Kutlwano “Tha Filmaka” Ditsele

TV & Film Producer, Casting Director

1. S.A Film Industry- The future.

There is so much potential in this industry and I am so glad to be a part of all of it. Hollywood has this great history but we have an incredible future. Every year, more and more films are being filmed here because the world is taking note. With the tax rebates and incentives from D.T.I and I.D.C respectively, economically we are among the very best too. Some of the world’s most gifted filmmakers will emerge from this industry.

 2. Story – Born in Africa.

The birthplace of story telling is right here on this continent. I love story; in one report card from high school, a teacher said, “Kutlwano could do so much better if he focused more on the school work and less on telling stories everyday.” I met that teacher about 5 years ago and she said: Kutlwano; are you still telling stories? It reminded me why I still do what I do. I think a story is eternal, for me nothing competes with a great story. A great story can be told and re-told for centuries in any country any language. Stories are why I got into filmmaking and how I would like to be remembered, as a great storyteller.

3.  South Africa- Alive with Possibilities.  

What is there not to be inspired by a nation that not so long ago was on the brink of civil war and just recently hosted the Worlds largest event. I love my country. When I look back at my life, I realize that I have been incredibly blessed. God saw it fit to align me with everything I would ever need. One of the things I am most grateful for was God making sure that I was born in South Africa. I LOVE THIS PLACE. I am proud of our country. Our vision, our talent, and our culture inspire me, everything that makes us a great nation.

4. My Mother & The way she raised me

I am inspired by the work my mother did in raising me. It is not easy to raise a child, it is especially not easy to raise a man as a single woman. My mother always made sure that I wanted and needed for nothing. This is not to say I was spoiled, far from it. In-fact; when I wanted to study film in Los Angeles and required R400k per year in order to do so, it was my mothers belief in me, the lessons she taught me about not giving up on the things you want the most and trusting God’s that made it possible. My mother did not give me the money to go but she raised me to believe that if I really wanted to do it, I could. Till this very day, she is in my corner routing for everything that I do and prays for me every single day. I am inspired by my will, my drive and my attitude to not give up no matter the obstacles. Tools I would not have had it not been for my mother.

5. My Friends. “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.”

I would be very proud to be represented by any one of the people I call a friend. From all different fields, I have friends who are constantly pushing me to want to do and be more just on the work they do and characters that they are. My friends are a mix from finance; film; advertising; music; retail; you name it, but they are all doing something incredible. I have many moments when I sit with my friends, majority of whom are under 30 and am often gob-smacked by their achievements but more their will and humility. I am blessed to have the friends I have. Shouts out all my friends you know who you are, I’m proud of you all.

6. Ilwad Elman- Purpose.

Martin Luther King once said; “If a man has not found something that he is willing to die for; then he has not lived.” Through the grace of traveling, I have been blessed to meet some really incredible people. Few have made as much an impact on my life like Ilwad Elman.

At the age of 23, this Somali/ Canadian girl has left behind a comfortable life out of choice and literally risks her life daily to bring aid to raped and abused women in Mogadishu, Somalia. Her father was killed years ago because he was re-forming child soldiers and the warlords were not pleased about this so they had him murdered. Even with this; she is out there everyday with her mother and their family organisation called Elman Peace, providing shelter and counseling women and young girls who have been raped or abused.

She once told me that she had become desensitized to violence because there was so much of it around her. What really got me hooked on this young ladies life was when I got to meet her in person some month’s back. I expected a “holier than thou Mother Theresa character” and was on my best behavior, only to find a girl who was not far from where I was as a person in my 20’s. She loved to dance, loved the same music I did, dressed like a 23 year old girl from the city. She was a regular urban 23 year old. I then asked; WHY do you do what you do? To which she replied something along the lines of it being her purpose here and part of who she is. She feels at top level when she is helping others.

7. David Kau- Selflessness

This man is one of the closest people to me and he inspires me for many reasons. The reasons I have put him on this list, is David is put on this earth to make people laugh but more than anything to help whom ever he can and he never asks for anything in return but to see that person do better and better. A quality I aspire to as a young man.

8. Jerry Bruckheimer- Famous among very few.

Known as Mr. Blockbuster; this is a man who’s films and television series have brought in more revenue than most people in terms of box office success in Hollywood history and very few people know who he is. From the days of Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun and Bad Boys. To The Amazing Race, all the C.S.I series, and The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The list goes on and on. I tried to get a screen grab of this man’s work on IMDB and it took 6 pictures. I decided instead to just put this link up so you can see for yourself.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000988/#Producer You may not know who he is; but 9/10 you have seen his work. I’m inspired by his consistency in the game. Not a year goes past without a major JB film coming out.  Not all his films or TV projects are a success; but the amount of work this man does makes up. For every 3 failed projects, there is 1 that rakes in so much money that it covers the losses of the others. A man who at any given time has no less than 14 projects in development. This is the man I want to compete with.

9. Bomb Production Partners

Few people in the world get to meet the people they admire. Even fewer get to build relationships with those people. I remember when I first saw an EPK on Yizo-Yizo. I saw its Directors Teboho Mahlatsi and Angus Gibson and its Producer Desiree Markgraaff. At 14 years of age, I already knew where my life was headed and little did I know then, that these 3 names would impact my life and career the way they have today.

Teboho Mahlatsi – in my opinion is among the best directors on the continent and it will soon be proven, the world. Few directors are as gifted; and are as clinical in their finish as Teboho is. Most of all few people are as humble and as grounded as “the brother” as I call him is. I get inspired with every conversation that we have, be it film, life issues or football, I continue to grow from this man.

Angus Gibson:  You meet Angus and you feel it; the grace; the power; the infinite knowledge. He is class, creativity, wisdom personified. I get to spend at least 8 hours every week in conversation with this man and I feel like a better person every time I walk out of his space.

Desiree Markgraaff: the fearless leader. Few people in the world work as hard as this woman does. She completes the Bomb productions trio. Focused, diligent, creative she is the force that drives me. In a nutshell, she cracks the whip. Majority of what I know from Producing is from this powerhouse. Her mantra is pretty simple; DELIVER. Whether it is Yizo-Yizo; Jacobs Cross; Zone 14; Shuga, Soul Buddies you name it, this is the woman that gets everyone across that finish line.  I am more than blessed to not only have met the people I looked up to the most in the industry; but to be able to grow with them everyday of my career

10. God- Grace and Mercy.

I’m not the religious GO TO CHURCH or you will perish type. I am not a bible basher. I believe in God. I have my own views on God, they may be similar to yours they may differ. My thing is; how lucky am I to have a God who gives me things I do not deserve? I get his Grace, which has made sure that I have never needed for anything I couldn’t get which I do not deserve.  I get his Mercy which I also do not deserve because I am not worthy of it because my sins and add to that, He loves me unconditionally. How can I not be inspired by God?!