However, the love for performing is not all these two men with Germiston roots have in common.<\/p>\n
Themba and Matt will star in Frank and Fearless,<\/em> Leon Schuster\u2019s latest quirky comedy, hitting the cinema\u2019s this coming Friday (November 23).<\/p> Matt, the former 7de Laan<\/em> star, lives on the border of Edenvale and Germiston and was invited to feature in the film in its early stages and accepted right away.<\/p>\n Bitten by the acting bug in primary school, Matt took up all opportunities to be on stage including participating in musical activities.<\/p>\n \u201cI joined all three choirs available at my school, it was the boys, the mixed and speech choirs.<\/p>\n \u201cI also took violin for three years,\u201d said Matt.<\/p>\n Though he has featured on many local productions such as District 9, Invictus and Isidingo<\/em>, which gained him fame and recognition, Matt does not confuse fame for money.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that we don\u2019t own our professional identities is the challenging part of being in the South African film and television industries.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of rebroadcasts are aired but we don\u2019t see a cent. South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) is working on it though,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Themba, who might be mistaken for a young boy on the brink of adolescence, is actually a 27-year-old man.<\/p>\n Born in Natalspruit Hospital, in Katlehong, in 1991, Themba, a Vosloorus local would spend most of his days travelling to Germiston and back when he was of a school-going age.<\/p>\n \u201cAt an early age I had to learn how to catch taxi\u2019s from Vosloorus to Primrose Hill Primary School in Germiston, and then to Dawnview High School. It was pretty awesome,\u201d said Themba.<\/p>\n Similar to Matt, Themba began his career into the arts in primary school but had to ward off bullies who teased him because of his size.<\/p>\n \u201cI am shorter than most people my age but I am certainly not the only one.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, I don\u2019t think I particularly came to a definite realisation of this fact until my friends pointed it out.<\/p>\n \u201cMy parents also made me a bit aware of it,\u201d Themba joked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, initially I always thought I was perfect and growing in line with my peers, but it became more and more apparent the older I got, that I was different, particularly towards the end of my primary school career.<\/p>\n \u201cI still remained hopeful, that I would grow taller.\u201d<\/p>\n Realising that he wasn\u2019t growing any taller put a strain on Themba.<\/p>\n He admitted to having felt lost and sad on most days.<\/p>\n Even though he was constantly surrounded by a joyful family and group of friends, that did not make him any less self-conscious about his physique.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up in a Christian family.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it was not until I found salvation in Jesus Christ on my own accord that I gained true freedom and joy in knowing that I was made in the image of God.<\/p>\n \u201cThat taught me how to quickly overcome some challenges such as being bullied, feelings I had towards people picking me up regularly and being mocked.<\/p>\n \u201cAll these challenges drew me closer to God,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Taking up a persona allowed Themba to break free from his normal life as he began understanding who he was and what talents he possessed.<\/p>\n \u201cI entered the industry at a young age and quickly learnt how to establish myself in showbiz, and built a name for myself which took me on a long, tough and exciting journey of growth.<\/p>\n Themba has worked with seasoned directors and producers including Moonyeenn Lee, Rolie Nikiwe, Amanda Lane, Amy Allais, Adelaide Joshua-Hill, Dries Scholtz and he can now add Gray Hofmeyr and Leon Schuster to his list of references.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Frank and Fearless, Themba went to the auditions and secured the lead role of 11-year-old Fearless after he had just finished filming the internationally acclaimed Afrikaans movie, Meerkat Maantuig.<\/p>\n \u201cMy role is of a boy from the township, named Fearless, who is passionate about rhinos,\u201d said Themba.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter he discovers that the mother of a baby rhino he has befriended was killed and butchered for her horn, he becomes a crusader to avenge the death of his friend\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n \u201cThough not quite certain of how he is going to do this because of his fears, which he overcomes when he meets Leon\u2019s character, Frank.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two of them, together with their two four-legged friends, a dog named Dog and a baby rhino named Reini, embark on a journey to help save the rhinos.\u201d<\/p>\n Themba and Matt both regard Leon as a legend and enjoyed sharing their set experience alongside the legendary filmmaker.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my first time working with Leon and I loved it,\u201d said Matt.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is funny, professional, humble and charismatic.<\/p>\n \u201cOne can always learn by watching an \u2018old pro\u2019 strut his stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cI made use of the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n The film features a stellar line-up including Kenneth Nkosi, Khanyi Mbau and cameos by Mary Twala, Alfred Nthombela, David Dennis, Annabel Linder Camilla, Waldren, Tiro Venter, Coco Merckel, Shelly Meskin, Reggie Ndlovu and Tebogo Selebogo.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople should buy the tickets to see the film because not only does it have some of the best cast members, but it also promotes animal conservation and protecting our endangered species, such as the rhino which is on the brink of extinction,\u201d said Themba.<\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2018\/11\/MattStern2017-4_82234-520x390.jpg\")
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