The goal is to tackle issues of salaries, exploitation, alcohol and drug addiction in the industry, legal matters, harassment in all forms and have actors be able to speak in the same voice.
The vehicle? A local film movement whose launch brought together established and new talent with Sophie Ndaba decorating the venue and other industry veterans doing their bit to formalise the structure.
Speaking to Drum, actor Mthetheli "Tazz" Nginda, who is one of the actors mobilising to make the movement a success, says the idea came about after the death of veteran actor Patrick Shai from suicide on 22 January 2022.
“The death of Bab Patrick Shai just woke us up,” he says. “We asked ourselves that, If the person we look up to can die alone in a garage, who are we and what will happen to us in next 10 years. That really scared us as actors.
“We decided to stop crying to government and production companies but let us take a stand. We know everyone is benefitting from our talent, except us but we have never connected and made one voice. This movement is about getting us into a space where we stop complaining and be a united force.”
Read more l ‘Three years later and forevermore’ – The Ndlovus open up about marriage ups and downs after 3 years
At the funeral of Patrick Shai, Tazz says, many actors were turned back at the door because of capacity. “We were bounced at the door, and we ended up going to a restaurant next door and had our own prayer,” he says.
“Over 30 actors who were close to him and held him in high regard could not make it inside. There was family, members of government and we could not bid farewell to someone, we considered an industry father. I thought it was only me, but I found Katlego Danke, Sophie Ndaba, Thami Mgqolo, and many others and we decided to do our prayer and talk about issues affecting us as actors and we were tired of moaning to the government.
Although the movement does not yet have a formal structure, they have over 100 actors on board, willing and supportive and they ask that more join. “All actors are welcome. Any actor who wants a grievance and wants to assist in any way possible is welcome. We will come with our ideas, concerns, and discrepancies and draft what needs to be drafted.
“We don’t have medical aid, we struggle to get it because we don’t have a consistent income. We don’t have a retirement fund or UIF that is set up. When we die paupers, that is what will be written about in the newspapers, and we can no longer rely on anyone else to solve this but ourselves. Only actors can deal with them and not the government,” Tazz says.
“But we are still finding each other and will pick each other’s brain. We had almost 100 actors in one room, it wasn’t a funeral, memorial, or production shoot. It has never happened before that you see each other in one room unless one of our own has died,” he says.
“At the launch of Actor Space Movement, Sophie Ndaba’s company Sophla Events handled décor, other actors and friends contributed towards, catering, sound, music and it was a success without government.”
In the future, they might register as a foundation or movement and have actors register. “We want to know who needs the support, who doesn’t have a home, a car, who is suffering from drug addiction, depression, and we want to help each other. We don’t want people to take their lives because they don’t know where to get help. Hearing that a well-celebrated man did feel the celebration is heart-breaking.
"It made us realise that we are just making content and not feeling, just robots that work for decades and that can lead one to a dark place. Bollywood, Hollywood, and Nollywood pay well because they are structured. We want a space where we celebrate each other, a profitable, liveable industry for the generation.
"One of my children might want to follow my footsteps, I wouldn’t want them to go through what I went through or want to sleep their way to the top, or be told they don’t have enough followers or be told by some followers they are not good enough,” he says.
“I don’t want them to write a letter to the minister to complain about any production company. With almost every production, you are told salaries are controversial, we want that to end. It shouldn’t be a secret. We should unite and those are just some of the things we need to tackle issues.”
Read more l Hulisani Ravele is all about finding her centre, African spirituality and celebrating each milestone
The last role Tazz played was on the upcoming African epic series Blood Psalms which follows the life of a fierce queen due for release this year.
Before that, he played a not-so-bright detective on Igazi before deciding to take a break from acting.
“I realised in 2015 that the industry is hectic and If I needed to make a decent living, I needed to find other streams of income. I saw that producers are wealthier than actors and we have no rights. My children were growing, and I couldn’t afford to give them the life they deserve,” he says.
He registered Mthonjeni Entertainment and Film and started putting together events. He launched the Eastern Cape Entertainment Stars Awards with co-founder Mandla Makhwela in 2016. “I wanted to do eventing, but I struggled to get funding which I found strange because I was in the entertainment industry," he says.
“It was all businesspeople getting funding and the people in the industry were being rejected. So now, I do business facilitating, events and trying to supplement my acting career.”
He acknowledges that the acting industry is not easy.
Tazz believes with 15 years of acting experience, he should not be queueing for open auditions.
“I see productions on TV, but I don’t get calls for any of them, maybe because I talk too much,” he says.
“People in the acting world, in front and behind the scenes know who I am and after 15 years I cannot be I expected to audition with someone fresh out of university. That can kill my confidence, it is demeaning, and I feel like I am disrespected when I am asked to go to an open audition.
“If you are in the acting fraternity, you should know certain people. You can’t expect certain actors who have worked hard for decades to go to an open audition. I don’t mind a closed audition, or something set up and not queue up for three hours.”
Although there he believes there is a long way to go in trying to get the South African film industry to be professional, he still loves acting and considers it his passion.
“I still love acting but I believe my passion should also serve me. Being recognised everywhere you go and having people take pictures of you at airports and events is fulfilling, it means you make people happy, but doing that without a cent to your name is sad. Actors are poor, depressed and don’t know who to turn to.”
