Thirty budding Eastern Cape actors will showcase their talent in a new movie In The Scheme of Things, currently being filmed around East London.
The producers did not want to reveal how much had been budgeted for the movie, but said it was set to be released around September in international theatres.
The 30 Eastern Cape actors will act alongside some of SA’s top actors including Baby Cele, Luthuli Dlamini and Dumisani Mbebe. Producer Michael Mutombo said the movie followed a love story of three couples and how their lives intersected with one another.
“I found a peace in East London that was different.
“No one has seen the places we are shooting in so it becomes very original, and that is what we were searching for.”
He said the movie had been in the making for seven years.
“We started writing in 2011, but it was self-funded and we just could not carry on as it was too expensive for us.
“We left the film for four years and never looked at it and two years ago we looked at the script and started rewriting and we got funding,” he said.
Local actress Asiphe Mntumni, 24, of Dutywa, said the opportunity would add value to her profile.
“We haven’t had many opportunities. We only get called every now and then, so when my agent told me about this movie I jumped at the opportunity. As a young actress this will help [me] gain more experience,” she said.
Local businessman Gary Ndlovu of The Square Africa, whose business was used for one of the scenes, said there were positive spin-offs from the movie. “If they are bringing in millions, that money will be spent here and everyone who is in business can be part and parcel [of it].
“We have carpenters that are making design sets, we have local fashion designers and makeup artists involved and this will help us to always have people on the ground that we know can do this.
“The film industry is not just about the camera and actors, there is accommodation and people in the transport sector who will benefit,” he said.
Cele added: “The fact that we are using the Eastern Cape, which has been neglected, means the whole world will know about the province.
“This will attract tourists because we have been using beautiful locations.”
This is the second movie to be shot in East London this year...