20 October 2021
|
Story Rulanzen Martin
|
Photo Supplied
Dinga Mpiti as Sbu Baloyi in the Free State-produced short film, Molamu: The Fighting Stick.
Dinga Mpiti is a second-year
Drama and Theatre Arts student who is already making a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Mpiti, who hails from the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, starred in the Mzansi Magic short film,
Molamu: The Fighting Stick, an impressive stepping-stone to a promising acting career.
“I was a bit nervous about going to the auditions, because I was scared that I wasn’t going to make it, as it seemed like a big production,” says Mpiti, who portrays Sbu Baloyi in the film.
“Sbu is a young man who is jealous and conniving and willing to go all the way just to become the next popular sports star at school, even going to the extent of trying to get rid of his rival Gopulang, who is the protagonist in the film.” Molamu: The Fighting Stick is a Free State-produced film with actors and production team from the Free State.
Dinga is an ambitious creative who is “passionate about performing arts and the arts as a whole”. He not only wants to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry, but also has aspirations of creating his own clothing line, which he plans to launch by the end of 2021.
“I have always been a performer from a very young age, and as I grew up, I was drawn to theatre and the world of acting,” he says.
A step closer to reaching the stars
“Being part of Molamu has been an amazing experience – from the auditions, table reads, rehearsals, costume fitting to shooting the final product,” says Mpiti, who credits this experience as one of the highlights of his year so far. “What I took from this experience is how taking a risk while doubting yourself can really help you a lot, because if I doubted myself and did not go to the auditions, I would never have watched myself on the big screen.”
His role in Molamu cemented his love of being in front of the camera and being a television actor, although he says he misses the interaction with the audiences that accompanies being on stage in a theatre. “I see myself in the television and movie industry; I would like to be a director as well, but theatre will always be my true love and haven,” he says.
His two role models are the trailblazing South African actress
Thuso Mbedu, and the Hollywood legend
Johnny Depp. About Mbedu, he says that “her story of how her career started and how it is right now, inspires me every day to work hard and keep focusing on my goal of being in Hollywood.” It is the range that Depp brings to the characters he plays that has drawn Mpiti towards his acting approach. “He gives amazing justice to his characters, and that is just amazing.”