Launched by director Alex Fynn and Executive Producer Tassyn Munro Fynn, Pretty Neat takes on projects of all sizes, from big brand campaigns to intimate shoots. And at the core of their offering is a philosophy that we love; ‘create moving pictures that move people.’
Justine Calverley and the team at First Pencil, led by Executive Producer Lebo Mabuela, are quickly cementing a reputation as home runners in the world of emotive storytelling. Their new spot for Promise Agency and Capitec Bank is a heartwarming story with moving performances, something we have come to expect from the team. The pace is stand-out in this commercial that deals with themes of family, love and sacrifice.
Hayden Brown, the fresh face at 7 Films, takes the reins as their new commercials director with a real talent for capturing the essence of the human spirit. His journey from the world of extreme sports, where he excelled as an international downhill mountain bike athlete, to his roles as a cinematographer, editor, and director, laid the foundation for the filmmaker he’s evolved into today. It’s safe to say that when you watch Hayden’s work, it’s bound to give you those good ol’ goosies.
Chances are, the name Katlego Baaitse has been ringing in your ears more frequently, and there’s good reason for it. Currently, everything he touches is catching the attention of the top judging talent, who all seem to be playing a game of ‘Katlego Bingo’ because they all agree; that he is a formidable performance and comedy director. With an insatiable appetite for big-scale world-building Katlego is consistently surprising us with work that is as excellent as it is eccentric.
Michael Rodrigues, who is fast establishing himself as a stylistic director with a captivating and moving visual language, has joined Together Films’ director roster. Michael's reel spans commercials, films, and music videos. His work has earned him recognition at festivals worldwide, including a recent win at the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival for Best Music Video and, ahem, a few IDIDTHAT Craft Awards.
TinToy Films has been in the commercials production game for over a decade, and as Executive Producer Warren Ferreira jokingly puts it, ‘We started when we were young and dumb.’ Now that both Warren and TinToy director Ian Morgan, have become first-time dads, they thought it was about time that their company mature along with them. What began as a one-stop production shop has morphed into an established director based production house with an impressive reel and fresh new branding.
Director Thati Pele’s road to 2023 has been eventful and, at times, contradictory. Recently known for her directing work on the Netflix teen drama ‘Blood and Water’ and the original series ‘Savage Beauty’, Thati is now switching gears from longform to continue again as a commercial filmmaker. With a proven track record as a strong storyteller and a Volkswagen campaign that showcased her versatility in both performance and comedy, Thati has joined Patriot Films where she is destined to craft stand-out commercial work.
Director Erik Johann Van Wyk, one of South Africa’s most talented exports is home. The multi-award-winning director renowned for his emotionally moving high-concept work has returned to South Africa and launched his own local production company, ‘Lovers & Fighters.’
Imraan Christian’s recent move to Egg Films marks a natural, yet anticipated, evolution in his artistic journey. The award-winning director has very quickly made a name for himself in the commercials world, crafting strong visual work and embracing a profound commitment to creating lasting relationships with his collaborators and cast. This philosophy is beautifully encapsulated in his personal mantra, ‘I always hope to leave more than I take.’ The announcement of Imraan joining the roster at Egg Films coincides with the release of his latest commercial for TymeBank in collaboration Accenture Song.
POST has established itself as a top full-service post-production, VFX and Sound Design solutions hub with a super sexy creative space housed in the Old Castle Brewery in Cape Town. Get ready to high-five convenience because the team are now broadening their offering as they are joined in their building by Two AM Music. Although the companies will remain independent, the under-one-roof collaboration will mean that POST clients will now have in-house access to Original Music Composition and studio-quality Voice-over recording facilities.
This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by the distinguished Brendan Hoffmann, ECD at Joe Public Cape Town and the esteemed Ian Gabriel, Director at Giant Films Thank you sirs! Congratulations to Production Designer (or if you prefer, Art Director) Louise Knepscheld on her work for Kruger and Slim from Darling Films for his MTN spots. Well done you crafty beauties!
CreateSA.tv is a 100% female-owned production company that’s basically doing it all, and doing it a little differently. Their talent pool includes directors, cinematographers, photographers, and editors, all geared up to create TVC’s, digital content, and campaign stills. Apart from offering solutions from concept to post, what really sets CreateSA.tv apart, is the heartbeat of the company – an approach they call #Radicalinclusivity.
Carbon Films is representing our country as the only South African production company selected to join the ranks of Supercluster, a global collective of 20 production houses in 20 countries across 6 continents. This alignment positions Carbon at the forefront of a partnership fuelled by artistic exchange, shared resources and collaboration on a global scale. The move also gets our local industry sitting right next to the rest of the world, proving again that we can be big players in the global field.
This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by our esteemed poultry enthusiasts Nkanyezi Masango, CCO at DENTSU CREATIVE and Cindy Lee, Director at The Star Film Company. Yes, chicken reigned supreme this month as Greg Gray from ROMANCE, Adam Bentel from KrewKut & Elben Schutte feat. Martin Bergeaud from Pressure Cooker Studios clucked their way to glory 
Congratulations to ruling the roost team!
February 2022, South Africa mourned the passing of musician Riky Rick, who tragically suffered from mental health issues. Before we lost Riky, he shared his final tweet ‘I’ll return a stronger man’ with the world. One year later, Audio Militia and TBWA, with the clever use of AI technology, brought Riky’s legacy back to life, by releasing one final song, a moving tribute to his legacy and the launch of The Riky Rick Foundation. The Foundation has been created by Riky’s family in his honour to help people with mental health issues.
Director Zandi Tisani’s move to independence signifies a transformative milestone in her career. While staying true to the fundamentals she embraces as a director – a passion for pop culture, a keen eye for the latest trends, and an affinity for performance-driven work and strong visuals – she has now taken a deliberate step towards prioritising her trajectory as director. This choice opens up fresh and exciting opportunities for creatives to collaborate with her.
June’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards were judged by two creative powerhouses armed with their impeccable artistic palates; Camilla Clerke, Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy South Africa & Thina Zibi, Independent Director. Thank you for lending us your fiery brilliance. Congratulations to Slim from Darling Films for being awarded Best in Craft by both judges - BOOM.
Director Sandulela Asanda, who recently joined Osu Creative Productions, has wasted no time making her mark. The release of her latest commercial for AfriSam not only validates Executive Producer Simoné Bobo’s initial instinct in recognising Sandulela’s talent as a performance and comedy director but also underscores her ability to collaborate with actors and non-actors alike. With a blend of humour, irreverence, and an innate understanding of youth culture, Sandulela proves herself to be a true force on the Osu roster.
Gentlemen Films director Jono Hall’s debut film ‘Awake’ is a bold and captivating emotional experience that lingers in your memory and behind your eyelids long after you’ve watched it. Breaking free from the constraints of the commercials world, ‘Awake’ serves as a testament to Jono’s ever-expanding talent at creating striking work that is classy and restrained, yet still able to deliver utterly unexpected and attention-grabbing moments. It is a meticulously crafted film made by a confident visual storyteller who shows every indication of levelling-up in his career. Hell yeah!
Director Lamar Bonhomme seeks to capture the essence of the world in its rawest and most unfiltered form. Armed with a lens that embraces the beauty of imperfection, Lamar is joining the powerhouse roster at Robot. With Robot’s established production support, Lamar is eager to continue reflecting the richness of our world with a cinematic timelessness that avoids unnecessary gimmicks, something that is evident in his latest campaign for SA Tourism.