Animation used in a innovative way to help understand the world better is often a very good social contribution. In the brand-new Animated short 3 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR, two South African-based medical experts have combined their knowledge with film-making to communicate a very important message to help present and future generations
Film and TV Now spoke with collaborators Kabelo Maaka and Dr Tshepo Maaka about the processes and context of their film.
FILM AND TV NOW; The short is quite innovative as a demonstration of the effect of diabetes. Is the idea of using Animation to focus on medical issues something you’d like to explore in other concepts?
DR. TSHEPO MAAKA: Definitely. We have noted the complexity of medical processes and procedures and the simplicity with which animation can explain them and we are currently already working on COVID-19 episodes, presently on episode 3 of a 10 episode short film for COVID-19.
FTVN: It appears that you are using this film as a springboard to highlight and showcase the joys of South African Animation talent and film-making. Tell us more about what you are planning to do to move things forward.
KABELO MAAKA: I mean it’s very important for us to use this opportunity to show different stories that give a refreshing and positive picture of Africa, South Africa, black people and women using both medical and non-medical animation.
For example we are in the process of pitching an animated series based on my own family, which we hope to begin production soon. It’s called “The Fam” we previously entered it into the Animation Du Monde competition last year and received very positive reviews at the continental finals – where we were given a Special Recognition award by the MIFA judging committee.
FTVN: Tell us about your production team.
KM: Our team is small, but growing and very dedicated to the craft of animation. If we could eat and breathe animation we would. We had an all-female team of animators who worked on “3 Teaspoons of Sugar” and this is something we are very proud of.
I was the Director, my university classmate – Jeani Varty – was an animator and I had two interns – who were previously my animation students. Their names are Tanika Pillay and Nariana Gerber. I am very proud that I was able to work with my classmate and my students to make this film happen as well as our current projects.
FTVN: How long did it take to complete and how did you raise finance for the film?
DTM: It took us just over 5 months to produce the film. We received a very small production budget from the Gauteng Film Commission and another small distribution budget from the National Film and Video Foundation to fund the production of the film, and we also spent our own money on it to make it a success.
FTVN: The short had its’ premiere on World Diabetes Day in November 2019.What was the general reaction after the screening?
DTM: We were told that no one does a premiere for a short film, and we had 130 people come to the premiere and they all had learned something new about Diabetes that they had not known before and they commented that the animation made it easier for them to delve deep into the subject of diabetes.
The diabetic community wanted to have it shown to them all, even before we had submitted the film into Festivals. Lastly, SANOFI, one of the international pharmaceutical companies, bought the licence for the film to be showcased in General Practitioners rooms
FTVN: How has life in South Africa in recent years helped shape your creative ambitions and what do you feel has changed in terms of restriction when putting something like this short together compared to the way the country was decades ago?
KM: I can’t speak for decades ago because I am only 25 (26 in September) and I am literally the same age as the country’s democracy.
I’ll say that there are many initiatives that are aimed and exposing more young South Africans to the Animation industry as a viable career option and that is very important in creating more opportunities for creators to make the films they want to make.
Animation is a very global industry and when I graduated university it was difficult getting hired because I was competing with students from all around the world who had easier access to the studios overseas. Then I also saw the challenges my country had with high youth unemployment and that pushed me to hire myself and create Cabblow Studios.
FTVN: Would you like to use the style of Medical Animation to tell a narrative-based story in either a short or a feature length film and what would you like it to be about?
KM: I love to tell stories and I love using animation to do that so the answer to your question is yes. I would love to tell a narrative story both short of feature length if it’s appropriate for the project.
Right now we are actually working on a sequel to 3 Teaspoons of Sugar, which is about diabetes in children – that short film will have more of a narrative based structure compared to the documentary style of 3 Teaspoons. I’m the kind of person who is always working around with stories ideas in my head – I want to create all kinds of animations both medical and non-medical.
FTVN: The short made it to the semi-finals of the Africa Rising and Lagos International Festival of Animation. What was the reaction there?
DTM: The film was well received as it tackled a new way in which animation can be utilized
KM: At Africa Rising people really felt like we made the disease more digestible and easy to engage with we hope we’ll get the same response in Lagos.
FTVN: How has the current crisis affected you both as film-makers?
DTM: The lock-down and the pandemic has given me a time to reflect and to review how I could improve both my personal and business life. I feel it has given me a new perspective on how life should move on from now on. I have become more creative during the lockdown.)
KM: The lock-down made me realise just how fast the world has been moving and help me appreciate the need to slow down and take it all in even if we are on a roll.
FTVN: Finally, what are you most proud of about 3 TEASPOONS OF SUGAR?
DTM: That is was done without a huge budget, done on time and that we managed to combine both our skills set and training in medicine and animation to produce this piece.
KM: I’m just proud that we finished it (because animation is always a big undertaking), people are connecting with it and I actually got to create the project with my friend, my mother and my animation students.
