The Shack

SYNOPSIS
THE SHACK is a story about a SHACK, who is telling a story about BUTI’s daily life amidst his daily struggles in the immediate and greater environment he lives in, more especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE SHACK is telling the story of BUTI who is staying in THE SHACK.
THE SHACK is a frustrated SHACK situated in a densely populated South African informal settlement wherein many hardships are encountered daily whereby THE SHACK is explaining the hardships that BUTI experiences daily; that are the hardships of scarce income, limited access to water, limited access to sanitary conditions, limited access to better work opportunities, and limited access to proper and enough food.
THE SHACK is frustrated that BUTI is working daily but yet has no income to show for his work and his subsequent suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic and having to enroll for a food parcel to sustain him during the pandemic. He explains how BUTI is worried that the world is cruel, especially the rich who exploits the poor and their plight for survival.
THE SHACK is frustrated that SHACKS are continuously degraded in the world, yet, they provide basic shelter.

  • Tebogo Chologi
    Director
    Tebogo Chologi
  • Tebogo Chologi
    Writer
  • Tebogo Chologi
    Producer
  • Tebogo Chologi
    Key Cast
    "The Shack"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 13 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 26, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    Tswana
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Tebogo Chologi

Tebogo Timothy Chologi, aka “Mrembola”, is an auspicious artist born in 1988 and was raised in
a village named Magogwe Tlhabologo in Mahikeng. Since from a young age, he has been involved
in the art industry through poetry, pantsula dance, and writing/acting for theatre, television and
film. This has born the passion to produce and direct films, which also led to him completing a
qualification of a National Certificate in Film and Television production.
Before he started to produce his own films, he acted in various productions such as Roped, Never
Say Goodbye, Tlhala Ntša, Kgaratlho, Caged, and Naphtal. For film, he also participated as a judge
for the South African Film and Television Awards. He is also a well-known tutor for film at various
institutions.
Since he started directing and producing films after the completion of his qualification, zero/low
budget films that were directed and produced by himself are Inmate, Mobocracy, Ghetto
Situations, Lesedi, One for the Ghetto, and The Shack. He also co-produced/co-directed films
such as Caged, A Plight of an Ordinary Man, and Maletsatsi.
He is the proud creator of THE SHACK, which was shot during the harshest lockdown of the
country at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought him a great number of awards
and accolades. The short film has been screened at many national, regional, and international
film festivals. THE SHACK has won awards for Best Arthouse Film (2020, Kismet Film Festival,
USA); Best Director Award and Audience Award (2020, UMgungundlovu Film Festival, RSA);
Standard Bank Gold Ovation Award (2021, Makhanda National Film Festival, RSA); third place in
Jury Award (2021, Unified Film Festival, Germany); finalist (2021, Cannes World Film Festival,
France).
ALL films produced by myself can be accessed on my YouTube channel under “Tebogo Chologi”
and Vimeo under “tebogo”.

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Director Statement

Most stories don't make sense until they hit the lense.