Aspiring IT student now top-level film-maker
“I started shooting festivals and music videos for up-and-coming local artists in 2016, and I got more serious about filmmaking in 2018. That’s when I moved to documenting corporate content like adverts, events, and seminars,” said Tshegofatso Mahlong.
SEDIBENG – All he ever dreamt of was studying Information Technology and becoming the ‘it’ computer guy. Little did he know that his calling is focused elsewhere.
Tshegofatso Mahlong is a big film mogul who produces nightlife content, music videos, telenovela, and commercial advertisements for giant companies in South Africa.
Hailing from Sebokeng, the 28-year-old Film Director and Cinematographer, said his love for filming was motivated by music festival recaps and music concert videos aired on YouTube.
“I started shooting music festivals and music videos for up-and-coming local artists in 2016, and I got more serious about filmmaking generally in 2018. That’s when I moved to capture corporate content like adverts, events, and seminars,” he said.
“Growing up, I studied IT however due to financial hiccups, I then dropped out. Staying at home I had too much time on my hands, I then started watching music festival footage produced by Electro Dance Mix. That drove me to shoot music concerts in my region, and that’s how my journey in filmmaking started,” he added.
The owner of Top Level Films popular in the music and advertising fraternity said his dream is to follow in the footsteps of filmmakers such as Charly Friedrichs who motivates him to do great.
“I love how Friedrichs orchestrates shots on his productions and how he compiles his videos. I can safely say Friedrichs is my biggest motivation since all Ultra Music Festival is shot and directed by him,” he said.
Mahlong said his biggest break came after his work was aired on Channel O, and since then he has never looked back.
“I have worked with The Loeries for their manifesto and advertisement through Joe Public Agency. Broke through with my one music video on Channel O, I mastered their specs and created more music videos for that particular channel,” he said.
Mahlong said his constructing the biggest series coming from the Vaal aimed for big broadcasts like Netflix.
“The project is still in the pipeline and we’re planning to release it in January 2024. We will announce and premier the work when done in the form of a trailer,” he said.
