| 1 July 2010 |
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| Twenty-seven year-old Durban Class Act winner, Sdumo Mtshali, will jet off to Hollywood on 08 August to rub shoulders with Tinsel Town’s hottest celebrities. As part of the prize package Mtshali will star in Ghetto Dangerous, a South African production expected to hit the big screen early next year. He will travel to the Big Apple’s New York Film Academy for an intensive eight week course to fine tune his performance skills, in mid August. The Montclair resident, Mtshali, was one of ten amateur performance artists who were selected from thousands of entries for the Amstel Lager sponsored competition. He said the win was unexpected, and entered the challenge in effort to find more career prospects in Johannesburg. The 13 week gruelling competition was broadcast live in South Africa, Swaziland and Botswana. Each week was themed to expose the contestant’s drama and performance skills, in conjunction with their natural talent and personality to win audience support. Themes also focused on types of characters and various situations. They included cool, funny, villain, heist, legends, buddies, and the finale showdown. Contestants were critiqued by playwrights, actors, producers and directors from the local and international film industry. Mtshali said: “The challenge was a remarkable experience. Having to work with the big names in the South African Film Industry and being exposed to the knowledge and expertise of performers from Generations, Hotel Rwanda, Tsotsi, Anton Bishop from Jacobs Crossing and The Lab. It’s been a wonderful experience with a huge audience following and wonderful fan support from across the country.” “My favourite villains are the Joker and Hannibal Lecter, I liked Ledger’s performance, not because he is a Hollywood star who is now deceased, but because he told the story of chaos and order and the remarkable way he portrayed the character. Anthony Hopkins’ award winning role as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs brought the character to life. As an actor, Hopkins makes choices on the character and the roles he wants to play - how the character should move and sound. He lets you go along on his journey. He knows when to pause and plays with the audience. It is impossible not to fall in love with his character, he is a genius”, said Mtshali. Profile Sdumo Tsepo Mtshali was born on 03 March 1983 to Josephine and Benjamin Mtshali. Josephine is a nurse employed at King Edward Hospital and Benjamin is a retired AJ Molase High School principal. Mtshali has a twin sister named Thokozile who is a Fine Art graduate, a younger brother, Mpumelo who recently completed his Graphic Design qualification and a four year old niece named Olwethu. During his undergraduate days as a Speech and Drama student at Durban University of Technology, Mtshali performed in The Puzzle, a production directed by former DUT lecturer, Jerry Pooe. The Puzzle toured to Canada’s Vancouver Earth Festival. The production focused on what Black Economic Empowerment meant to black and white South Africa citizens. The production also provided insight into the African Renaissance. Mtshali has also performed in Peace in Our Life Time and One for the Road directed by Pascor Dube at the Durban Playhouse Theatre. He contributed to the Grahamstown Shakespear in South Africa project and also worked in several children’s entertainment pieces at the Terrific Theme Park at Ushaka Marine World. Since he graduated with his national diploma in 2006 he has performed in more than 20 local productions. |
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