ABOUT THE WORK
I’m pretty sure every boy in the world, if not most, at some point in their lives wanted to be a soccer player or at least played soccer with friends. I know my friends and I ran through many soccer balls to the point where we couldn’t get a new ball any more so sometimes we would make one on our own using plastics. Which is where I found my unique insight: the same plastic that was our childhood, a soccer ball made from plastic, is someone else’s survival. In South Africa, plastic is never just plastic. It’s whatever we need it to be. Noma Yini.
We have people in South Africa who are often overlooked and discarded even when they spend their days cleaning up after our mess – literally. Trolley waste surfers move through the city doing work that is rarely acknowledged, yet absolutely necessary. The most challenging thing about telling this story was understanding that these guys recycle not necessarily because they ‘care’ about the planet. They recycle because this is how they survive. It’s work. It’s routine. It’s Noma Yini – whatever it takes, using whatever is available, to get through the day.
I know I can never begin to relate or speak for them, but what I can do is speak to South Africa, speak to you. Show you that these people too – are human and that they deserve some Love in whatever form we can give. Because sometimes feeling seen, is the difference between being overlooked and believing you belong.
So let’s Love our Nation, Noma Yini.
CREDITS
Brand/Client: Love Thy Nation
Film Production & Crew
Production Company: (Not an IDIDTHAT member)
Writer & Director: Lunga ‘Steezus’ Mthombeni
Executive Producer: Chris Coetsee
On-set Producer: Khosi Khumalo
Production Manager: Hlengiwe Mkwayi
DOP: Raees Hassan
Focus Puller: Evelyn Makgata
Loader: Mamello Hlongwane
DIT: Nhlakanipho
Scriptwriter: Katleho Mavundla
Gaffer: Brent Webb
BB Gaffer: Maliyakhe ‘Cash’ Radebe
Sparks: Artwell Dube, Alfred Itumeleng Kowa
Key Grip: Alan Thorpe
BB Grip: Patrick Mdhletshe
Assist Grip: Oupa Jacobs Ngcobo
Tracking Vehicle: Tyler Geldenhys, Jurie Geldenhuys
Precision Driver: Tertius De Lange
Sound: Sean Moloi
Boom Swinger: Ayanda Sithole
Art Director & Stylist: Oratile Konopi
Prop Master & Stylist Assist: Kutlwano Hlomuka
HMUA: Nosipho Poyo
HMU Assist: Thuls Simelane
Unit Manager: Anton Nell
Unit Assist: Zakhele Ndlovu
Security: B-Force
Catering: Umsamo Cuisine
Supporting Cast Agency: (Not an IDIDTHAT member)
Post Production:
Post Production Houses: (Not IDIDTHAT members)
Offline: Dale Love-Ballantine, Tumelo ‘Tido’ Rankoe, Lunga ‘Steezus’ Mthombeni (Steezus)
Online: Michael Naidoo
Colourist: Zama Mnyakeni
Audio/Final Mix: Pasja Music
VO Recording: Craig Timbo
Vocalists: Mel Flowws, Tshimollo Keetse
Cast:
Tebello Mohale
Khabane Moloi
Moruti Serakalala
Banele Kamogelo Ndlovu
Thulasizwe Jack Ndebele
Special thanks to Panavision
*If your company collaborated on this project and you’re not featured, please contact studio@ididthat.co and we’ll help you become a member.
