Not only did the filmmaker and his main character have a deep bond as artists and co-workers, an unlikely friendship developed between a young rising hip hop mc (26 years) and an old writer (60 years).

Mario’s death was a huge blow to John, but in the mourning and healing process, a strong film idea emerged that went beyond a “tribute” and has ventured into the realm of hard-core documentary where the edge is true life in all its complexities reflected in the story. This is not anymore a film about mourning, about tribute or about hip-hop. It is a story of a remarkable young man and his people, and sends a strong message of social awareness in the engaging lyrics and electric on-stage presence of Devious in his own words.

4 Wall Films and Rainbow Circle Films are two independent production companies based in the Cape Flats, who pride themselves on producing quality documentary films for local and international audiences. The companies have co-produced the film, and have committed extensive resources to seeing the film deliver to the highest of standards and expectations.

The project was given a development grant by the Cape Film Commission Fund and received a further grant from the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa and from the Hivos/Sithengi Southern African Film Fund and the Swedish South African Culture Partnership Fund towards production costs and has secured a pre-license on SABC, South African public television.

Our production team went Amsterdam to secure key interviews with friends and colleagues of Mr Devious, who worked with him musically, and in the anti-globalization, social justice movements. The filmmaker also secured film archive of Mr Devious’ wife, Natalie performing at a memorial event in Amsterdam and at a youth conference in Cape Town.

The archive footage makes for remarkable documentary material that includes performances and a music video completed in Amsterdam, where Devious visited and worked with an organization called Baobab Connections, an anti-globalisation international organisation.

The filmmakers present an honest deeply thought-through film that reflects the passionate life, death and legacy of Mr. Devious, an icon of the Cape Flats and South Africa.

Thanks to all the people and organizations who contributed to make this film possible.

FILM CREDITS
Producer: Martina Della Togna
Director: John Fredericks
DOP/Editor: Vaughan Giose
Production Manager: Natalie van Rooy

www.rainbowcirclefilms.co.za

Thanks to these organizations supporting the film and music project

African Hip hop.com
African Hip-hop foundation
Afrika in the picture
Baobab connections
Bush RadiO
Cape Film Commission
Creative Education with youth at risk
Department of Arts and Culture
Fire on the Mountain
Full Contact
HIVOS
IDASA
Imbawula Trust
Kerk in Aktie
Media Lab
Move your Ass TV
National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa
Otherwise
SABC Factual Genre
Sithengi Film Fund
Story AB
Swedish SA Culture Partnership Fund
Swedish Culture Desk
Switch Media
Zenit Arte Audiovisual

thanks