Austin Malema On 10 Years In The Industy, RTC Studios And The Future Of Photography

Mpho Austin Malema / Entrepreneur, Photographer & Founder of RTC Studios and Pixel Kollective

You’re a well-known photographer in South Africa, how has the journey been so far?

I have been in the industry for just over 10 years as a photographer and the journey has been an interesting one with many ups and downs. It is not as easy as it seems. Right now people only see your glory years and want the same thing but they don’t know of the failures and trials you face before getting to a point where your work speaks for itself.

What is RTC Studios and what services are offered?

RTC stands for Ronewa Tshiamo Cai. We are a visual creative hub which currently offers photography and videography solutions.

What’s your opinion on the current young South African photographer’s career span? 

I think as a young photographer in South Africa your career can be short lived depending on how serious you take your craft and using it to build a career. The big thing is adapting to different forms of photography, as the industry in South Africa is not big enough for one to make a living by just one form of photography. Most times, you have to adapt to new skills to grow. Young photographers need to stay strong and sharp mentally, as failures and rejection can be taxing.

Explain your type of photography…

I shoot lifestyle photography.

How are you staying busy during this pandemic?

At the beginning of this pandemic I was taking part in challenges by other photographers and created one myself, I also started watching tutorials on other forms of photography I am interested in, I usually do this to keep my mind fresh and to develop my skill set. In the  past couple of  weeks, we had had some projects done which should be coming out soon.

Your proudest career moment? 

There are so many of these moments, one being making it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 list of 2019. I think I realized that photography was more than just photos, but the bigger picture being the business.

One word to describe your industry would be…

Trying.

How’s the future looking?

The future of the industry looks great as there are many opportunities for young people to come in and grow. The future belongs to those who go after it.

Inspire the kids with some closing words of wisdom…

As Confucius once wrote: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”.

 

Follow Austin Malema! 

Instagram: @aust_malema

Twitter: @AustinMalema

Facebook: @AustMalema

 

-Bridgette Makhela

Naledi Sibisi On Content, The Throne And The Mobb

Naledi Sibisi / 26 / Editor-in-Chief at The Throne Agency

Content, what does this mean to you?

Quality, value, tact and reception. Beyond how you carry and pass on information, I think content (creation and marketing) has more to do with how much you captivate and keep your target audience. The people behind the content have to be in the know; research, be on top of trends, understand what is happening in their industries and address or influence their audience through that knowledge. I think that really great content has more to do with the audience than the creator or marketer in the end. Your audience is ultimately who keeps determining what content is and how it translates.

It took you how many years to get to this point?

In theory, eight years. In practice, I would say about three years.

The Throne & The Mobb are dope, give a synopsis…

They feed each other but they also stand alone. Both The Throne and The Mobb explore entertainment, fashion, art and culture in a South African context. The agencies study cultural insights and influencer relations in order to serve as a voice for the contemporary urban and creative landscape. Most importantly, they are 100% Black female owned – aiming to reshape and rethink the creative industry and dynamic for the generation coming on board in the future.

What’s an Influencer to you?

Someone who has the ability to affect how you think and feel about products or services and can ultimately control your purchase power as a result. It goes beyond the surface level and pretty pictures on social media. An influencer is someone who has built up a following based on who they are, what they know and has identified their niche. As a result, brands can use this knowledge and audience loyalty to collaborate with them for marketing purposes to achieve their specific objectives. Influencers are assets.

Writing, it’s either you have it or you don’t. Agree?

Yes and no. I think as with any creative field it’s part ‘gift’, part passion and equal parts practice. You have to constantly study and practice your craft as much as you are passionate about it. You can have a natural flair for writing but if you are not pushing yourself, studying other writers and researching, you don’t have it.

South African social media platforms that praise and promote females, do we have enough?

More than enough. We need to keep promoting and praising them more. Above that, we need to keep putting more women in influential positions and positions of power. The gatekeepers of said platforms are still predominantly male. Life is about balance, it needs to apply in quite simple and complex contexts.

They say the hustle never stops, do you ever stop working and just chill?

I think that when you love what you do, you become a workaholic by default. It’s always important to take time out. I make it a point to not check work related things after a certain point. If it’s urgent, it can find me at 5AM lol.

How would you want to change another person’s life through the work you do?

To keep being a source of inspiration or reference on a large scale. In the near future when I feel I have established myself, I’d definitely like to take a group under my wing; I suppose like a mentorship. I think that knowledge is best when it is shared. I want young people specifically to be able to enjoy the fruits of my labour and pass that on.

Where can everyone find your movement, handles?

Instagram: @thethronesa / @themobb_sa

Twitter: @TheThroneSA / @TheMobbSA

Website: www.thethrone.co.za / https://www.thethrone.co.za/the-mobb/

 

–Bridgette Makhela 

Courtnae’ Paul On Her Versatile Hustle

Courtnae’ Paul

24

Creative Director / Bgirl / Choreographer / DJ

 

When did the dance bug hit you?

I think it was aiming for someone else and hit me by mistake, lol. Age 10/11, I randomly got involved with my church dance group, and the rest is history.

How do you juggle all your titles and make them work to your advantage?

In this industry it’s generally in your best interest to be versatile and well versed in different areas and / or styles. Due to the nature of entertainment as a profession, the industry and it’s job offers are constantly fluctuating, so I have always made sure that there is a need for the services I offer. It might sound like a lot of titles; however they are all closely linked and expose me to the other sides of my expertise. This in turn sees me learning and broadening my skill set to eventually being able to do that job myself. It works well for me because I stay in my lane, but I make sure I have everything in my lane covered.

The coolest gig you’ve ever been a part of to date?

I choreographed a very urban African surprise welcome for Richard Branson last December. It was cool because I enjoy meeting people who have made such a success in life, yet are still down to earth and super friendly. He joined in on the performance and really seemed to have enjoyed himself. I love creating experiences and having other people enjoy them too. Another gig that was pretty cool was choreographing and leading two 2015 / 2016 Cell C campaigns. They were printed and they flighted on everything from cinema, to store material, billboards, fliers, internet and TV. The campaign ran for six months, and was just renewed for another three…

Who inspires you to hustle even harder?

Everyone and everything around me is a constant push to be greater, I am inspired by people that continue to push no matter what the circumstances are. Every time I smash one goal or achieve something I thought I never could, it makes me work harder because I see it’s possible. I am a firm believer that thinking and believing, coupled with action, brings your visions into reality.

That one South African jam that gets you moving all the time is…?

“It’s about tiiiiiime! You listen to Boom Shaka!”

Who or what gets your heart beating fast? Lol

My girlfriend! In both a good and bad way! Hahaha!

Where do you picture yourself in the future?

The direction of my plans never change, however the scale changes almost weekly, so I picture myself being really happy and having accomplished everything little goal I set.

If you were an animal, which one would you pick?

I would be a lion or a dolphin. Lions are so beautifully lazy and get to sleep all day, and dolphins are just the cutest fun ‘lifesavers’ ever, lol.

That word you yell out every time you get pissed?

I yell “fada gohd maaan!” (for some reason my inner Nigerian comes out).

How do you maintain staying power in the industry?

By adapting to change and always creating a demand for my skills.

Follow Courtnae’!

Instagram: @Courtnae_Paul

Twitter: @Courtnae_Paul

Facebook: Courtnae’ Paul

YouTube: Courtnae’ Paul

MixCloud: Courtnae’ Paul

 

–Bridgette Makhela