HONCHO OF THE MONTH: THABANG MOLEYA

TV & Commercials director, Thabang Moleya

Every month we’ll sit down with a young, inspirational South African who’s making great strides in their chosen field. Our inaugural interview is with the energetic and supremely -talented Joburg-based director Thabang Moleya. The young gun has contributed and directed shows such as Jacobs Cross, Zone 14 and Jozi-H and TV commercials for companies such as MTN and the LOTTO. Right now, he’s busy on another exciting project in the DRC.

We took him out of his busy schedule to get insight into his life, career and craft. We hope you’ll learn a thing or two.

Wsup my brother, how are you doing?

I’m always blessed, never stressed, GODS never late.

 Please introduce yourself to the Honchos out there that might not know  who you are and what you do..

I’m a young director at a film and television company called “THE BOMB”. I was born in S.A born and raised in Tembisa, director of JACOBS CROSS, THE LAB, JOZI-H, SOKHULU ANDS PARTNERS and most recently the new MTN  and LOTTO commercials.

 You’re currently shooting in the DRC right? How’s that going and how different is it to shoot there as opposed to here in SA?

It’s a lot more challenging than back home, the crews are hard working though, there is a lack of proper shooting gear so I’m feeling
slightly limited with what I would love to shoot nonetheless a great experience.

Before we delve deeper into your work, let us go back a bit … Where did you grow up? How was your upbringing?

Grew up in Tembisa, was raised by a loving family, my family is the corner stone of my success, I’m inspired by them unconditional love and support, we pushed through many trying times and we still stand strong. Family keeps me going.

Is there a part of your childhood that stimulated your interest in film?

I was always curious about images, I got into art: photography and painting when I was at the National School of Arts, graduated with full colours and my mom purchased my first video camera, haven’t stopped shooting since then.

So how did you eventually get into the TV and film industry?

During my high-schhol years I was a K-T.V presenter for MNET, and presented for about six years, the producers there loved my ambition and they loan me gear on the weekends free of charge, so me and a small team started writing and shooting our own little films. That’s all we wanted to do on weekends, shoot our own stories and we did.

 You have worked on a number of amazing projects in your short career … Which ones are you most proud of and why?

I have been so blessed to direct some of this countries top actors, Vusi Kunene, Jet Novuka, Hlomla Dandala, Fana Mokwena, Graham Hopkins and Melusi Yeni  to name a few, I watched those actors when i was a child and now directing them was so challenging yet so rewarding.

My most memorable moment when a drama series i directed got an IEMMY nomination in 2009 the ceremony held in New York was like a magical dream. The same drama series them won best drama at the SAFTA’S two
months after returning from the States.

What are the challenges that face a young, black director in this country?

I believe challenges are there only to make success more appreciated. Sure challenges but man the opportunities we have in this day and age, I feel that alot is taken for granted back in S.A. A liberated country gives its youth the chance to dream bigger than any challenge they might feel they facing.

I follow you on Twitter and I must say you seem like an eternal optimist who never runs out of energy. Has that been the key to your success? What other attributes have helped fast track your career?

Having a mother who keeps me grounded. She s the pillar of our family. She works so hard for herself and her children, she was in
fact the first black female gynaecologist in South Africa, she truly inspires me in many ways.

WOrking at THE BOMB SHELTER, has opened up many doors for my career, after directing over three seasons of JACOBS CROSS, Im now more focused on my commercials career and having Marc Harrison and Gavin Joubert as my producers the sky is not even a limit.  We cooking up the commercials world, its a great team.

What’s the one thing you want to achieve before you die?

To open up a film school, i find that its such a beautiful, diverse industry yet not too many can afford the high prices of film schools,
my institution will offer more affordable prices and hopefully more could also study there through bursaries, I wanna give back and
inspire someone else before I die, even just one person will be enough.

Please complete the following:

- I’m inspired by being GODS tool and living HIS plan.

- SA films are lacking an S.A audience to view them.

- Charlize Theron should really give me call I have a great film I’d
like her to be in.

- Joburg is a city of dreams and dreams can come true if you work it.

- Quentin Tarantino is the master of great dialogue.

- Joburg women are driven, its good to see the movers and shakers.
They inspire the youth.

How do you ‘LIVE PROGRESSIVELY’?

I always remember that freedom was never free, that someone else died to give me the chance to be liberated and free the least I can do
is chase my dreams and give nothing less but the best that i  can do, the rest, is in GODS hands.