1. What inspired the story behind your short film?
The script, written by Brent Palmer, was loosely inspired by the infamous strip club owner Lolly Jackson. Over time, the story evolved into a David vs Goliath tale—where our protagonist isn’t just fighting to save his club, but standing up for the community as well.

2. What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?
There are a number of messages audiences can take from the film, but emotionally, I hope it leaves people feeling uplifted—happy, hopeful, and maybe even a little inspired.

3. What’s your go-to creative ritual before a shoot day?
Preparation is key. I storyboard the entire film—rough sketches that help us build the shot list. The more prepared I am, the more relaxed I feel on set. Also, I always listen to hip-hop on the drive in—it gets me in the zone.

4. What’s one film you wish you had directed, and why?
Being John Malkovich. It’s so unique in its narrative and tone—blending absurdism with reality in a way that hadn’t really been done before. Casting Malkovich as himself was pure brilliance.

5. If you had to shoot a short film using only three props, what would they be?
It would completely depend on the story being told—but ideally, each prop should serve a strong symbolic or visual purpose.

6. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or series you rewatch all the time?
Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm—they’re my go-to comfort watches when I can’t decide on anything else.

7. Why are short films important in today’s media landscape?
Shorts are still the best training ground for feature filmmaking. They teach discipline and force you to tell a compelling story within a tight timeframe. Even after making my first feature, I’ll continue making shorts—the challenge of crafting the perfect one still excites me.

8. What advice would you give to someone making their first short?
Watch lots of great short films to understand what works. Keep it tight, be bold, and make sure your story has something to say.

9. What’s one question you wish interviewers asked—and how would you answer it?
No specific question comes to mind, but I believe the best interviews feel like genuine conversations—that’s when the most interesting insights come out.

10. Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
They bring filmmakers and audiences together to celebrate cinema. We don’t have many film festivals in South Africa, so having FAME champion short films is a powerful way to grow our local industry and inspire the next generation of storytellers.