Robot
Film facilitation like a machine.
Cape Town & Johannesburg
Business Director: Callan Paul / Executive Producer: Liam Johnson
Creative Director: Craig Moore / Producer: Godfrey Matsika / Head of Production: Olivia Macgrail
Directors: Adriaan Louw / Ayanda Duma / Craig Moore / Gregg Bailey / Nelis Botha / William Armstrong / Alex Motlhabane
We’re into the unknown, making plans, pushing envelopes. The back roads and big leaps. Mad ideas, massive lights and motor bikes. Parkour. Wing suits. High lines, helicopters & big f#&%en explosions. Immense landscapes, gorgeous sunsets, breathtaking beaches. Township textures, sweeping urban panoramics and the dark, freaky underbelly. We make commercials, music videos and branded content.
We’ll be the first ones in, the last ones out, tinkering with bleary eyes and devilish details to bring your visions to life. The robot doesn’t sleep. The robot’s a machine.
- UKMVA for best Video Friend Within, The Renegade.
- Almost a billion hits combined for videos produced.
CAPE TOWN OFFICE
8 Dorman Street, Gardens,
Cape Town, Western Cape, 8001
Executive Producer | Liam Johnson
liam@therobot.tv
FEATURED WORK
Awarded by IDIDTHAT
AWARDED: BEST IN CRAFT (DIRECTION)
Robot | Craig Moore
Vanco ‘Repeat’
IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Marc Algranti, Music Supervisor at Algranti Music
August 2025
Marc’s comment: “From the very first frame, I was hooked. Craig establishes a raw, infectious energy that immediately draws the audience into the world of the film, creating a tone that is both authentic and compelling.
The direction of the performances is particularly impressive. They’re beautifully understated, allowing the emotion to emerge naturally rather than feeling forced. This restraint gives the film a genuine, gritty quality that makes the characters feel believable and relatable.
The energy is palpable throughout, and I never felt like I was simply watching events unfold – I felt completely present with the characters, experiencing the story alongside them.”
AWARDED: CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
Robot | Jason Fialkov
VW Touareg ‘VWSA IQ Lights’
IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Thandeka Gilbert, Creative Director at McCann Joburg
August 2025
IDIDTHAT EDITORIAL
Robot’s Paul Ramaema drives into the future for latest Toyota Hybrid spot
Robot’s Paul Ramaema brings his energetic youthful aesthetic mixed with his mindful self-awareness for the launch of the locally built Toyota Hybrid. A car that finds the perfect balance between being environmentally conscious and at the forefront of technology needed the perfect hybrid director 😉
Robot makes some big moves, meet new MD Callan Paul
In less than a year the team at Robot have made some pretty major moves, to say the least. Taking the leap from being a service-only company, Robot now also includes a full roster of directing talent. Having established themselves as a production company with an impressive offering in the local market, what’s the secret weapon behind Robot’s rapid rise to success? Meet Callan Paul, with her fitting new title of Managing Director.
Robot signs emerging director Ayanda Duma, ‘She’s a quadruple threat.’
Ayanda Duma is an energetic audacious filmmaker with a bold comedic approach to character-driven storytelling. Unapologetically disruptive, hyper-intelligent and hilarious. When not behind the camera Ayanda also produces beats and bars under her rap alias, YANDU and finds the word ‘appropriate’ offensive. Hold onto your pearls folks.
Director Gregg Bailey announces his move to Robot
As Gregg Bailey approaches a decade of directing, he has announced that he will be joining the growing roster of talent at Robot. Well established as a performance director and considered storyteller, we know Gregg’s strength lies in crafting heartfelt intimate moments. In fact, you’ll most likely find that when it comes to an onscreen moment that needs space and time to breath, he’ll nail it.
Director Adriaan Louw brings his visual aesthetic and doccie style approach to Robot
You might know him as the guy who shoots those unconventionally cool music videos or sexy sneaker spots, but with the announcement that Adriaan Louw has joined Robot, we caught up with a filmmaker evolving into a storyteller passionate about bringing his emotive documentary filmmaking mind and visual aesthetic to narrative-driven work.
Director Zandi Tisani makes her move to Robot, and here’s why we should pay attention
Smart wit, eclectic style and undeniable star quality are not the only things that Director Zandi Tisani will be bringing to her new home at Robot. Meet the bold filmmaker packing a seriously edgy punch.
The nuts and bolts of the new Robot directors – Paul Ramaema and Nelis Botha
We get up close and personal with the two new directors joining Robot. Paul and Nelis, both armed with a hip aesthetic and a passion for creating edgy contemporary work, might have a lot in common when it comes to style, but who is most likely to master the art of baking banana bread you ask? Yup, it’s everything you didn’t know you needed to know.
Robot Air launches full-service drone company
Founders of Robot Air, Robin Hook and Liam Johnson, talk all things aerial as they give us the low-down on their new high-flying offering. We find out what a drone company, with years of experience in production and the ad industry, has to offer the commercials world and why you should probably save their number.
Robot Signs Local and International Directors for South African Market
Robot announces that their high-octane no-sleep production company is expanding by signing three local and three international Directors - all challenging the traditional way of directing and all available for your booking (and budget) pleasure.
Robot South Africa is Open for Business
Looking for mad ideas, massive lights and motorbikes? Parkour, wingsuits and helicopters? After working with international clients for years Robot is broadening their offering to the South African market. We got the lowdown on this high-octane brand.
FEATURED
Director Craig Moore is back at Robot and he’s bringing the fire home
After nearly two decades lighting up sets from London to Los Angeles, crafting cinematic commercials, fashion films, and music videos director Craig Moore is back on home turf. Now based in Cape Town, Craig has rejoined the ranks at ROBOT, the creative machine he co-founded with Executive Producer Liam Johnson, and he’s bringing the heat to South Africa’s creative scene.
Craft Award Results: September 2024
This month’s IDIDTHAT.co Craft Awards brought together two powerhouse judges: Neema Nouse, Integrated Creative Director at The Odd Number, and Dani Hynes, Director and Founder of Love Films. And they both agreed – Best of Craft this month goes to Karien Cherry from Giant Films.
Director Alex Motlhabane brings big-brand expertise back to South Africa joins Robot
Former Pulse Films director Alex Motlhabane returns to South Africa after a successful UK career working with brands like Pepsi and Amazon, and directing music videos for slowthai and A$AP Rocky. He now brings his expertise to Robot Films.
What are rising directors in our industry thinking about? Here’s Robot’s director Ayanda Duma [INTERVIEW]
Ayanda Duma represents a group of rising young directors in our industry who have their fingers on the pulse of culture, and creativity and come with an inclusive mindset and strong point of view. From challenging societal stigmas to creating authentic representations on screen, Ayanda is not afraid to make her mark in Adland and with the smart production chops of Robot, you know you’ve got the whole package.