The Love Bombs project has been a journey involving more than 250 volunteers who gave up their valuable time and resources, shot footage all across Cape Town, and worked together over a nine month period; all with the sole intention of changing lives, one film at a time.
The Love Bombs Film Festival, currently showing at the Labia on Orange until 9 August 2012, opened to an enthusiastic sold out crowd of Cape Town movie-goers this past Thursday, 2 August 2012. The highly anticipated film festival’s opening night, showcased three locally produced short films made by the Film Kru of Joshua Generation Church:- ‘The Second Day’, ‘iBalaclava’ and ‘The Prodigal’. Each film is hard hitting and well made, and covers a range of genres, from science fiction to action and experimental drama.
The evening was a great success and the audience were treated from the onset, with particular comments made on how amazed they were by the quality and originality of the films. Movie-goers differed on which short film they enjoyed most. “I loved iBalaclava! It was stylistically very well shot,” said Rae Human, while Ashleigh Wainstein said that she loved the special effects make-up in the Second Day.
The evening began with a short ‘behind the scenes’ clip, providing viewers with key insight into what went on behind the camera, and the resourcefulness of the film makers in producing such quality movies, despite an extremely limited budget.
But the real proof is always in the pudding, and all eyes were on the big screen as the first of the films, ‘The Second Day’ began to play. ‘The Second Day’ is an action film that takes viewers to a post-apocalyptic prison, where corrupt prison guards entertain themselves by placing bets on cage-fighting inmates, until an unknown man makes his way to the ring. The intensity did not let up as ‘The Second Day’ was followed by ‘iBalaclava’, a film shot entirely in the Dunoon township, that follows the story of Zolani, a struggling street vendor, who turns to crime to provide for his younger brother and himself. In a subtle change of theme the final film shown was, ‘The Prodigal,’ an experimental drama that follows a young man as he leaves his father’s household in pursuit of love and acceptance.
At a film viewing one might expect the film to show and everyone to walk out, but this was no ordinary night, and the audience were further treated to an address by Director, Howard James Fyvie, as he shared in greater detail about what it meant, and all it involved, to be part of The Love Bombs project. He shared from his role as Director in ‘The Second Day’, as actor in ‘The Prodigal’ and from being involved in the production of all three short films.
After such a wonderful night already, the evening gradually drew to a close, with canapés and a specially designed Love Bombs mocktail being served. It can be said without a doubt that the opening night of the Love Bombs Film Festival was a great success and makes for a fantastic night out. The opening night was followed by sold out black tie events on the Friday and Saturday night to make for a successful weekend.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit the The Love Bombs website at www.lovebombs.co.za or join the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/lovebombsfilms. The Love Bombs Film Festival is showing at The Labia on Orange until the 9th August 2012.
Producer Laurian Guy with Charles Champion, Geoffrey Butler and ETV’s Tanya Nefdt and ZikhonaTshona
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