By Cale Nuttall
“Smile for Me,” a chilling psychological thriller created by third-year AFDA students, will debut at the AFDA Graduation Festival on November 22. This multi-layered horror film dares to blend African mysticism with psychological suspense, weaving South African cultural themes into a genre rarely explored in local cinema. For many on the crew, Smile for Me serves as a powerful capstone to their AFDA journey and an opportunity to make their mark before entering the competitive world of filmmaking.
Concept and Vision
Directors Bizo Maxegwana and Tess Davis approached Smile for Me with both excitement and apprehension, as it was their first time directing a horror film. Scriptwriter Ashlin Alexander crafted a story that posed a unique challenge: a horror narrative grounded in South Africa’s diverse cultures. The writers and directors carefully incorporated aspects of Africanism such as drums and ululating without representing any specific tribe. “We wanted to create something personal for the audience to relate to,” Tess added “It came naturally that we had to incorporate these South African elements.”
The film’s unique angle also came through in its integration of medical themes, a choice inspired by Bizo and Tess’s passion for telling authentic South African stories. Addressing contemporary issues such as the underpaid medical workforce, the film blends mysticism and social relevance. As Bizo explains, “We were trying to make sure that it wasn’t Western; we wanted to tell our stories.” Beneath the film's eerie atmosphere lies a reminder to value compassion, even in life’s darkest moments. Bizo adds, “The message we want to tell is that we should feel for each other, as Marli felt for Jane, because as people, that’s how we function—together.”
Crafting the Atmosphere: Cinematography and Sound Design
The script and direction of Smile for Me avoided traditional horror jump scares, instead creating suspense through atmosphere and psychological twists. Cinematographers Anton Kotze and Liam Stockigt achieved this in the film, building on their experience with horror, and using creative techniques to create tension in every scene. “We built on what we learnt in the previous [film] using shadows, lighting and different camera angles,” Anton explains, noting that these choices intensified the unsettling mood that they were trying to achieve.
Filming the night scenes in the forest tested the crew's endurance and creativity. With no power source on-site, someone had to drive back and forth to charge batteries. This meant that the crew weren’t able to use the lights at full capacity, creating a darker scene. This added to the overall eeriness, enhancing the film’s raw, ominous atmosphere. Anton and Liam turned obstacles into advantages by emphasising rough, exposed environments like broken branches and brick walls, adding to the horror aesthetic without relying on conventional scares.
Post-production played a key role in completing the film’s chilling effect. Directors Bizo and Tess worked closely with sound designer Luvuyo Ndunge, incorporating strategic sound effects to enhance suspense. Seeking advice from both lecturers and industry expert, Michael Thorne, Bizo ensured that sound was used effectively and sparingly, amplifying the film’s psychological tension without overwhelming the audience.
“We put a lot of effort into sonically trying to bring this film to life, taking this normal setting and adding this eerie feel to it” Tess stated.
Casting and Performances
Lead actors Steph-Mari Marais (Marli) and Burger Du Plessis (Jaco) brought authenticity to their roles by performing in Afrikaans, adding a layer of South African culture to the film. Both actors prepared intensively, drawing inspiration from The Autopsy of Jane Doe and deeply immersing themselves in their characters.
Steph-Mari’s portrayal of Marli was particularly nuanced, capturing the character's struggle between empathy and detachment. “I want people to feel empathy towards Marli and feel sadness for her because she lives alone, doesn’t have anyone in her life, and, due to her work and financial struggles, had to change her personality and worldview,” she explains. “I want the audience to feel empathy not only for Jane but also for Marli because she was pushed to be who she is.”
Despite this being her first collaboration with the crew, Steph-Mari specifically requested to join Smile for Me, eager to contribute to an ambitious final project. “I requested to be in this crew because each member has a strong vision and hunger to succeed,” she shares.
Both Steph-Mari and Burger embraced their roles with dedication, even carrying their characters into real-life moments. During a coffee break, still dressed in their scrubs and lab coats, the duo was mistaken for medical students. Instead of correcting the assumption, they played along, wandering the area as though they were actual morgue workers, a lighthearted moment that reflected their commitment to fully embodying their characters.
Behind the Scenes: Producers’ Perspective
While the directors, writers, and actors worked to bring the creative vision of Smile for Me to life, the producers played a pivotal role in ensuring the project stayed on track. Producers Shaun Smith and BL Peace oversaw the logistics, budgeting, and overall management of the film, balancing the creative aspirations of the crew with the practical demands of production.
These unsung heroes played a vital role in ensuring the crew completed the film efficiently and on schedule.
Although the film is only 12 minutes long, it took months of meticulous preparation and execution to bring it to life. "It took us 6 weeks of Pre-production, 4 days of production and 5 weeks of post-production." Shaun adds, "It comes down to planning, scheduling, communication and collaboration. A certain level of self-sacrifice is needed to create a good student film, so we manage to complete it in the set time"
Themes and Cultural Resonance
Smile for Me explores themes of life, death, and the unknown. As Marli tries to determine the disturbing details surrounding Jane Doe’s death, she’s forced to confront her emotional boundaries, questioning her detachment and moral compass. This exploration intertwines with African mysticism, embodied by a cult that mixes medical and spiritual symbols to eerie effect.
The character designers, Senate Uwah and Iandra Williams embraced the medical symbolism by designing the cult members’ attire with bloodied bandages and a staff inspired by the Caduceus. This creative choice lends the cult an unsettling, distinctly South African feel, enriching the film’s complexity among its various themes.
Challenges and Learning Experiences
The production encountered numerous challenges, some of which became “happy accidents” that enhanced the final product. Filming in the forest without a power source required the crew to swap batteries constantly, testing their endurance during long night shoots. The cast also faced discomfort: Burger had trouble with uncomfortable shoes, Steph-Mari joined the shoot directly after her day job, and Tatenda Makuvatsine (Jane Doe) endured hours of prosthetic makeup for her wounds and sewn-shut lips.
The team’s resilience and ability to adapt in the face of these obstacles was impressive. When Jane Doe’s wig went missing, they improvised camera angles, producing some of the film’s most striking shots. The makeup and prosthetics, a first for the Senate and Laura, marked a valuable learning experience that expanded their practical effects skills under tight conditions.
The cult scene filmed in the Constantia forest had an atmospheric intensity that proved so convincing that it even drew real-world attention. A resident passing by the area mistook the setup for an actual cult ritual and called the police, adding an unplanned moment of drama to the production. This incident highlights the authenticity of the visuals and demonstrates how effectively the team crafted a chilling and believable atmosphere.
The Graduation Film Smile for Me is a result of the collaborative efforts of each member of the crew, drawing from each other's experience and working together to overcome challenges.
Final Thoughts
With Smile for Me, the AFDA team has crafted a distinctively South African horror film that pushes boundaries and brings new depth to a genre often dominated by Western clichés. Through cultural themes, intricate cinematography, and a haunting soundscape, the students created a suspenseful experience that showcases both their talents and the potential of local cinema to explore unique, underrepresented themes. Smile for Me represents fresh, innovative storytelling that can be expected from upcoming talent such as AFDA’s graduating students, marking not only the end of their studies but the beginning of a promising journey in South African film.
Tickets are almost sold out and can be purchased at https://www.quicket.co.za/events/289555-afda-cape-town-graduation-festival/#/.
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