TV darling s film gamble

Film producer Akin Omotoso is adamant that the risk he took when he cast television darling Nomzamo Mbatha and model Maps Maponyane as the leads for his upcoming romcom Tell Me Sweet Something will pay off despite the pair having no film experience.

Its very different from what Ive done before, he said on set at the Hospice-Wits second-hand shop in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.

But the idea has always been there. Ive always wanted to do a love story because, for me, youve got to tell the total package - youve got to be able to tell different stories.

He cites Spike Lees varied output as an example, from the 1980s comedy Shes Gotta Have It to the biopic Malcolm X to the action thriller Old Boy.

This particular story has been in my head since I was a student. I saw Love Jones, which is one of my favourites, and I just wanted to do stories like that - but an African version.

Tell Me Sweet Something tells the story of aspiring writer Moratiwa (Mbatha) who owns a struggling book store in the Jozi CBD. She falls in love with male model Nat (Maponyane), who has never read a book in his life but is desperate to be loved for his mind and not his body.

But, as the romance blooms, Nats pregnant former girlfriend, Sashi, returns to throw a spanner in the works.

The film is still in the early days of shooting and Maponyane has yet to appear on the set . But Mbatha was there, as was Thembi Seete, whos acted in Hijack Stories, and Mandisa Bardill, whose credentials include Man on Ground .

Mbatha spoke about her departure from the soapie Isibaya, hinting at her hopes of making it to Broadway.

At the end of the lunch break I asked Omotoso if he felt Maps Maponyane could make it on the big screen.

Yes, Omotoso said firmly. I met Maps through someone else who asked me to consider him.

For two years we spoke about it and then the time came and he auditioned.

Nomzamo was recommended to me by a number of people for months, and she came for auditions and she was great.

The film is being shot in Johannesburg, including at Maboneng precinct and Zoo Lake.

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