Mouton hits big screen from jail
F you are a diehard fan, you may have noticed the shady new character Justin. But this deviant role is nothing compared to the excellence Dann_Jaques Mouton plays as AB on local film, raw, honest and convincing. The film, which opened at cinemas this month, is doing well with sold out shows and rave reviews. It is based on the life of John W. Fredericks a man who was considered a write-off in his early teens after being brutally raped. He and three friends later form a gang The Young Ones. He goes to jail eventually and, to survive without joining the number gangs, he tells stories to the inmates. He becomes their cinema. The 70-year-old Fredericks, who didn’t finish school, wrote this true-life drama set on the Coloured Cape Flats at the age of 60. He attended film school only then, and set the ball rolling for this soon-to-be award-winning film. The highly emotional screenplay is culturally specific set in the 1960s with Afrikaans lingo as the language of choice, but with subtitles, it is universally understood. The film runs for twoand-a-half hours with more than 60 narrated parts and 150 scenes from 40 locations. It is co-produced by the talented Moshidi Motshegwa. Mouton who attended auditions to score the role says is not a gang” movie but rather a story of inspiration and hope. To prepare for the hard-hitting role, he says he listened attentively to the writer’s (whom he fondly calls Boeta) stories. I also listened to various kinds of music and I also used the costumes to assist in building the character.”
He says he didn’t need to physically switch from the violence and hardships depicted in the films because everyone respected the story and process.
He explains that most of the cast and crew are from Cape Town and understand the lifestyle that has repeated itself over decades.
Born in Windhoek, Namibia, he moved and stayed in different areas of Cape Town during apartheid.
Like the main character, I too was exposed to gang life, but I was never forced to become part of any gang because of certain friends. I grew up in poverty but not to the level Boeta John experienced, he says.
I was raised by a single- parent mother. All the challenges I faced I overcame through prayer and a positive attitude towards life.”
He says about the mean character who, throughout the film, has a certain quality that s just not gangster enough, that they have much in common.
AB is a storyteller by heart. I think we share the same ethos in that regard. Family is important to him and for me as well.
He laughs when asked about nicknames, which most boys in townships have.
No, I don’t have any other nickname besides that one old school friend, Gideon Jacobs, still calls me Lekkas.”
An avid athlete at school, Mouton never thought he would venture into acting.
I used to be very keen on athletics, 100m sprint, long jump and high jump. I never dreamt of becoming an actor. But today I have made peace with my reality.”
A student at Helderkruin Primary in Kleinvlei and also Methodist Primary in Wynberg, he matriculated from Wynberg Senior Secondary in 2004.
I was privileged enough to study performance theatre for three years at the University of Cape Town. There was no big break into the industry for me. I worked hard with Magnet theatre and I made a name for myself. I suppose landing the lead role on Jans Rautenbach’s
opened doors to the film aspect of the industry,” says Mouton.
He has since been in various stage productions,
with Magnet theatre,
, directed by Mark Fleishman.
He recently scored the role of Justin on the popular SABC 2 soapie, About this character he says: I joined the cast also via an audition. Justin is Vince’s half-brother. He is a conflicted soul when it comes to love, life and family. Like everyone, he carries personal demons and secrets. But he is a good guy, just misunderstood by everyone because of the choices he makes.”
I wish to direct for stage and film, create and perform my own work to empower young aspiring actors through workshops facilitated by myself, he says.