Katleho Sekhotho
This week on The Arts Report, we look at black women in the film industry who are making strides in the sector.
We look at some of the historically held positions by white men, which black women have transformed into imaginative and inclusive spaces.
The positions of producer, director, and writer are perhaps the most critical in a production, and for transformation to take place, those positions must be held by women of color.
Writer/director Keitumetse Qhali works at Darling TV. She’s been doing phenomenal work shooting commercials, features, and even music videos. Her views on remaining open to any kind of opportunity when starting in the sector are empowering. She highlights that an individual’s journey doesn’t need to be linear and that being a director often involves having many skills.
Mmabatho Kau is a scriptwriter and story consultant who made her way into the industry by hustling to be a content producer. She’s produced shows such as ‘Take 5’ and ‘Tsha Tsha’ before heading to Scotland to complete her Masters. Mmabatho explains that her job is to assist creatives and bring their stories to life. She also explains the beauty of script for motion and how it is the most collaborative writing genre.
Mmameyi Mphahlele is a producer and founder of Rumanya Films. She discovered her love for production as a young girl. Starting in television commercials taught her how to work with clients and production houses. She never involves herself in a project she doesn’t believe in.
Thandiswa Ndaba is a post-production producer, who is living her dream. She worked in hotels for over a decade before moving into the sector. So much of her work is about having excellent communication and negotiation skills.
This week’s arts report illustrates that while the barriers may be unfairly higher for black women to enter the sector, once they are there, they own the space.
