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Otelo Burning

  • Otelo Burning
Genre : Drama
Type : Fiction
Original title :
Principal country concerned : Column : Cinema/tv
Year of production : 2011
Format : Feature
Running time : 90 (in minutes)
http://www.oteloburning.com




Somewhere between City of God and Blue Crush, Otelo Burning is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela's release from prison. It's an emotional story of kids in the township learning to surf. It's a story of the explosive potential for change at the time of apartheid's end - all seen through a child's eye.


Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher (SURFING SOWETO), the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. It's set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups in Lamontville.
When 16-year-old Otelo Buthelezi takes to the water for the first time, it's clear that he was born to surf. But then tragedy strikes. On the day that Nelson Mandela is released from prison, Otelo is forced to choose between surfing success and justice. This is a beautifully made, insightful and entertaining film that captures a turbulent time in the history of South Africa.



It is 1989 and the struggle against apartheid has reached its peak. The story starts when 16 year old Otelo Buthelezi, his younger brother Ntwe and his best friend New Year are invited to the beach-house where their new friend's mother is a domestic worker.
They watch Mandla Modise surf and he takes the boys into a world previously closed to them. It is exactly the opposite of the township where they live - a place under a constant and growing threat from political violence fuelled by Inkatha hostel dwellers on one side, and United Democratic Front comrades on the other. For the boys, who previously had a deep-seated fear of the sea, "flying on water" comes to represent freedom, and they are sold.
Soon, everyone recognises that Otelo is truly gifted on the water, a surfing star in the making. An older white man, Kurt Struely, approaches the boys, certain of their potential. He invites them to his home to watch some professional surfers on video. He also paints an enticing picture of the life they could have if they learn to master the waves. With practice, Otelo soon outshines his friend, Mandla, whose resentment builds even more when Dezi, New Year's younger sister, falls for Otelo.
As the boys begin to win competitions, Mandla's jealousy grows and eventually he betrays his friend. In exchange for money for a new surfboard, he sells Otelo's brother out as a suspected informer for the apartheid security police.
When Otelo discovers the truth behind his younger brother's death, he has to make a choice between the money, glamour, girls and superstardom of international surfing and justice for Ntwe. On the day Nelson Mandela steps out of prison for the first time in 27 years, the young boy makes a choice that will change his life forever.
Otelo Burning is the opening film for the 32nd Durban International Film Festival. The film is directed by Sara Blecher and is in Zulu with English subtitles. It stars Jafta Mamabolo (Generations), Thomas Gumede (A Place Called Home), and Tshepang Mohlomi (Izulu Lami).

Directed by Sara Blecher

Country : South Africa
Year: July 2011
Run Time: 90 min. 0 sec.


CAST
Jafta Mamabolo (Otelo)
Thomas Gumede (New Year)
Sihle Xaba (Mandla Modise)
Tshepang Mohlomi (Ntwe)
Nolwazi Shange (Dezi)
Kenneth Nkosi (Oscar Buthelezi / Otelo's father)
Harriet Manamela (Mother Christmas / Dezi's Mother)
Hamilton Dhlamini (Skhumbuzo)
Motlatsi Mafatshe (Blade)
Matthew Oats (Kurt)

Director: Sara BLECHER
Screenplay: James WHYLE, Sara BLECHER and THE CAST WORKSHOP
Story Editor: Clarence HAMILTON
Producer: Sara BLECHER
Line Producer: Richard GREEN
Executive Producers: KEVIN FLEISCHER, ZANELE MTHEMBU
Director of Photography: LANCE GEWER
Editor: MEGAN GILL
Production Design: ANITA VAN HEMERT
Original Score: ALAN LAZAR, TIAGO CORREIA-PAULO
Casting by MESHAK MAVUSO and SARA BLECHER

Otelo__ JAFTA MAMABOLO
New Year__ THOMAS GUMEDE
Mandla__ SIHLE XABA
Ntwe__ TSHEPANG MOHLOMI
Dezi__ NOLWAZI SHANGE
Oscar Buthelezi__ KENNETH NKOSI
Mother Christmas__ HARRIET MANAMELA
Blade__ MOTLATSI MAFATSHE
Kurt__ MATTHEW OATS
Potential Sponsor__ DAN ROBBERTSE
Surf Shop Attendant__ NEIL COPPEN
Master of Ceremonies__ JAIME MAIN-BAILIE
Kevin__ BYRON LANGLEY
Ma Modise__ NOSISA NTULI
Amachain__ DUMISANI DLAMINI
Baba Ndlovu__ SDUDUZO KAWULA
Sgora__ BHEKANI SHABALALA
Xolani__ ROBERT NKOSI
Terror Gcaleka__ PRINCE SHIBE
Inkatha Man at shebeen__ JABULANI MFEKA
Drunk Man__ BHEKITHEMBA ‘PEPE' MAJOLA
Man two__ TIKI NXUMALO
Little White Girl__ CANA FOSTER
Judges__ DYLAN RUFFEL, BRANDON SIJAC, RYAN WAN DER MERWE
New Year's Girl at Party__ MASTANDWA MOKOENA
Sorry Man at Party__ SIYABONGA ‘MPA' NXUMALO
News reader__ JESSICA PITCHFORD
Otelo Surf Double__ QUINTON SHABALALA
New Year Surf Double__ MESHAK MQADI

Crew
Director SARA BLECHER
Director of Photography LANCE GEWER
Story Editor__ CLARENCE HAMILTON
Narration__ JUSTINE LOOTS
Script Doctor__ THANDI BREWER
Script Supervisor__ BRUCE MOLEMA
Continuity Intern / Translator: LINDA MASHISHI
Camera Operator: LANCE GEWER
B Camera Operator: NIC HOFMEYR
Focus - 1st Cam: PAM LAXEN
DIT Wrangler: KARL SCHMIDT
Camera Assistant: ALEX MAGOMBO
Camera Trainee / 3rd Assist.: SICELO MAMLE
Key Grip: ANDREW VAN BILJON
Best Boy Grip: MARK SHONE
1st Assistant Grip: NKOSINATHI MTOLO
Rigging grip Daily: HARRY MARÉ
Gaffer: DAVE HOWE
Best Boy Lights: GIDEON PRETORIUS
1st AD: RICHARD GREEN
2nd AD: THABANI GIGABA
3rd AD / Extras Co-ordinator: NJABULO CWELE
Locations /Unit/Transport Manager: CLEM HENNESSY
Unit Assistants: BHEKI SHUSHA, SIZA KHAWULA, NKOSINATHI NTOLO
Drivers: MARK SHONE
Medic on set: SIHLE XABA
Tutor/Childminder: JOHAN VENTER
Spark: JEROME MBATHA
Rigging Spark Daily: KWAZI KHUMALO
Sound Engineer: SHAUN MURDOCH
Boom Swinger: TRAVIS NEL
Production Manager: ADDIE VIGÁRIO
Production Coordinator: SASHA NIRMUL
Production Assistants: BONGANI GUMBI, NKOSINATHI GAMBUSHE, MONDLI SHOZI
Production Intern: TIDIMALO MOTLHAMME
Production Accountant: ALLISON PALMER
Production Design: ANITA VAN HEMERT
Art Director: CHANTEL CARTER
Set Dresser/Construction: MORGAN MUDHANADZO
Props Master/Standby Props: DEREK O'CONNOR
Standby Assistant/Driver: WELCOME GUMEDE
Scenic: BHEKI KHUMALO
Research & Set Dressing: MIA-CARLA BUNGE
Loca Art Department Assisant: IANDA SIKHOSANA
Costume Designer: RUY FILIPE
Wardrobe Supervisor - Surf Unit: PATRICK FLYNN
Wardrobe Supervisors: NOMONDE NGEMA, SAM KELLY
Wardrobe Standby Assistant: THEMBI BUTHELEZI
Seamstress: EUNICE GUMEDE
Key Make-up & Hair: JACQUI BANNERMAN
Assist. Make-up & Hair Trainee: PRINCE SHIBE
SFX Supervisor: LEON BREYTENBACH
SFX Coordinator: JENN ROBINSON
Stuntmen: SHANE HOAL, XOLANI MTHETHWA, SANDILE SAMAMANE, MXOLISI GUMEDE, MICHAEL NKOSI, ERIC MTSHILIDE
Stills: CRAIG EWING, DANIEL CUTHBERT, ANDREW MAHLANGU, KEVIN FLEISCHER
Surf Unit: RICHARD MOERDYK, NEIL WEBSTER
Surf Consultant - Umkomaas: MARK ANDERSON
Land Cameraman: NIC HOFMEYR
Ski Driver: JEREMY PHILLIPS
Water Camera Assistant: ADRIAN CHARLES
Surf Consultant: SIHLE XABA
EPK Surf / Continuity Advisor: ANDY DAVIS
Editor: MEGAN GILL
Additional Editor: KARYN BOSCH
Assistant Editors: KHOLOFELO MALATSHI, NOMPILO VILAKAZI
Trailer Editor: MANDY ROBERTS
EPK Producer: XOLI MATOMELA
EPK Co-producer: ANDREW MAHLANGU
Post Production & Digital Intermediate: THE REFINERY
Post Production Supervisor: TRACEY WILLIAMS
Digital Intermediate Producer: LAUREN VAN RENSBURG
Post Production Assistant: JENNY NURSOO
On-line Editor: TERRY SIMPSON
Baselight Colourist: ALEX MAY
Title Design: ALEXANDER MELCK
Sub-titles & Mastering: JOHN BRINK
End Roller: ADRIAAN SMUTS
Systems Engineer: SYLVESTER MOTLOUNG
QC Engineer: AXEL KOMPAT
Film Recording: ARRI at THE REFINERY
Film Recording Engineer: GERHARD KRIEL
Sound Post Production: AREA 5.1
Re-recording Engineer: CHARLOTTE BUYS
Sound Designer: JULI VANDENBERG
Dialogue & ADR: Track-lay MICHAEL BOTHA
Foley Artist: JULIET PHILLIPS
Foley Recording Engineer: ALEX PICCARD
ADR Recording Engineer: MICHAEL BOTHA
Sound Systems Engineer: BARRY DOUGLAS
Optical Sound Negative: TECHNICOLOR (UK)
Film Laboratory: THE FILM LAB
Original score: ALAN LAZAR
Additional original score: TIAGO CORREIA-PAULO
Trailer Score: NIC PATON
Music Supervisor: DAVE DURBACH
Score Recording: BUREAU OF DIVINE MUSIC, LOS ANGELES
Score co-producer: BO JACOBSON
Guitars: JOSH JOVE
Vocals: SASKIA GAREL-CHEN
Score Mix: CASEY STONE
score mix johannesburg: GAVAN ECKHART,
Score Publisher: LALELA MUSIC
Music Services: USA PIRMIN MARTI

National Film and Video Foundation
Head - Production and Development: CLARENCE HAMILTON
Head - New Ventures: RYAN HAIDARIAN

Finance Information
Total Budget - R10 million (US$1.3million)

Prod: Cinga Productions

in association with
The National Film and Video Foundation
and Sabido Productions

The story, including all names, characters and incidents portrayed in
this film, is fictitious. No identification with actual persons, places,
buildings, events or products is intended or should be inferred.
Copyright: 2011 All rights reserved.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Official film website: www.oteloburning.com

Indigenous Film Distribution
+27 11 719 4080; www.indigenousfilm.co.za

For more information and interviews with the cast, please contact:
David Alex Wilson, publicist, 083 629 2587, davidalex@madmoth.co.za


FESTIVALS / AWARDS

2011 | 32nd DIFF - Durban Intl Film Festival | DURBAN, South Africa | www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php?option=com_ukzncca&view=filmdetail&id=66555
* Official Competiton
* World Premiere
Filmmaker, actors and Executive Producers in attendance
SCREENINGS
21st Jul / 7:00 PM / Nu Metro Cinecentre Suncoast / Suncoast A
23rd Jul / 4:00 PM / Ster Kinekor Musgrave / Musgrave B
25th Jul / 10:00 AM / Nu Metro Cinecentre Suncoast / Suncoast A


30 September 2011(South African Release)

Summary for official catalogues

Shot in Durban and directed by Sara Blecher (SURFING SOWETO), the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. It's set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups in Lamontville.
When 16-year-old Otelo Buthelezi takes to the water for the first time, it's clear that he was born to surf. But then tragedy strikes. On the day that Nelson Mandela is released from prison, Otelo is forced to choose between surfing success and justice. This is a beautifully made, insightful and entertaining film that captures a turbulent time in the history of South Africa.

A film by Sara Blecher, 2011, South Africa, 1h30 min.

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Otelo Burning

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