Bongiwe Selane, esteemed producer, discusses the film "Happiness is a Four-Letter Word" in an interview.
In the vibrant and growing South African film industry, there's a new wave of positive narratives emerging, moving away from the struggle narrative towards fresh, new, and inspiring stories about the country. One such story is the heart-warming romance 'Happiness is a Four-Letter Word,' produced by the talented Bongiwe Selane.
Selane, an award-winning producer, is the mastermind behind this captivating film. She is known for her keen eye for compelling stories that resonate with audiences and provide entertainment value. The film, based on Nozizwe Cynthia Jele's novel of the same name, which won the M-Net literary award in the film category in 2011, follows the lives of three best friends living in Johannesburg.
'Happiness is a Four-Letter Word' was filmed in and around Johannesburg during July 2015. The film stars Chris Attoh, a Ghanaian actor, as Chris, Tongai Chirisa, a Zimbabwean-born actor based in Hollywood, as Thomas, Mmabatho Montsho as Nandi, Khanyi Mbau as Zaza, and Renate Stuurman as Princess.
The film explores the lives of strong, empowered, and highly individual women in a rapidly changing South Africa. Selane, who looks for a screenplay that is written with an audience in mind, has managed to create a film that not only entertains but also showcases the talent and new voices coming up in the South African film industry.
Selane's dedication to her craft is evident in the lengthy process she took to raise money for the film's development and production, which took a total of four years. Her hard work paid off, as the film has been screened at international film festivals and won at the Durban International Film Festival.
In addition to her work on 'Happiness is a Four-Letter Word,' Selane is currently producing a slate of short films called the Female Only Filmmaker project. This initiative, supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, aims to financially support women filmmakers and has produced 16 x24 minute short films in 2014 and 2015 by talented women filmmakers.
The South African film industry is opening up opportunities for emerging talent, thanks to structures such as the NFVF, DTI's Black filmmakers Incentive, and distributors. With dedicated individuals like Bongiwe Selane leading the way, the future of the industry looks bright and full of promise.
