House of Brands

“I am” acknowledges the vastness that exists within our communities within the cape flats. It is a reminder that our communities are made up of so many different parts and that we are more than just our suffering. There is joy, sacred knowledge, and abundance in the cape flats. “I am” is a reminder that we are embodied in abundance. It is a reminder that there is space for all of us. And most importantly it is a reminder that we are never alone. Our queer trans ancestors are always walking with us. They’ve walked the same streets we do in Mitchell’s plain, Langa, Elsies River, Mamre, Bonteheuwel. This film is an ode and an offering to our ancestors and the foundations they have played for us to lean into and create our own homes within home.

The whole cast and core crew is made of Femmes, Queer and/or Trans people of colour. The cast is comprised of giants and pillars in the South African Ballroom Community, namely Cece aka Cheshire V, Berlin and Chanel Le Cap, Autumn and Tyler. Our lead cast member Zinzi is a young Giant from Mitchells plain and an already prominent figure in the dance community standing tall amongst her peers of all ages. It was also important that everyone in the core crew were also people who were either from the Queer community or a person of colour as this creates an environment of understanding and a sense of comfort for the cast.

I have admired everyone involved in this project for many years and have worked with all of them in some capacity before. When this opportunity arrived, I knew that it was time for us to all reunite once again. Each person in the cast has an important story to tell and a big part of my duty is to create a space, whether it be photography or moving image, where they can be heard and seen as they desire and deserve. This means making sure we shoot them in a way that they want to be shot by offering them the opportunity to choose where they want to be shot to best represent their truth, choosing their own hair, makeup etc so that their stories are told the way they want it to be told.

Each individual was shot in the main casts’ communities. I asked each character, who plays the role of the embodied ancestor, to identify a space that is meaningful to them, that they would call home, or a place that played a prominent role in their becoming. We shot Berlin and Chenal in Elsies River, where they both live. We shot Tylor in Langa where he grew up. We shot Autumn at Bontehuewel High where she went to school and used to teach once she matriculated. And finally, we shot Cece in Mamre in their granny’s garden, a home they had grown up in. It was incredibly special to see everyone fully embodied in spaces that played such a huge role in birthing them as they are. And then our main character. One of my favourite people in the whole entire world, Zinzi. Someone I have looked up to since the day I saw her dance for the first time at a dance competition on Youth day in 2021 in Mitchells Plain. I just remember being in complete awe of her and sending my partner a video of her saying “I feel like I just met my future self”. Though Zinzi is young in human age, she carries so much wisdom in her embodiment, movement and beingness. When this film came to light, I knew she had to be a part of it. I sent the video around to a few of my dancer friends and once I had finally connected with her, I began to realise that our meeting has been orchestrated by a force way greater than us. That meeting Zinzi was always meant to be. That Zinzi was going to teach me more than I could ever fathom.

The core on set crew was a group of people that I am honestly so honoured to share space with. Firstly, my brother Thandi Gula who was the AD for the film. Thandi is an incredible artist and storyteller and one of my chosen siblings in this world. Baz Bailey was the DOP for the film. Baz is such a talented DOP, with the most incredible work ethic and the gentlest approach to his craft. Dominique Jossie produced the film and wow; I am still in awe of her. She is a phenomenal artist, storyteller, and producer, amongst many other things. Dominique carried all of us with so much kindness throughout this whole project. She feels like the older sister I never had, I’m super grateful for her. Donna de cock who is one of the most talented stylists, styled the film and when I say she went above and beyond I really mean that. She is a force. The makeup was done by artist and maker of all things healing Keegan whose presence was so joyous and warm every single day on set. Cece Martinez who is a master of many trades and unconditional love embodied was the Movement Director for this film, without whom this film would be absolutely nothing close to what it is. Cece is the Mother to many and a teacher to all of us. When I say we had the best editor I really mean that Yoza is a director, editor, and half of Darkie Fiction. She is a magician and someone who is of pure light. Lastly, Denise Onen, a master of sound, did our sound design for the film and I think it truly speaks for itself. Denise is incredible.

I thank God for everyone. I am so incredibly grateful for my people.