Producer, designer and actor, Lala Tuku is a woman in charge
EXECUTIVE producer, actress, sleepwear designer and voice-over artist Lala Tuku is inspiring women who are aspiring to get into the male-dominated film and television industry through her programme A Break with Lala.
She has also been announced as the executive producer of BET Africa’s first original drama, Isono. She speaks to me about being a producer in the industry, the importance of mentorship and running a fashion business.
What inspired you to go into the entertainment industry?
I’ve always loved theatre and the dramatic arts from a young age – so much so that I ended up studying it. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved story telling. In grade 5, when we had to perform an English poem, I brought costumes and used different accents to perform each character, and I tore that poem apart. I was too young to even understand that I would grow into an authentic story-teller myself.
Was it hard for you to break into an industry that is so male dominated, and how did you do it?
When I finally ventured into the media and entertainment industry, I found that there was paucity in terms of the representation of women in executive and key technical roles. This created an imbalance of power on sets and made it difficult to find the strength to speak up. Even though I was passionate and excited to have a foot in the door, I equally found the experience daunting when I wanted to make the shift from being in front of an audience to being behind the scenes.
Due to this dynamic, I first started as an actress. I then left the industry and went to the National Film and
Video Foundation, where I produced many live shows. An opportunity finally came about for me to be part of story creation and producing. I couldn’t resist and I took the leap! My road to getting here was less like a straight path and more like a series of acrobatics in a jungle gym.
What qualities make a great producer?
You need to be financially astute as managing budgets is an important part of the game. You have to be able to think on your feet and be a great problem solver. You also need good communication skills in order to manage people and be able to handle stakeholder relations.
How have you adapted and innovated to match the times we are living in?
I think everyone can attest to the difficulty of working during this period against the backdrop of the pandemic. Creating television has been severely impacted, as there is so much uncertainty and so many moving parts in a production.
Remaining vigilant and finding new ways to produce content – most importantly making sure we keep our sets safe – during this time.
Is there more investment in local talent than before, and how important are shows like for our country and Africa as a whole?
Isono
Our stories hold currency, and we must trade on their value. Across all forms of art and the arts, African stories and perspectives are growing in popularity, locally and across the globe.
So stories like these are incredibly important, not only for showcasing African talent, but for shedding light on an Africa that the world does not fully know exists. There are still a myriad of narratives that the world needs to see emerging from the continent
– especially when it relates to women. With regard to funding and content opportunities, we are certainly seeing more locally-produced content and platforms embracing local stories. Various initiatives on the rise concerning women though, could be a bit more urgent.
You wear many hats, a sleepwear designer, a film festival founder and mentor to young women: what would you like to be remembered for?
In every space I participate in, my hope is that I am remembered as a renaissance woman who used all her God-given talents to impact lives in whatever small way she could, while inspiring others to do the same.
How important is mentoring or affording opportunities to the younger generation?
Sending the elevator back down
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IOL.CO.ZA is very important to me. The South African film industry has a complex history attributed to the legacy of apartheid; a system which not only marginalised black people, but also marginalised women. Most young women I come across are interested in my journey.
Experience has taught me to be well prepared, confident and persistent, and to equip myself with knowledge and skill sets. Moreover, it’s important that I know my worth and be resilient despite the odds against me in all my efforts.
You have to believe in what you are bringing to the table, so that when you get there you don’t make the mistake of selling yourself short.
What
inspired your luxury sleepwear line Lalaland Luxury?
Like many other millennials, I tend to push myself very hard in all of my pursuits. The notion of rest was foreign to me. Until one day everything reached a screeching halt and emotionally, physically and psychologically I was done. I was forced to slow down and introduce rest into my schedule and life. I started to introduce pockets of self-love moments into my routine, and I slowly started to learn how to fall in love with rest.
These lessons became my inspiration to create a premium rest experience for myself. I then designed comfortable, luxury sleepwear that consists of various luxury signature ranges that are housed in the Lalaland Luxury online store.
Lalaland is a sleep health-conscious brand that encourages rest, self-care and luxury, comfortable sleep. This work excites me as there is so much in-store for this lifestyle luxury brand.
Who are some of the women that inspire you and why?
I find inspiration in women who are true to themselves, who celebrate other women and who create opportunities for other women.
Mothers who are holding it together. Women who show up regardless of their situations.