SA Rocks

You might have seen him on MTV, you might have caught the movie but you should know the name Brendan Jack. And guess what? He’s back with a new angle: Footskating baby, Footskating.

Hi Brendan! Let’s get started:

We’ve seen you on MTV for a while now, How did a bunch of South Africans get on to the channel?

It’s not true that my dad owns the channel… in fact, we tracked down a contact at MTV London, then pitched them the idea. They said it was cool, but didn’t have a budget to give to unknown South Africans… so we made the first batch of stuff with our own money and contacts… when they saw it, they commissioned us to make more stuff for them. It snowballed from then.

Crazy Monkey was hilarious, is this new series going to have the same feel?

Thanks. It’s the same kind of feel, except it’s about what happens when the Crazy Monkey-types get a bit of fame, or what they perceive to be fame.

It seems as though there is a movie coming out soon, want to give the SA Rocks readers a heads up? (Free promo goes here!!)

There is definitely a movie coming out… called Footskating 101. About the birth of footskating in a small mining town. It’s well extreme and will be out around the country in September. In it we’ve got Twakkie from The Most Amazing Show, as well as a lot of other SA comedy talent like John Vlismas, Riaad Moosa, Kagiso Lediga, and plenty more… Check out www.footskating.com

Is this movie going to be different to Straight Outta Benoni?

Yes, it was made in Roodepoort. Actually, we took a lot of feedback from Straight Outta Benoni and used it to make a more straight-up over-the-top comedy, more in the style of the MTV spots. And more extreme.

The South African film industry, on its way up or on its way out?

It’s small, but it’s growing. There are definitely talented artists and filmmakers out there, it’s just difficult to break through when competing against big international films.

You have grown your team a bit, how did you pick the new recruits?

The original guys have moved all over the world, so we needed some new blood to spill on the streets. We recruited them through endless questionnaires and a grueling aerobics workout. And also because they begged us to be part of the revolution, some even bordered on stalking.

You have experienced some of the tragedy that our beautiful country can encompass. How do you feel about South Africa?

There is tragedy everywhere; it gets very focused on in SA at the moment… but I’m positive about what’s happening here… it just needs to keep on happening. And more people need to turn off the bad news and get naked outdoors.

I would like to know a bit about the man behind the footskater. Did you study, if so what? Do you have a “real job” or is footskating it, man?

I messed around with City College in Los Angeles, then came back to Wits and got a BA, aiming to do psychology, but then changed my mind and went to advertising school, and ended up in advertising for a few years… which then led to Crazy Monkey… now it’s all about touring the world and teaching sad people to be happy.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I’ll be working for world peace with Bono, as well as the fitness trainer for the Springboks, and hopefully I’ll have moved out of my parent’s house by then.

Where do you see South Africa in 5 years?

Still at the base of Africa. But also with a bit more unified multiculturalism and maybe a little more grown up.

What can others do to become incredible footskaters?

Always warm up, keep an open mind, and create your own moves. It also helps to have good genetics and friends who support what you do.

Check out Footskating 101 now!

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