Sean Steinberg, born and bred in Johannesburg, South Africa, graduated from the University of Witwatersrand with a BA Honours in English Literature and Philosophy, as well as an MA in Film and TV. He has worked extensively on some of South Africa’s premier dramas, including scriptwriting for Showmax’s dark and twisted “The Girl From St. Agnes,” script editing for Cinemax’s spy thriller “Trackers,” and co-head writing Canal+ and Showmax’s crime drama “Spinners,” the first African series selected for Canneseries. Sean is also the creator behind Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle’s crime thriller “White Lies”.
Matthew Jankes, also a Johannesburg native, began his filmmaking journey after studying at the University of Cape Town. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious Africa First grant by the internationally renowned production house Focus Features. His award-winning 29-minute short film, “Umkhungo,” screened at prominent local and international film festivals, including the Seattle International, London BFI, and Clermont-Ferrand Court Metrage. Matthew recently completed a Masters in Screenwriting at the National Film and Television School (UK).
Join us as we delve into the creative minds of Sean Steinberg and Matthew Jankes, exploring their inspirations, challenges, and the making of “Axis Mundi”.
What inspired the story behind your short film, “Axis Mundi”?
The initial conceit of the story originated from watching an Oprah segment in which she interviewed a self-proclaimed faith healer. The dynamics of belief, manipulation, and the human psyche fascinated me, and that’s where the idea took root.
Can you discuss any unique challenges you faced during production?
Our biggest challenge was shooting in one location. On the surface, it might seem like it would make things easier, but after four days in a dark room, you can get turned around on things. It becomes quite a mental game to keep the crew and cast energized and focused.
How did you approach character development within the limited runtime of a short film?
Our approach was two-tiered: Firstly, to always deepen the character where we could, ensuring they felt real and multi-dimensional. Secondly, to keep them surprising. In a short film, every moment counts, so we aimed to make our characters’ actions and developments unexpected yet believable.
What message or emotion do you hope the audience takes away from your film?
Our hope was to leave the audience feeling unnerved. The story is designed to unsettle and provoke thought, challenging viewers to question their perceptions of reality and belief.
How do you see “Axis Mundi” fitting into your broader body of work or future projects?
We see it as a stepping stone in wanting to tell psychologically complex narratives. “Axis Mundi” allowed us to explore themes of psychological tension and human complexity, which are central to my broader body of work and future projects.
What’s the most unexpected or funny thing that happened on set?**
It was a challenging production with a number of setbacks. Everything that could go wrong did. We called it: getting axis mundi’d. Despite the hurdles, these moments brought the team closer and often resulted in creative solutions we hadn’t initially considered.
If your short film had a theme song, what would it be?
Tough question. It would have to be ‘Happy Together’ by The Turtles. The juxtaposition of the upbeat song with the film’s unsettling narrative captures the essence of the tension we aimed to create.
If you could have a superpower to help you with filmmaking, what would it be and how would you use it?
The power to stop time, so we can take as long as we need to get a shot right. Filmmaking is all about capturing the perfect moment, and having unlimited time would make that pursuit so much easier.
Why are festivals like the FAME Shorts Film Festival so important?
They not only offer a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work but also are more likely to celebrate diversity and unique storytelling perspectives that may not fit into mainstream cinema. These festivals contribute significantly to the cultural fabric of independent cinema and help foster a community of innovative and bold storytellers.
Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers?
Stay true to your vision but remain flexible to adapt and grow. Filmmaking is a collaborative process, and often, the best ideas come from unexpected places. Embrace the journey, challenges, and all, because each experience will shape you into a better storyteller.
“Axis Mundi” is a testament to Sean Steinberg and Matthew Jankes’ knack for creating compelling, psychologically complex narratives. Keep an eye out for this gripping short film and other future projects from this talented filmmaker.**