MISTAKES

“With "NNL2: MISTAKES” remaining unreleased and unseen yet buys me ample time to revisit and rework the actual film, making sure it remains to its purpose, its meaning and that it remains visually stimulating if not become more. The most beautiful thing about art is the fact that it takes time to perfection and I’ve realized this out of all the mishaps and the direction the entire “MISTAKES” production project went, that I need to improve the film and truly make it a dream. Part of adding more sense and meaning to the film, I have decided to rename the titles for chapter 2 and 3 of the film. 

Chapter 2 previously titled “The Monist” - picks up the main story line of journeying to committing mistakes from my growth in chapter 1 and sets it in moving to a different province to ambitiously start my life afresh and become independent. Along this journey I become oblivious to reality and the challenges of growing which was a mistake in itself that led to more mistakes. The title Monist only described a part of the chapter which is only the transitioning to independence and oneself. This chapter is not only about the transition but it is also a starting point for all the mistakes I’ve committed which I poetically explain in the next chapter. For this reason, Chapter 2 is re-titled to “Inception” which instead means the beginning and the initiation stage.

Chapter 3 previously titled “The Interloper” - being the climax of the story line, opens up and discusses all my flaws, my regrets and all the unethical activities which negatively affected my character well-being resulting to tears and regrets. I mostly open up about my varsity relationship which didn’t even last for long but left me with a mighty and important lesson about myself and a side I never knew I had. Actually I reference this relationship almost throughout the chapter, explaining how I dealt with the pain of losing the one you immaturely commit your whole life to out of being naive. The title Interloper referred to my character at the beginning the relationship - being at a place I don’t belong to. Because the chapter is broader than just the tip which the titled hints, I thought re-titling it to a psychological condition known as “Rumination” is fit as throughout the chapter I talk to my ‘demons’ which got me obsessed with the pain and the thought of being revengeful.

‼️🎉⭐️🍻🔵 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT! 🔵🍻⭐️🎉‼️

We’re extremely thrilled to announce the “NNL2 Mistakes - Film Launch & Festival” 2019.

The “Mistakes” Film Launch & Festival, in collaboration with Africa Flavor Books , is a 3-day film launch and art celebration hosted in Vaal, Gauteng. The Festival is a non-profit event aiming to celebrate story-telling, Vaal art and talent and finally the work put into the success of "KIVNNL2: Mistakes" film project. This festival aims feature a variety of entertainment from poetry, music, dancing to visual entertainment and lastly open mindful discussions on the topics raised on the film/ documentary. 🎤🎸🥁 Many acts and events we'll have going on at Mistakes festival are going to follow! 🤩

DAY 20 of the Film Project - The recording of narration (Chapter 3)

"This chapter is the climax of the whole story line. At this point I have reached a certain hype, self-destruct and now have come to realization. Above my personal challenges I discuss in the story, in this chapter I open up a lot about my lost friendship, relationship ..." - KIVNNL

This is most probably the start of the project. It was after realizing my story and my recovery from my previous mistakes, I knew I wanted to pen down the journey. Often one gets judged by others for the mistakes they have made because people will only see you for your choices and not the struggles you have conquered. The script challenges this.

I fell in love with poetry from my senior school years, my writing became noticeably improving when I started reading more poetry and descriptive pieces. Warsan Shire became my favorite British writer poet since I knew her and the Script is inspired by most of her poetry. I quote out one of her poems “Souvenir “ in chapter two. The word ‘Souvenir’, in the title of the poem, refers to something that is kept as a reminder of a person or a place and that is the chapter predominantly about hence it is apt. I had to follow the storyline in it all.

Cover Redesign Sketches - Exclusive on KIVNNL2.TUMBLR.COM

KIVNNL:2 Mistakes will not launch until late this year. This shall allow the director and cast to receive sufficient constructive criticism and different views from different audiences in improving #Mistakes. Therefore the team plans to host screenings in different locations, collaborating with wonderful artists, societies and movements for Art. See you tomorrow

If anything, art is about versatility. This is the gift that keeps giving as each day we learn something new, discover something new about ourselves and acquire new skills. I’ve always hated boxing myself therefore I thought I should explore more of what I think is impossible for me – dancing. In history, dance was an important place through which black art makers expressed identity and envisioned freedom, even if their dancing challenged policing assumptions about how black bodies ought to move.  For this, I’ve always incorporated some type of dancing in all my projects and this might have to do with my love for music which I talk about in the film storyline. It is a domino effect – a piece falls upon the fall of another and I proudly respect and celebrate both forms of expressions. Dancing is a language of a story mostly untold from within – krumping, contemporary and music is an expression tool or an instrument for that language - music genre. From analyzing and breaking down different choreographies and ways of expression through contemporary dancing, the ones that stood out and I did in the film come from the following artists.

 #1 – Solange Knowles

One thing that stands out from Solange Knowles as an artist is her courage of being different from what everyone is custom to, happily so, and this is purely evident on her artworks. Her worldview, music, and dance style is always thought-provoking for an average person but also a masterpiece too. In her music video “cranes, there are specific moments in which the movements force me into a stillness of watching. There is a scene of 7 women sharing a lavender dress, draped to each other with a mountain as their background. One woman shifts her energy to the right foot, returns to the left and sinks back into her hip. Next Solange does a soft left-right rock. This sold me out immediately.

#3 – Odissi dancing.

In creation of this film and progression of this project, I drew inspirations from many artists who are influential with their work and are powerful with just that. My narrative of the artisan is having an ability to intrigue and move the next person through your art work, your creation, in any form. For me, these artists have done more than just that disregarding their race, gender and background. I had to sit down one day and visualize how this film should look and feel. I want the viewer to be on the striped journey with me as I unfold the storyline. Consistency, however, is what I battled with a lot, but the work of these artists showed me the ropes and penetrated my creative side even more with each brainstorming session I’d have. This is a mere credit to these artists and others that motivated the look and feel of this project.

#1 - A South African artist Yannick Ilunga’s act of Petite Noir, La Maison Noir (The Gift and the Curse) tells a story of struggle, birth (kala), life (takula), death (luvemba) and rebirth (musoni). This is on top of my list because, similar to my storyline, Yannick opens about his family’s history as Congolese expats and uses their forced migration to foreground his own forward movement, the Nior wave. The visual album is loaded with calming wisps of guitar and synths pulse as Ilunga evokes powerful thought-provoking visuals of war, violence and channeling desperation during moments of joy but also of growth and renewal. This ability is powerful.

 #2 - Todrick Hall’s "Straight Outta Oz” is also the top of my list to have a great influence on the consistency to theme of the film. It uses The Wizard of Oz as a subject matter, however it is unique to Todrick by using his own concept, visually, and more serious, self-reflective themes. The visuals of this album are an allegorical journey using Dorothy’s adventure through Oz as a reflection of Todrick’s experience with leaving home, traveling through the ups and downs of fame and show business, and his ultimate realization of what is truly important to him. The video is clever, unique, endlessly creative, and professional while the music explores modern day social issues as he uses his experiences to give visual representation of these problems.