Tell us about yourself – who are you and what do you do?

My Name is Slindile Maphumulo, I’m a 22 year old creative artist from eNdwedwe, but currently staying in KwaMashu for art purposes. A writer, producer, performing artist and aspirant director.

What are you currently up to? Are there any exciting projects ongoing?
I’m currently in a film and Television learnership, and looking for employment within the arts. I have a few concepts I’m busy developing, but it’s still premature to say anything about them, and developing Statistics into a feature film.

Statistics was one of the Citizen Journalist Awards 2020 winners and documents the lives of the youth of South Africa under the Covid19 pandemic, where education had to occur digitally, yet load shedding was a major factor contributing towards the internet or the digital platform being disturbed. We meet Noma who is the sole provider for her siblings in a child headed home and is forced by circumstances to make ends meet whilst still getting her education. Watch Statistics

What’s your best project/work to date?
I’m new in producing and don’t have many projects out, so I would say my best work to date is Statistics and Yemuke Nezibopho (a theatre production I wrote, directed, starred in an won an acting award for).

Who or what inspires you?
Everyone and everything inspires me, I’m a passionate person and easily inspired. It could be my little sister, a random person on the street, a meme or Beyonce. Stories are everywhere.

When you’re not working, what do you like to do?
Listening to music in my room. Alone time is very important for my sanity.

Finally, what tips or advice could you give to other documentary creatives, just starting out or to the most experienced creatives needing a bit of encouragement?

My advice would be, Start, exactly that, to anyone who wishes to be something or achieve something great, just start. Start with what you have. I shot Statistics with my phone, and cast friends who are in the industry, people I have access to, it may have looked like nonsense whilst we were shooting with my phone, but we had knowledge of how to shoot, and a story to be told, but no equipment, but I soon realised I can use my phone to shoot the film, and that was a start. My first film was made and I can now call myself a producer because I have produced something. So start with what you have.