When I was younger, all I wanted was to be a Hollywood actress. In hindsight, I think the fantasy lives next-door to my undying fear of being ‘ordinary’ (a topic that needs its own space for discussion), writes Cape {town} Etc’s Robyn Simpson.
From as early as I can remember, I’ve been extravagant (not to be misunderstood with confident. That I’m still working on). By extravagant, I mean a tendency to be drawn to all things wayward, artistic, expressive, weird. I certainly was not built to be a steady foundation. Rather, a dancing kite on a dramatically windy Cape Town day.
Nonetheless, fast forward a couple of years and I am nowhere near a Hollywood actress. Despite studying plays and productions, obsessing over classic films, sets and artistic direction, I sadly grew out of the dream to pursue the big screen. You know, being an actor in South Africa just isn’t realistic.
Um, false.
The South African film and media industry is booming, fostering some of the most quality talent the world has seen. Gone are the days when Charlize Theron was the only celebrated South African name on the red carpet.
Let me make one thing abundantly clear: when I say that the film and media industry is “booming”, I mean this solely in relation to the talented humans birthed particularly by the Mother City. South African creatives are suffering amongst the COVID-19 pandemic.
One success story to celebrate, however, belongs to 27-year-old model and actor from Atlantis, Chante Holloway.
This local lady was awarded a two year scholarship to the New York Film Academy in 2013, where she worked on major sets including those of Fast and the Furious and Grey’s Anatomy. She too has conquered LA Fashion Week, Facet Fashion week and featured on Vogue magazine’s website.
Bringing it back home to South Africa, the rising star is currently featuring in the popular South African telenovela, Arendsvlei. As if that wasn’t enough, the natural goddess is also a 2017 Miss SA finalist.
Accolades aside, Holloway is doing some amazing work in local communities. Add ‘business woman’ to her repertoire because in May this year, she started up her very own agency, Y-SO-XTRA, which supports locals from Atlantis in getting work on sets as extras.
A film extra are all those people you see in the backgrounds of movies and series that don’t take on speaking roles. Currently, there are 45 people signed up of all ages and demographics.
“At school, I never knew what I wanted to do. I had never been exposed to the film industry and this is my way of introducing others from small communities to the industry.
“I started the agency in Atlantis because so many movies are being shot in the dunes or at Silverstream (a beach near Atlantis) and people don’t know our area is being used for this purpose,” Holloway told African News Agency in an interview.
“This is my passion project and my way of giving back to my community.
“I wish someone had told me about the industry a long time ago. I definitely want to see people succeed,” she said.
“I will be hosting another open day soon as I want us to be ready by summer when film crews from all over the world come to shoot in our beautiful weather,” she said.
“I am thinking of branching out to other communities. I want to reach out to those communities who do not receive these opportunities and show them the opportunities that are available,” Holloway added.
Her message to youth comes from lyrics to a song: ‘let the sun have its moment, the moon will come’ and touches on the notion of being patient, celebrating the successes of others, and trusting that “your time will come.”
Not only is Holloway’s initiative powerful, her very position is too. The young star is proving that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s never impossible to go for the unconventional.
To this I say, don’t be afraid to dream ‘too big’. There’s no such thing. As for being South African? There’s no better place to be as a young aspiring actor.
Parents, keep ideas of ‘practicality’ at bay. You never know the heights your children could reach if given the chance to take the risk of being anything but ordinary, no matter their field of choice.
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Picture: Instagram