Two short films launched in Tembisa

Hundreds of young people in and around Ivory Park flocked to the Ivory Park North Hall to watch live performances produced by Media Tour Class.

The event was also attended by guests from Mpumalanga.

Media Tour Class has launched two short films on Sunday last week, titled “We Friends to Die” and “Cheaters”.

According to Media Tour Class’s executive producer Mr Reuben Mokolo, the purpose of the event was to get direct feedback from their audience about the two short films.

“We managed to shoot the two short films in a period of three months, including a hip hop music video. We are aiming to create job opportunity for the local youth. We also want to challenge the youth who prefer to lock themselves in their home, criticising that their are no employment opportunities without thinking of how they could pursue their talents and make a living,” added Mr Mokolo.

Mr Mokolo said they are encouraging youngsters to think out of the box and to start initiatives that will lift them up.

“We started out of nothing but today we made it and have launched the two short films. We are still looking for any sponsors that could help with anything to maintain the organisation,” said Mr Mokolo.

“We Friends to Die” is about two friends, Tumelo and Mazola, who grew up together and ended up taking different paths because of their situations.

Tumelo stuck to attending school to finish his studies, while Mazola quit because he had no support after his mother died.

He joined the gangster lifestyle, stealing cars and money in order to make money for a living.

Meanwhile, Tumelo managed to pass his matric after all the challenges he had to face. After Tumelo received his matric results, he received a call from his friend Mazola to meet at View Street to collect money to further his tertiary education.

Tumelo meets up with Mazola, along with some of the gangsters. While inside a stolen vehicle, the police arrive and one gangster escapes, while Mazola and his two accomplice are fatally shot.

Tumelo was arrested, charged and given a life sentence.

Mr Thabang Modisha, who is a scriptwriter of the two short films “We Friends to Die” and “Cheaters”, said the two films encourage the youth to consider education, no matter what family backgrounds they come from.

“Cheaters is advising teenagers and the youth to be honest and to be true to themselves in order to make it in life.”

Mr Modisha started writing in grade 11, while he was faced with difficult challenges that enabled him to hold pen and a paper.

He first wrote a Sepedi novel called “Ngwanamobu o hwela nyanyeng.”

“I was really hoping that my novel would one day be published. I gave it to my school principal to help get sponsors who could publish it for me. I did not have much knowledge in publishing back then. But that did not stop me from continuing my writing. I then wrote a play titled “Family matters”, which performed in the Pacofs Theatre in 2013 and another play called “Crying Glory”, a synopsis that played in the SABC 1 Generations The Legacy show.

Modisha said he is aiming to help young writers to start writing plays for a living.

Mr Modisha said youngsters should stay focussed on their vision because life is what you choose to make of it.

“Young people should refrain from doing crime regardless of the poverty and unemployment that we are all faced with. Be strong and courageous, and do not be afraid or discouraged. There is a power far greater on our side. We have the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles for us.”