A young film-maker and entrepreneur from KwaDwesi is proving that video cameras and DVDs can be turned into a viable business proposition – and he has two awards to prove it.

Sizwe Nduzulwana of Dini Media recently won R75 000 in the SAB Kickstart competition, after receiving R30 000 for finishing third nationally in the same competition last year.

He plans to invest the money in new photographic equipment and to grow his business to be ready to handle ever bigger projects, such as an SABC documentary and short film he was recently commissioned to do.

The documentary will focus on Dr Mamisa Chabula and her fight in setting up a circumcision village for Xhosa initiates. The title will be A woman in a man’s world. Filming is due to start on September 15.

The road has been long for Nduzulwana.

With cameraman Mongameli Matebeni he started the business in 2000, with a R99,99 pocket camera that they bought at Clicks.

“I had just finished my studies in computer programming and although I had found a job, I was frustrated. I guess I am not the employable type. Anyway I needed a job because I was downer than down,” laughed Nduzulwana.

With the camera they took photos of parties and individuals who wanted photographic proof of existence and the good times they had.

“We then bought a small video camera with a stand to make movies of weddings and funerals,” said Nduzulwana.

Soon they were approached by Azapo to design a 25-year Steve Biko anniversary poster and the Cacadu municipality wanted T-shirts designed for a tourism campaign they ran.

Nduzulwana jumped at the opportunity because of the graphic design experience he had.

Since then, the business has grown into what is now known as Dini Media, offering a range of services, including video production, graphic design, computer maintenance, advertising and events management.

“Most of the skills we have, we learnt on the job. SABC is going to send us on a three-month training course to prepare us for the short film we have been commissioned to do.”

The short film is titled Uthanda Yisondo and will be screened on SABC 1 next year. “We intend to put PE on the map and we will only use local actors and shoot in this area,” said Nduzulwana.

“We want to build this business up, so when SABC 4 and 5 come on line, we are ready.”

Nduzulwana said they still made videos of weddings, but had stopped taking pictures of people and parties.

“It was not economically viable. Sometimes people would call you to do a picture in, for instance, Zwide and you travel all the way just to take one picture in the end. One picture costs R5 and the travel costs are more than that – it doesn’t add up,” he laughs.

Dini Media also employs Nduzulwana’s sister, Nonkululeko, who does the administration and ensures that all business runs smoothly.

Future plans for the staff at Dini include a full-length feature film. Nduzulwana also wants to focus on documentaries, which is his passion.

“There are still a lot of untold stories in Port Elizabeth, like how the consumer boycotts and other resistance movements were mobilised in the townships. We want to set the past right by documenting these historical events,” said Nduzulwana.