Something really cool is happening in the Eastern Cape's movie world. Two film companies are having a friendly competition. TLR Pictures has challenged Skhwatshu Media to make a movie like "Tsotsi," but with very little money and in a short time.
Skhwatshu Media is a movie company that started in Gqeberha but is now working in Cape Town. They have a lot of fans online, with over 32,000 followers on Facebook. They've made lots of movies and shows, like "Erhangeni," "Isikhalo," "Covid City," "The Alliance," and recently, "Inyembhezi Zegintsa." The person in charge of Skhwatshu Media is Lonwabo Bhongolethu Ngcingci. He's been an actor for seven years and has also worked behind the camera for three years. So, he knows a lot about making movies.
TLR Pictures, the company that gave the challenge, is also a well-known movie company. They've made their own movies like "AmaLizard: Code 5380," "Impindezelo," "Iimpukane: The Cofimvabians," and "Ezase Cof." TLR Pictures is part of a bigger company called True Levels Records. It's really great to see two movie companies from the Eastern Cape helping each other and having fun challenges.
TLR Pictures posted the challenge on Facebook. They said, "We challenge Skhwatshu Media to produce a gripping drama, similar to 'Tsotsi', on a low budget and within a 20-minute time frame. Can you accept this challenge and create something impactful and thought-provoking?"
"Tsotsi" is a famous South African movie about a young gangster. It's a very powerful and emotional story. So, TLR Pictures is asking Skhwatshu Media to try to make something just as good, but with less money and in a shorter time.
Lonwabo Ngcingci from Skhwatshu Media quickly replied to the challenge on Facebook. He said they accept! Now everyone is waiting to see the movie they make. It's going to be interesting to see how they tell a good story like "Tsotsi" with these rules. This challenge shows how creative and talented the people in the Eastern Cape's movie industry are. It also shows that you can make good movies even if you don't have a lot of money. This whole thing is very exciting for the movie world in South Africa.