Sdumo raising iNumber

Sdumo Mtshali: Photo: Supplied by Mad Moth Communications

He understood the power of storytelling at a young age after seeing a film inspired his father to become a voice of change in his community.

Since then, Sdumo Mtshali who shuns from being labeled an “actor” but a “storyteller” has never overlooked the power of his craft.

His name resonate to many following his achievements which include winning the Class Act competition and a role in the recent movie titled iNumber Number which was screened at an international film festival.

“My father was a huge collector of films and there is a specific film called Lean on me (lead role played by Morgan Freeman). The story was about a teacher trying to change a school from corruption and drugs… My father was a school teacher and that film pushed him to become a principal and change his school,” 2010 winner of SABC1 reality competition, Class Act, recalled from a series of childhood memories.

He pointed out that his father taught at a township school almost the same as the one in the film.

“He shaped it (the school), he had his own problems with this school but I saw the power that storytelling had in wanting to change a voice or make someone better,” he drew similarities as he explained.

In his bid to tell stories, Sdumo is featured as an undercover cop named Chili in the film that is making waves locally and internationally.

The film is about a pair of cops battling corrupt colleagues as well as a gang of amoured-car thieves.

The two cops, Chili and Shoes (played by Presley Cheneyagae) have been partners in the police force for eight years.

After they make a risky arrest, their corrupt superior refuses to give them a reward they are due. Enraged, Chili realises that honesty does not pay. He then infiltrates a gang of thieves who specialise in robbing cash vans.

The film has comic moments that bring relief from the ruthless thuggery. It had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September last year (2013) and will be released in America soon.

“As a heist movie, the film has an intricate plot and Sdumo delivers on every level,” the film’s Producer Harriet Gavshon commends.

For this film, Sdumo says he spent some time with undercover cops to understand from their point of view.

“I felt that I had the responsibility for the police force, to really give up the best that I could from the information they gave me from spending time with them and finding out about their own temptations. They face temptations and the film is about those things, you know. Temptation, what do you do? Life is about choices,” he said.

The film was screened at the Cannes International Film Festival which commenced on May 14 and runs until May 25.

Speaking about the film screened in France, he says: “that is beautiful, that is just stunning that they are appreciating who we are in South Africa.”

He adds that he wish South Africans could start appreciating themselves.

“…It is easier to complain, and say “why can’t we do it the way they do it overseas”? No, we can do it our way and we’ve proved that we’ve done it better our way. Now the film is showing at the Cannes Film Festival, it keeps growing, its going to be remade in America, it keeps going because we did it our way and it is time to be proud of that as South Africans,” he passionately says.  

The films rights to be remade have been bought and Sdumo says that indicates a lot.

“We have a lot of stories, what we must do now is to tell the stories and grow the industry,” he says.

Following its opening weekend (25 April), the film written and directed by Donovan Marsh has earned 19% more than the popular 2008 gangster movie ‘Jerusalema’, and has this far earned 4% more than the 2011 heist movie ‘How to Steal 2 Million’. It has also earned 81% of the box office takings raked in by Oscar winner ‘Tsotsi’ on its opening weekend in 2005.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indigenous Film Distribution, Helen Kuun says this is an excellent achievement for a film on its opening weekend.

Sdumo’s storytelling journey dates back to his pre-teenage days when he played part in a play called “Robin Hood - Men in tights.”

Sdumo who starred as Sibusiso Ndlovu on South African award winning telenovela, Isibaya, says he started watching more theatre shows.

“I started going to the Playhouse, I had a very good teacher, her name was Mrs Beard. I remember her very well. She used to push me a lot, watch theatre shows, invite me to shows – we called them iyiketch, (township sketch) and we used to perform them at school,” he recalled.

He still remembers the first time he saw Bheki Mkhwane, Samson Ndlovu on Isibaya, perform.

“I saw him perform in theatre with another partner of his who happens to be a huge mentor of mine, his name was Ellies Pearson. I watched them do a play titled The boy called rubbish,” he said as he tried to link those early days with the present.

Years later after graduating for Speech and Drama at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), he found himself working with them in theatre and on Isibaya.

“History has a way of playing tricks on you, God is like that, I guess he was reminding me where I come from. It is important to know that,” he says laughingly.

Recalling the moment when he was announced the winner of the Reality show in 2010, he says it took him a while to register the moment. 

“I was excited! There was so much excitement, so much exuberance that day. I feel to this day that I have flash backs,” he says as he tries to vividly paint a picture of what was going on through his mind.

“I can’t really remember it properly but so many things were happening so fast, you are pulled this side, you are hugged this side, there is kissing this side. People want to talk to you, congratulate you; tell you that they are proud of you and at the same time, the dawning freak! This really happened?” he described.

“I am very humbled and grateful for a moment like that, not many people receive that, especially in front of millions of people…

“When I did it, I wasn’t just doing it for me, I did it for my family, people who supported me in this. Even back in the theatre days, my mom had to pay for my rent. That moment involved so many things, so many sacrifices….

“My brother passed, he never saw that moment, so that belonged to him as well,” he painted a picture.

Sdumo landed a role on SABC1’s drama series’ Intersexions and Tempy Phushas and had a recurring role on eTv’s weekday popular drama Rhythm City.

When cameras are not rolling, Sdumo reads and do motivational talks with popular television personalities, Akhumzi Jezile and Pallance Dladla.

He says he does not want to inspire only aspirant actors but everybody because acting is not the only thing that exists in this world.

He pointed out that he wants to inspire people to become leaders and understand why and how factors of reaching for one’s dreams.

Sdumo is working on other projects that are still in the pipelines, for now, we have to sit back and wait for this talented artist to awe us.

By Letlhogonolo Mashego 

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*NB This is one of my articles from the archive hence never mind the mention of years.