#AgencyLeaders2019: Most-admired for production excellence

Bomb

Darling Films

Managing director and executive producer Desiree Markgraaff points to Bomb Productions’ retelling of the story of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, in collaboration with Mzansi Magic, as an example of this focus. “Developing this series has been both exciting and terrifying,” she says. “[We want] to tell this story with the right gravitas and epic proportions, to get the nuances and depth of the real history, the precolonial truth of the time in which Shaka rose to power and built an empire.” Bomb is hoping to move Shaka Ilembe into production this year.

Isibaya is another “highlight project”, she says. “[We’re] able to tell stories daily on primetime TV that showcase the beauty of culture and language, and work with some of South Africa’s finest actors.” Bomb is proud that Isibaya actor, Nomzamo Mbatha, has been cast in Hollywood’s Coming 2 America.

Bomb also released its own feature film, Back of the Moon, which took Best South African Film at the Durban International Film Festival in 2019.

Further cause for celebration was director Justice Mukheli joining Bomb Commercials, according to Markgraaff. “He is a creative force and we are very excited about developing projects with him,” she says. Other key appointments include writers Wendy Gumede and Nomusa Nkabinde, junior producers Sayitsheni Mdaki and Thabo Boom, post-production producer Tracey Williams and supervising director Zeno Peterson.

In the coming months, the Bomb team will be working on the development of two international series, says Markgraaff, to showcase local talent to the world.

— Profile by Carey Finn.

The year prior was tough to top but co-founders and executive producers, Melina McDonald and Lorraine Smit, are pleased with the way 2019 panned out. “We came off an amazing year, the year before [2018],” says McDonald. “We had won Cannes Gold, we had won the D&AD — and all that with our Joburg Ballet campaign that we did in association with TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, which really was a fantastic highlight. But [we did] some magical work [in 2019].” She points to the television commercials Darling created for MTN, in collaboration with the Springboks, as one example.

Smit also draws attention to the three fashion films the production house did for retailer Edgars as another creative highlight. Each film was made by one of Darling’s female directors, who had to get to work quickly — three different angles were carved out of a single briefing, with one production team to be shared. This was a different, exciting way of working, says Smit.

The work that McDonald and Smit felt most strongly about, however, is the #BlameNoMore anti-rape campaign. “It’s quite a shocker but it’s very hard-hitting,” says Smit.

“We want to put our money where our mouth is,” adds McDonald. “We are a female-owned company, 50% of our director base is female, and we are adamant about being progressive.”

Another effort for social good, says McDonald, was the house’s work for 1st for Women around 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.

— Profile by Carey Finn.