Directed by Scottness Smith, Africa's first ever dance film - Hear Me Move - officially hits the big screen nationwide on February 27. The movie premiered this week at a star-studded event held at Newtown Junction, Johannesburg.
The film has been described as a celebration of Sbujwa as an art form and capturing the voice of urban youth in modern South Africa.
The audition process which was done in true Hollywood fashion and took two years to complete, ensured the final product boasts nothing but a stellar line-up of acting talent, including the likes of Lorcia Cooper, Lilian Dube, Sthandiwe Kgoroge and Nyaniso Dzedze to name a few.
@IamThembiSeete @KhanyiMbau @LorciaCooper @AmandaDupont @Boity and the #HearMeMoveFilm has the best. #AyeyeMajaivane. pic.twitter.com/swu16la58c
— Hear Me Move Film (@HearMeMoveFilm) February 17, 2015
I was lucky to have a one-on-one with the leading lady, Bontle Modiselle, who plays the character of Khanyi and this is what she had to say:
ZAlebs: Tell us about your role on Hear Me Move!
Bontle Modiselle: I play the lead female character, her name is Khanyi. Simply put, an extremely passionate dancer who's part of a free called Sbujwa Nation and she is the love interest of the lead guy named Muzi.
ZA: What did being casted for Africa's first dance film mean to you and your career?
BM: No matter what the reception is to the film, which has been incredible thus far, we did it big and we did it first - so my pride in that is immeasurable. It speaks volumes for both my acting and dance career, and I'm excited to see where this leads me.
ZA: Your highlight of the film?
BM: Nothing can be taken away from the shooting process itself, seeing it come together the way it did was equally as incredible, so it's difficult to choose a moment, whether in the process of creation or in viewing what was created what the highlight was. From the cast of new talent, namely Nyaniso Dzedze, Mbuso Kgarebe and Mindo Sefafe, to industry greats like Lillian Dube, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Thembi Seete, Khanyi Mbau, Lorcia Cooper, Amanda Du Pont, Boity Thulo, Trevor Gumbi, Alfred Ntombela etc to the crew, to the story and dance, I'll need the rest of my life to figure out what the highlight of this film is.
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Lutho Vani is a blogger, student and fashion genius (Seriously, ask for a style tip some time!) and this is his first article as a ZAlebs street blogger. Keep an eye out for more of his work!