Schuster takes SA on new joyride
Film legend back with his ‘buddies’
THEY say keep your friends close and your enemies even closer, and Leon Schuster’s latest film, Mad Buddies, takes that saying to a whole new extreme.
Directed by Gray Hofmeyr, who also cowrote the film with Schuster, the film follows two sworn enemies – Boetie, played by Schuster, and Beast, played by Kenneth Nkosi. The two are forced to embark on a road trip unaware that they are now subjects of a new TV reality show organised by the Minister of Tourism, Mr Mda, played by Alfred “Shorty” Ntombela.
Model and actress Tanit Phoenix plays Kelsey, a sexy and scheming TV producer.
Catching up with Schuster, Nkosi and Ntombela in a telephonic interview, the Dispatch chatted to the funny guys about what working on this film was like.
Schuster said: “I’ve never done a road movie before and never done a movie with a buddy who in the film is not a buddy. The two [Boetie and Beast] only become friends at the end of the movie. I think it’s a little bit reflective of South Africa in that we can shake hands, even though as a country we’ve been through tough times.”
In what Schuster describes as “the long haul to freedom”, the film took a year to script – about four months in pre-production and six months in post-production.
Even so, working with Nkosi, a first for Schuster, and his partner in crime, Ntombela, the “haul” was definitely worth the time. “It’s fun family entertainment from the first to the final frame,” Schuster said.
Nkosi added: “South Africans love entertainment and I think even I am particularly more excited about this film because I have never worked with Leon before. We’ve been working with great people from the cast to the crew and creating the movie was fun in itself. I hope that South Africa will join me in my excitement.”
Ntombela has no doubt that the film will be popular among its audiences and the one thing he wanted to push for, more than just the film, was the fight against piracy.
“We always do an explosive thing, people are guaranteed a laugh,” he said. “I want to speak from my heart to all our audiences to keep supporting us and not piracy. There’s no point in complaining and crying about it but not doing anything about it. Ultimately, with piracy it means fewer movies being sold and less entertainment being supported.”
As part of promoting the film, the cast have been on a meet-and-greet tour visiting different cities around South Africa, including eMalahleni, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
When asked why the Eastern Cape was left out, Schuster said the focus was on the main centres, but that East London would always hold a special place in his heart – in more ways than one. “I love the Eastern Cape and its people, they’re friendly and heartwarming,” he said.
“I love PE, the Kowie River and Port Alfred also has wonderful people. I often visit Chintsa, as well and East London . . .I actually had a girlfriend there, and there are many times I think of her. Eastern Cape people are just fantastic,” Schuster said with a naughty laugh.
Nombela added: “Don’t worry, East Londoners, I think Leon has found a reason to come and visit. So keep supporting!”
Mad Buddies opens in cinemas nationwide today. — shanaazp@dispatch.