SJ is making big moves in the industry and is already a majority shareholder of the company he loves so dearly, 7Films. A quick glance at his reel proves that if anyone is on the right path to change the world with storytelling, it’s him! Here are some of iDidTht’s favourite picks from the SJ Reel – yup, these give us the tingles!

SJ: Surfshack and Johnny Walker are very close to me and Checkers is up there especially because of the experience of shooting that. That little boy is the strongest human being I have ever come across. He is completely blind, lives in a small farmhouse in the middle of nowhere with his two brothers and he is always smiling. We put some cans (earphones) on him and it was like his world exploded, and he became very close to the sound guy, loved him. He knew everyone by touching your face or smelling you. That kid is unbelievable.
iDidTht: If you could tell a truly South African story, what brand would you choose to partner with?
SJ: Lion matches. There have been lighters, there have been vapes, there have been so many technological advancements but still in 2018 we use Lion matches…for braais, paraffin lamps, you name it. They have walked history with us. Matches are so primal but they are still here and still a very big part of our lives and so South African. I think I could totally write something super dope for them.

Lion Matches, if you’re reading this (of course you are), we highly recommend your marketing team contact SJ immediately!

You’d be seriously mistaken to confuse SJ’s confidence or ambition for arrogance. If there’s one thing this young director is as passionate about as creating strong South African narratives, it’s giving back to the industry or what he calls ‘bringing down the ladder’.
SJ: The secret in supporting young talent in this industry is mentorship and there is a gaping hole when it comes to people willing to teach. I am blessed to have had Lourens van Rensburg (owner of 7Films), who really understood the notion of mentoring. It’s not about teaching someone the skill to be a director, it’s about building their lives, teaching them to be responsible business people and how to use their art form to support themselves and the people around them. We should be mentoring to create transformation, not cash cows.

And SJ has already started taking his own advice. He recently teamed up with Creative Director Nkanyezi Masango and founded Blackboard, a company focused on transforming the creative industry by inspiring disadvantaged high school students to participate in it.
SJ: Blackboard follows the philosophy we have about ‘sending down the ladder’, going to disadvantaged schools and teaching them about film and advertising and that it’s aviable career path. Obviously, the challenge is, because it’s Nkanyezi and myself, that we are very busy, but we’re trying our best and we appreciate as much help as we can get.

So what does the man who is going to change the world need to do next? Learn to pose of course! After all, we see quite a few magazine covers in his future. So we put him to the test.
Before SJ can even start our challenge, fellow 7Films director Dirk van Niekerk and Lourens van Rensburg, start helping to find SJ’s best light, holding the laptop up at the optimum angle and choosing the best background… guys it became a full on Skype photoshoot!
15 minutes later, after everyone is happy…we start.
iDidTht: Your first pose is for the cover of GQ.
Dirk: Take your shirt off!

Produced by the iDidTht Content Studio
Credits: Writer – Anne Hirsch / Art Director – Julie Maunder

*This content may not be reproduced or used in any part without the prior written consent of iDidTht. Reprints must credit iDidTht (iDidTht.com) as the original publisher of this editorial piece and include a link to this site.