Talented Luke Tyler and I meet at the Ferryman’s Tavern, V &A Waterfront.

Originally from Johannesburg, he’s now living in Cape Town and is actively working in the film industry of South Africa.

At only 23, his life is a kaleidescope of action.

He has landed roles in well-known films shot here – including Dredd 3D, Chronicle and  Sleeper’s Wake – and he’s a familiar face in popular commercials.

He’s had the pleasure of seeing himself in a BBC series aired on Sky1 last year, not to mention the pleasure he’ll get in watching the forthcoming movie he just starred in as a supporting lead opposite Halle Berry!

Flashing me a lovely smile, we sit down and order our coffees before getting started.

Tamika: Where are you from originally?

Luke: Johannesburg. I moved to Cape Town when I was nine and have been here, in Table View, ever since.

Tamika: Where did you go to school?

Luke: Table View High.

Tamika: What did you do after school?

Luke: I took a GAP year. I travelled the States and Canada with a carnival company called “North American Midway Entertainment” (http://www.namidway.com/) for nine months. After that I applied to AFDA to do Screen Acting. I was accepted, but had a change of heart at the last minute and decided to go to the Screen Actors Studio here in Cape Town instead. I did that when I was nineteen for a year and a half. I completed my Advanced Diploma in Screen Acting in 2009. I then started working professionally as an actor for film and television. I’m a screen-trained actor but have had basic theatre training and will be branching out into theatre in late 2012. No promises!

Tamika: Name some of your most memorable roles –when were they, what was the film about and what was your role?

Luke: I started my film career with Dark Tide which was shot here in Cape Town last year (2010). It’s a movie about a shark-cage-diving instructor, played by Halle Berry. She’s a shark whisperer and dives outside the cage with Great whites until a tragic event makes her stop altogether. I play a lead, ‘Luke’, who’s the son of a millionaire and pays her to get back in the water because he wants to dive.  Dredd 3D also stands out for me. That was shot here in Cape Town this year (2011) at the new Cape Town Film Studios (http://tamikadoubell.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/cape-town-film-studios-gives-hollywood-a-run-for-its-money/). It’s a remake of the comic. I play a supporting lead character who’s “in” with the rebel kids; ‘Freel’. That was great fun because we got to do a lot of stunt work – including gun work! It was cool. I also really enjoyed Chronicle. It’s a 20th Century Fox film about three kids who get telekinetic powers. That was also shot this year and I play a bully in the film, named ‘Sean’. Scaredy Kat is another film I did this year which stands out for me. Shot here in Cape Town, it’s a South African horror film about a girl who stays home one night while her friends go to a big Halloween party. I play her boyfriend, ‘Raynor’. Finally, Sleeper’s Wake is another memorable one. It was shot in Durban and Johannesburg this year. It’s based on a book by a South African novelist, Alistair Morgan. It looks at extreme tragedy and the human coping mechanism for dealing with it. I’m part of a family in that, my name is ‘Simon’. My father is played by Deon Lotz; well-known for his role in South Africa’s recent entrant for the Oscars 2012, Skoonheid. Finally, a BBC series I did last year was also very memorable. It’s called The Runaway. It was shot here in early 2010 and it follows the lives of two youths in post-world war England. I play ‘Harry Clark’, a kid in a gang.

Tamika: Have you done any commercials? If so, what?

Luke: Yes I have. Some of the biggest were for Trina Fruit Drink, Go Compare, Old Mutual and Omo.

Tamika: What is the most recent you have done?

Luke:  I’ve been shooting an Algida, a.k.a. Ola ice-cream, commercial for Poland and Hungary.

Tamika: What’s in the pipeline for you at the moment?

Luke:  Hmm… It’s that weird waiting period before my films come out! Haha!

Tamika: Who is your agent?

Luke: APM.

Tamika: Do you also model?

Luke: No.

Tamika: What are your favourite South African films?

Luke: Paljas and District 9.

Tamika: Where do you party, usually?

Luke: Mercury and Assembly, when I’m in Cape Town. Otherwise I love Pakalolo in Blouberg.

Tamika: What’s in the boot of your car right now?

Luke: A 6-pack of water from Rocking the Daisies!

Tamika: Do you have siblings?

Luke: Yes, an older sister.

Tamika: What does your family do?

Luke: My mom’s a home-maker and my dad works for Fast-trims.

Tamika: What is your health routine like?

Luke: I’ve grown up eating very healthily because my dad is a vegetarian. So I eat well by default. But I do binge! And I try to gym at least twice a week!

Tamika: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Luke:  I see myself in a position to be able to choose my roles so that I can tell the stories I want to tell and teach the things I want to teach. I would love to live abroad- anywhere sunny- but Cape Town will always be home. That will never change. Oh, and driving a sports car! That would be nice!

Tamika: Haha! How long are you planning on staying in South Africa? Do you have plans to move to another country?

Luke: Well I’m reticent to make any plans to leave South Africa at the moment.

Tamika: What’s one interesting thing about you that your followers don’t know?

Luke: I live on quotes! I eat quotes for breakfast

Tamika: Name a place you love.

Luke: My happy place would have to be Big Bay Beach.

Tamika: Do you do any charity work?

Luke: Yes, I’m looking to get involved in the Santa Shoebox Project from this year. It’s a non-profit organization that collects and distributes Christmas gifts to underprivileged children throughout South Africa (http://www.santashoebox.co.za/).

Tamika: What do you tell yourself when you walk out of an audition?

Luke: “What’s next?”

If you want to follow him on Twitter, he goes by @LukeTyler_

You can also check him out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/midway.luke

Xxxx

For this interview, I had the pleasure of meeting the intriguing Francis Chouler.

Originally from Cape Town, he studied at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and has since been actively involved in the theatre and film industries of South Africa.

We meet at the trendy Myatt Cafe & Chocolatier at the V&A Waterfront.

As I munch on my jam scone and as he sips on his mocha, we begin the interview.

Tamika: So we were both at UCT together! What’s your best memory from being a student there?

Francis: I loved the interplay between the academic work and the practical work. It was very enriching. Not everyone enjoys it, but it was one of the biggest reasons why I chose UCT and why I enjoyed it so much. I like to focus on the work of the Classics, such as Shakespeare. UCT was a good platform for me to do so.

Tamika: Where did you go to school?

Francis: Constantia Waldorf School.

Tamika: What did you do after school?

Francis: I went overseas for a year. That was 2006. I went sailing to Spain and around the Mediterranean. I worked for different people who would take me on as a sailor.

Tamika: What kind of training did you do for acting?

Francis: I went to UCT & obtained my B/A in Theatre & Performance. I graduated in 2010. And since then I see every professional job I’ve done as a form of training, because I believe in continuous training.

Tamika: What would you say it is that you do primarily –Acting for theatre or for film?

Francis: I believe in a balance. I have equal achievements in both.

Tamika: Name some of the most memorable films you’ve done; what were they about and what was your role?

Francis: Ok…. The film I did last year (2010) stands out for me. It’s a Bollywood film called Crook: It’s Good to Be Bad. It’s about racial tension in Melbourne, Australia. I was a lead role; I played a ‘bad guy’ named Russell. I shot that up in India. Then there was Judge Dredd shot here in Cape Town this year (2011). It’s the film remake of the comic of the same name called ‘Judge Dredd’. I had a featured part; Judge Guthrie. There was also The Borrowers starring Stephen Fry and Robert Sheehan. It’s about four-inch high “little people” who live under the floorboards. That was filmed here at The Cape Town Film Studios (http://tamikadoubell.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/cape-town-film-studios-gives-hollywood-a-run-for-its-money/) and I played one of the friends of the lead character. That was in July this year. Finally, one of the most memorable to date was the MNET series I shot this year called Crimes Uncovered. It was filmed here in Cape Town and it’s about the abduction and murder of Brett Goldin and Richard Bloom. I played Richard Bloom. Playing a real-life person was an incredible experience for me.

Front page of the Entertainment Section in The Daily News

Tamika: Have you done any commercials? If so, which?

Francis:  Yes I have. Some of the biggest were for Sanlam, Spur, Haribo sweets and Kinder Chocolate.

Tamika: What is the most recent thing you’ve done?

Francis: Well other than the film & commercial work I’ve mentioned, in terms of theatre the most recent was a play called Mary & The Conqueror about Alexander the Great. I played a lead role, Hephaestion. It showed at The Artscape (http://www.artscape.co.za/) this year in October. On the theatre front I’ve recently also done The Taming of the Shrew which was in January this year. It was part of ‘Shakespeare in The Park’ at The Maynardville Open-Air Theatre (http://www.maynardville.co.za).  I played a lead; Lucentio, the young lover.

Final scene of 'Crook: It's Good to Be Bad'

Tamika: What’s in the pipeline for you at the moment?

Tamika: A Greek Comedy production called The Birds by Aristophanes. It’ll be in the open air theatre in the Kirstenbosch Gardens in December 2011/January 2012. I will play the chorus leader; the owl.

Tamika: Who is your agent?

Francis: Samantha Bernhardi.

Tamika: Do you also model?

Francis: No.

Tamika: What are your favourite South African films?

Francis: Skeem and Skoonheid.

Tamika: Where do you party, usually?

Francis: I’m not much of a party animal. If I do go out, I enjoy Assembly or DecoDance.

Tamika: What’s in the boot of your car right now?

Francis: Rehearsal clothes and a map.

Tamika: Do you have siblings?

Francis: Yes. Two sisters and a brother.

Tamika: What does your family do?

Francis: My mom works at St John’s Hospice and my dad is a doctor.

Tamika: What is your health routine like?

Francis: I eat healthily. I gym, I cycle and I swim.

On the set of 'The Borrowers'

Tamika: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Francis: I see myself having a career that moves across countries.

Tamika: What’s one interesting thing about you that your followers don’t know?

Francis: My parents sent me to magic school as an extra-curricular activity during high school. I now perform at Vaudeville monthly – I have an act there.  

Tamika: Name a place you love.

Francis: The sea.

Tamika: Do you do any charity work?

Francis: Yes, I’ve been involved in Reach For A Dream (http://www.reachforadream.org.za/) since 2008. I volunteer there three times a month.

Tamika: What do you tell yourself when you walk out of an audition?

Francis: “Where do I go from here?” …. I also record a voice note of my experience after every audition so I can hear what I felt during it and review myself – what worked, what didn’t. I have voice notes saved on my phone from every single audition I have ever been to.

If you want to follow him on Twitter, he goes by @francischouler

You can also check him out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Francis-Chouler/122715567748303

Xxxx

This guy’s resume reads like a shopping list of achievements. He’s a lead in South Africa’s first-ever Zombie movie, he has done commercials locally and abroad for the likes of Orbit chewing gum, Maltesers chocolate, Investec bank, Tampax and more, he’s a Peroni Lifestyle ambassador, he runs his own company, he’s the spokesman for BrightBlack energy conservation (take a breath here), he’s a guitarist in a hard-rock band and he has been scouted by an LA casting director to star in a film being shot there next year!

Goodness Gracious.

Say hello to my next Cape Townian hottie, Aidan Whytock.

I met him for the first time when we did the Top Billing Presenter Search together last year (2010) and since moving to Cape Town this year I’ve seen his name pop up in film festivals, YouTube video searches, Peroni events and nightclub guest lists…

We meet at a gorgeous apartment he shares with three mates in the centre of town; a building quite rightly dubbed ‘The Big Apple’ of Cape Town – offering you the New York lifestyle right here in the Mother City of South Africa.

Pouring me a creamy Ethiopian coffee, I listen to a sophisticated British accent telling me about the screening of his film Zombie One two nights prior.

Slurping on my rich, black Java (no sugars he insists), I sit down to a delectable view of the city and we begin…

Tamika: So we both did the Top Billing Presenter Search! What was the biggest lesson you learnt from that?

Aidan: Yes indeed. The biggest lesson? -Research! Research! & more Research!

Tamika: Where are you from?

Aidan: Uhh, tough question. Well how about you tell me; I was born in Johannesburg and lived there until I was five years old. I left for Singapore until I was thirteen, and then I went to boarding school in the U.K. until I was 18! Now I’m living and working here in Cape Town. So I guess… Planet Earth!!

Tamika: Haha! When did you move to Cape Town?

Aidan: When I was nineteen.

Tamika: What kind of training did you do for acting, if any?

Aidan: I did train a bit. When I was at school I took part in many plays – which is funny because I have a stutter. It’s practically gone now but when I was young it was quite bad. One day my father said to me I should face my fears and so I took part in a play where I had one line to say. It went very well and I realised I loved the stage and through acting I could learn to control my stutter. What followed were lead roles in many school plays, from sixteen years old. Shortly after I moved to Cape Town I did a course at ACT. I also joined ‘Actshop’ – essentially an acting group facilitated by Bjorn Steinbach where actors get together at hone their skills. We play twice a week for two to four hours a session. That’s great and a lot of fun.

Tamika: You’ve acted in a number of short films. What is the most recent you have done?

Aidan: Recently it was a four minute short called The Final Cut which I wrote, directed, produced and starred in. I also wrote the music for it. It showed at the Shnit Festival (https://shnit.org/) and was accepted into the South African Horror Festival. Also, it’s recently been selected by the Callsheet publication to screen at the annual film industry wrap party as an example of South African film. Which I’m very stoked about.

Tamika: Congratulations! Tell us about some of your other short films.

Aidan: Well there’s Zombie One – a 30minute film by City Varsity in which I play one of two leads. It’s shot on 35mm. Basically a zombie virus breaks out in South Africa. I can’t say more – don’t want to spoil it, hehe! The Lovers is another short film which won an award for Best Screenplay at the Shortcuts Film Festival (http://comedyshortcuts.net/) in 2010. It’s by Black Milk Productions, about a man and a woman and the evolution of love through the journey of life. I play the man.

Tamika: What was your role last year in the film Sweetheart by the Be Phat Motel Company? What was that about?

Aidan: It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world and it’s the journey of the last human to find answers. I played one of the people who help the protagonist find her answers.

Tamika: You were also involved in Safehouse which shot here in South Africa starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington! What was your role there?

Aidan: I play Barlow’s CIA guy. I played with actor Brendan Gleeson who is Irish. He’s most well-known for being ‘Mad-Eye Moody’ in Harry Potter and also for being ‘Ken’ in In Bruges with Colin Farrell.

Tamika: What theatre have you been involved with?

Aidan: Well I’ve got something coming up in January – a two-person play. Deets to follow!!

Tamika: You went to Los Angeles for a short time last year? Tell us about that.

Aidan: Yes. I went there in August to go and train at TVI Studios. They offer a five-day course called “Industry Intensive”. Basically it’s a crash course in networking in the L.A. industry. It was intense and a lot of work! While there, I met a casting director who offered me the lead role in a short film called “Ellergy” – a film about South Africa, to be shot over there. It’s set in Apartheid and is loosely based on a true story… about friendship being tested.

Tamika: So are you going to go back to film it?

Aidan: Well I’m looking to move over there, yes. I want to go over there full-time from next year May, once my VISA has been approved.

Tamika: Who is your agent?

Aidan: Paula Pursch.

Tamika: What’s in the pipeline for you at the moment?

Aidan: Well I just finished shooting the British docu-drama Mankind, I’m optioned on a few things now – time will tell!

Tamika: Do you also model?

Aidan: No.

Tamika: What are your favourite South African films?

Aidan: Disgrace and Skeem.

Tamika: Where do you party, usually?

Aidan: Well I’m the Peroni lifestyle ambassador, so I party everywhere!

Tamika: What’s in the boot of your car right now?

Aidan: Uh…. a feather… and a Peroni dress. I’m not saying anymore

Tamika: Do you have siblings?

Aidan: Yes; a sister and a brother.

Tamika: What does your family do?

Aidan: They’re retired. My dad runs a charity organisation called FRANCO. They live in Franschoek.

Tamika: What is your health routine like?

Aidan: I’m pretty healthy! I also enjoy trail running.

Tamika: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Aidan: Having a coffee.

Tamika: What’s one interesting thing about you that your followers don’t know?

Aidan: I’m a guitarist in a hard rock band called “qttm”. We played at the Synergy music fest last year. Oh, and that I’m a radio DJ at 2oceansviberadio (Check them out here:https://www.2oceansviberadio.com)

Tamika: Name a place you love.

Aidan: Bantry Boulders, no question. Also the Runyon Canyon in L.A.

Tamika: Do you do any charity work?

Aidan: I’m a facilitator of an organisation that develops individuals to realize their potential.

Tamika: What do you tell yourself when you walk out of an audition?

Aidan: “It’s out of my hands now.”

If you want to follow him on Twitter, he goes by @aidanwhytock

You can also check him out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/aidan.whytock

Xxxx