Bubblegum Club

Tag: The People versus the Rainbow Nation

  • Arcade Content – the guerrilla group of film and advertising

    The unconstrained division of Egg films, Arcade Content, includes Leboganag Rasethaba and Kyle Lewis, multi-award winning directors who freely express, engage and entertain through their production of compelling visuals for brand films, web series, music videos and documentaries.

    According to Lebo, Arcade is doing nothing more than shining a light on how epic their collective existence is, which should not be taken from granted. And rightfully so, Arcade has been reaping a lush harvest with 9 gold Midas awards, 2 gold Loeries, 2 gold Bookmark Awards, a bronze from Cannes Lions and many more.

    The work produced by both Lebo and Kyle is uniquely captivating and expands the ways in which commercial storytelling can be executed.

    “My big thing is representation. My work is gritty but pretty. It’s about letting people know you can have both. When we talk about a raw, guerrilla approach, you can feel the nervous energy in the boardroom, but what I’m saying is that all that realness will be beautiful, because it is. We’re not making any of this up; we’re living in an amazingly complex world that’s made up of beautiful people and their beautiful thoughts, and as people who part of it, we’re just telling that story,” Lebo explained.

    Similarly, Kyle’s visual storytelling is inspired by his pride for South Africa and its people. Kyle delivers something relatable with care, respect and messaging that creates conversations of relevance to the cultural climate.

    “The content we have produced paves the way for the digital landscape. We are ever-evolving and growing with our audience. We strive to create pieces that we are proud of and that we truly feel make a difference. The industry changes constantly, which means we can never sleep…” said Kyle.

    From their credible, accessible and inspirational works; Riky Rick’s Fuseg music video by Kyle, Lebo’s MTV documentary, The People versus the Rainbow Nation, and their brand films for Standard Bank’s #Today campaign, their is an unmistakable finesse to their artistry.

    Kyle is currently conceptualising a Nigerian music project for a campaign that will further unite Africa and the world.

    Lebo’s latest music video for Mashayabhuqe KaMamba, KwaDukuza, premiered today on MTV Base today.

    For Arcade Content productions, visit their website.

  • The People versus the Rainbow Nation; In conversation with Lebogang Rasethaba

    Motlatsi Khosi (MK): “The People versus the Rainbow Nation” is a striking title that draws one deeply to this trailer. It suggests, to those who recognize its South African meaning, that all is not right for citizens. This title speaks to the growing disillusionment sweeping this country. From service delivery protests, to striking municipal workers and the latest, student protest movements. What role do you see this documentary playing in this growing movement facing the nation?

    Lebogang Rasethaba (LR): I think the film, and also if you think about the primary function of the medium, reflects the times. So maybe it won’t add anything to the movement in terms of energy or whatever,  like I don’t believe people watch a film and then go protest fees structures, but it will give some insight into what it means, or rather what it feels like to be a young person navigating the aligning vectors of power in society. That’s really what the film is about, it shows how all the current socio-political climate affects the young people in the film differently. 

    3. The trailer is tremendously captivating. It features words of anger and frustration from those not happy with the country Mandela left behind. Yet it also features images of young people, those presumably studying towards their degree, talking about politics and the state of the nation. What is it that you are hoping viewers, both local and international to take away from your documentary? What is it that you want them to learn about the issues being faced by students and their movements in South Africa?

    Here’s the thing, this film isn’t some champion for the voiceless… I think what’s really dope about the current narrative amongst young people in SA right now is that there is a lot of authorship, a lot of the things you will hear in the film people all the world over have probably heard before. Young people are very clear, vocal and very articulate about their positions. So audiences aren’t going to learn anything because we know what racism is, we know what sexism is. We know what classism is, we know all this but they might gain some perspective because its always more impactful when the dialogue isn’t happening in the acrimonious comments section.  Maybe the film presents those voices into a cohesive narrative in a filmic way that hasn’t been done before, maybe.

    MK: South Africans are no strangers to the global structures and economic forces and are no strangers to international cultural trends. MTV is apart of this growing international influence that has even formed its own branch within our shores as MTV Base. How was this relationship formed between you and this media powerhouse and what role have they played in the direction of this production.

    LR: One of the producers at MTV called me up and they told me that they wanted to give a young filmmaker a platform to voice his views on what’s happening in South Africa right now.  They were really cool to work with because they didn’t interfere with the process or demand anything really, once we agreed that the film should interrogate the rainbow nation I never heard from them again. They kinda let me do what I wanted to. When I showed them the first cut they were like, I paraphrase, “fuck this is kinda different from what we imagined, its intense…we need to re-think and re-align our strategy”….you get what I’m saying here right? They had to retrospectively change their campaigns and strategies and whatever so they could align with the film. Imagine! 

    “The People versus the Rainbow nation” airs today at 21h15 on DSTV channel 130. You can also watch the film tonight at a viewing party at Chalkboard Cafe in Maboneng.