Mad Buddies

Sworn enemies, Boetie (Schuster) and Beast, played by Kenneth Nkosi (Jerusalema, Tsotsi, White Wedding), are forced to embark on a road trip as unwitting subjects of a new TV reality show, devised by a gorgeous TV Producer, Kelsey, played by Tanit Phoenix (Spud, Straight Outta Benoni). On camera, with the whole of South Africa in on the joke, the pair comes unstuck at every stage of this hilarious journey until they discover that they have been conned and join forces to exact revenge. Mad Buddies also stars long-time Schuster collaborator Alfred Ntombela as Mr Mda, the Minister of Tourism, is Directed by Gray Hofmeyr and Produced by Helena Spring. Releases nationwide on 22 June 2012.

It is often said that filming a movie is like running a multi-divisional corporation that changes office locations every day – and Mad Buddies is certainly no different! Here are some interesting facts from the film: 

• Principle photography of the film took about 46 days
• Mad Buddies marks the 7th time Leon Schuster & Gray Hofmeyr have worked together
• Around 6 000 meals were consumed during the shoot
• Around 500 extras appeared in the film
• Although Boetie & Beast wear the same clothing in just about every scene in the film, they had 10 ‘copies’ of the same outfit for varying stages of clean, grubby and dirty.
• Leon Schuster and Kenneth Nkosi each had 2 stunt doubles for the movie
• About 23 locations were used in the making of Mad Buddies

 

BOETIE (Leon Schuster)

Boetie de Wett was a champion rugby player until Beast shot off his toe and messed up his life. Five years later, when they re(dis)connect, Boetie has withdrawn to his own small, lonely world. All that changes when he and Beast are catapulted to stardom and unrequited lust by the beautiful Kelsey de Leeuw.

BEAST (Kenneth Nkosi)

Beast Buthelezi (the Beast) was a cop until he lost his nerve because of Boetie and that incident with a lion. Five years later his blabbermouth and bravado hide his insecurity. Whilst his obligatory journey with Boetie does not make him a better person, it does, at least, reaffirm his vast self esteem.

KELSEY (Tanit Phoenix)

Kelsey de Leeuw is beautiful, clever and utterly self serving. Her perfect body and mind are, for her, simply tools with which to shape the world to her purpose. Her saving grace is the sense of humour and unashamed enjoyment with which she manipulates everything around her.

 

More about Leon Schuster 

Filmmaker, comedian, actor, presenter and singer Leon Schuster is South Africa’s foremost prankster and the mastermind behind a string of the phenomenally successful comedy features which have consistently filled South African theaters with tens of millions and often out grossing mainstream Hollywood blockbuster films.

Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age and fondly recalls how, as children he and his brother would play practical jokes on his family and film their escapades with an old home movie camera.

A keen sportsman and successful rugby player, Schuster studied for a BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State. He spent two years teaching at a high school in Bloemfontein before joining the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 1975. During his time at the S.A.B.C, Leon created the hit Afrikaans radio series ‘Vrypostige Mikrofoon’ – where he would disguise his voice and take the mickey out of unsuspecting victims.

In 1982, Leon was approached by Decibel Records to compile a series of sports songs and his first record, ‘Leon Schuster’ sold 100 000 units. This was followed by his second album ‘Broekskeur’ and then ‘Briekdans and Leon Schuster – 20 Treffers’ which sold in excess of 270 000 copies. His hit CD ‘Hier Kom Die Bokke’ garnered an FNB Sama Music Award for Biggest Selling CD of 1995. His following CD, the acclaimed ‘Gatvol in Paradise’ sold more than 125 000 units and gave rise to the unofficial Gauteng anthem, ‘Gautengeleng’.

Schuster became an instant hit with South African audiences with his first foray into film with the feature 'You Must be Joking' and became a comedy legend with South African audiences when it gave rise to the equally successful sequel “You Must Be Joking Too”. Having captured a massive and very loyal audience with his slap-stick brand of comedy, Schuster produced a string of films that hit the mark with his adoring public. These included 'O Schuks, it's Schuster', 'O Schucks, Here Comes Untag', 'Zulu on My Stoep' (released internationally as 'Yankee Zulu'), 'Short and Sweet' and 'Panic Mechanic'. In Germany 'Yankee Zulu' was the biggest box office earner after the Bruce Willis vehicle, 'Die Hard with a Vengeance'. 'Zulu on My Stoep' was followed by 'The Millennium Menace'.

The highly successful 'Mr. Bones' marked a departure from Schuster's candid camera formula with a narrative storyline, but it still contained the best of Schuster: classic slapstick. It emerged as the most successful Schuster film of all time earning more than R33 million at the South African box office. In 2004, Schuster was back with the hilarious film 'Gatvol' once again with ‘Shorty’ (Alfred Ntombela) as his sidekick.  

He went on to play a woman in “Mama Jack” which was followed by “Mr.: Bones 2: Back from the Past” that went on to topple “Mr. Bones” for the number 2 South African box office spot. “Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa” released for the 2010 World Soccer Cup surpassed the box office receipts of “Mr. Bones 2: Back from the Past” with a record gross of R38million.

 

More about Kenneth Nkosi

Soweto-born KENNETH NKOSI (“Beast”) shot to fame with his sidesplitting performance as ‘Elvis’ in Jann Turner’s critically acclaimed South African comedy feature “White Wedding”, released in 2010.

His most recent motion picture credits include “Skeem”, and “Paradise Stop”, and he can currently be seen on e-TV’s breakfast show presenting “Toasty”.

Nkosi first developed a passion for acting as a child performer in a Community Theatre Group. Realizing he had to perfect his craft to pursue an acting career, Nkosi enrolled at the Market Theatre Laboratory as a student in Dramatic Arts.

In 1995 he made his acting debut with his former instructor, Robert Coleman, in the comedy “Afrodizzia” at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre. The same year he met up with Annie Barnes who specializes in Children’s Theatre at the Civic Theatre and the union proved to be a great success.

With the acting bug in full swing Nkosi’s commitment to his art resulted in a prolific career in Theatre, Film and Television.

Nkosi’s Television breakthrough was with the top-rated daily Drama “Isidingo”, followed by “Saints, Sinners and Settlers” directed by John Matshikiza and written by Zakes Mda.

His credits in motion pictures that have hit international screens include Neill Blomkamp’s runaway box office success, the ground-breaking “District 9”, and Gavin Hood’s Academy Award® winning “Tsotsi”. His other feature films include “Jerusalema”, “Surprise”, and Teddy Mattera’s “Max and Mona.”

Nkosi’s Television credits include HBO’s “No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency”, Fela’s TV, The Caretaker, Healing The Mind, and the documentary “The Story”.

His Theatre credits include “Julius Caesar”, “Amahemu Hemu” (“Rumours”), “The Story I’m About to Tell”, “The Best Wedding Ever, “The Blacks”, “Blue Monk” (for which he received a Vita award nomination for Best Actor) and “The Treat” (a collaboration between the Market Theatre Foundation and the Stockholm Stadseater). Kenneth Nkosi is a member of the South African Theatre Sports Company, and is a Market Theatre Laboratory Field Worker.

 

More about Tanit Phoenix

South African born TANIT PHOENIX (“Kelsey”) is a South African Supermodel and an international Actress. Tanit began her acting career as Candy in Lord of War opposite Nicolas Cage and Jared Leto, and had her second role the Canadian mystery series Charlie Jade as Malachi's associate in the episode "Things Unseen". The following year she starred opposite Wesley Snipes in the horror film Gallowwalker, and in 2010, she starred in the horror film Lost Boys: The Thirst and the action film Death Race: Frankenstein Lives opposite Sean Bean, Ving Rhames and Danny Trejo. Tanit featured in the South African comedy Spud opposite John Cleese, and plays the lead in HBO's new anthology TV series, Femme Fatales, where she plays the mysterious host, Lilith. Her most recent productions include Universal Studios’ “Safe House”, and “Death Race: Inferno”.

 

Contact details:

Facebook: Mad Buddies Movie

Leon Schuster: www.leonschuster.com

Tanit Phoenix: www.tanitphoenix.co.za