She is an award-winning and accomplished actress with over three decades in the South African film industry. Over the years, she acquired experience through playing multiple roles in both theatre and TV productions. Actress Charmaine Mtinta is passing the baton to young actors through her company as a means of grooming young and upcoming stars.
NURTURING TALENT
She initially started her company Zula Stage Film Production in 2015 to pursue industrial theatre projects. "But I ended up meeting with unknown writers, producers, and directors. I then realized we needed a movement to help nurture creatives, storytellers, and filmmakers who are talented and not let their creativity go to waste," Charmain tells ZiMoja. "In most cases, in this industry, people take chances and cut corners and think acting and the film industry is a hobby. But this is a career that needs grooming, training, fixing, and mastering. It was always my dream to help, and I am here," she adds. "I have worked with SAB and other companies traveling at taverns to create awareness in trading responsibly. I have two telenovelas on the shelf through the company and there is a lot we aim to achieve," she said. Charmaine is currently working with an e-hailling company, Bolt on her new project which is a Talent Exhibition Audition for aspiring stars taking place on 10 December at Diepkloof. "I partner with different people, but it is all to build the dream and vision," she says. "Young writers come to me and write but I can't just go and pitch their work. So, I teach them how to make proposals and how to go and pitch so they can be independent and not rely on me or anyone else."
GUIDANCE
When she was growing up, she wished she had more guidance when it came to finances as a creative. "I wish as young artists we were taught how to manage finances. We don't earn monthly salaries like normal workers. I have had to teach myself, only later in life. Legendary actor, Daphne Hlamoka was one of the people that taught me to save, I didn't understand it at the time, and later I learned after some suffering here and there," she says. Charmaine is using the knowledge she learned and transferring it to younger upcoming stars. "Nurturing talent is a need, a necessity. These kids think that show business is glamorous. They do not know the pros and cons. They cut corners with influencing, content creation, and social media. There's a level of laziness at some point. We like fly-by-night and quick money. It doesn't work that way. People need to work, so you can sustain your craft. Social media is okay and we need it, but there's no longevity in being measured by social media."
GO TO SCHOOL!
Charmaine stresses the importance of education even when doing what people consider a hobby. "Acting is not a hobby. It's a career. I learned from my own experience. I didn't go to school because I didn't have money. I would go to agencies and do small courses here and there. I had to learn the hard way," she says. "I advise people to go to school! This is why I am doing these programs. After years of cutting corners, I went to Indigo View Actors Academy, and I still want to further my studies. You can't be a one-dimensional actor that gets typecast. We want range, ungazosi bhora as an actor. I learned there is a lot that we don't know. Like other things, acting is evolving. So, education is important."
