South African producers crowdfund to complete musical film

The filmmakers need $100,000 to complete the film ahead of international sales.

Produced by filmmakers Nicola Rauch and Mpho Ramathuthu, the entire budget of the film is said to be about $750,000. The filmmakers have turned to crowdfunding to shoot a title sequence, finalise the edit, grade of the picture, run a final mix on the film, and convert the film to a digital cinema format.

She is King focuses on South African music with tracks from Grammy winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Juluka, Brenda Fassie and several traditional Zulu musicians.

In a statement, the filmmakers claim that the movie is a passion project “made for our daughters and our nieces and every young woman who has ever had a dream.” It features some of South Africa’s best known music.

It is the story of a talented young woman traveling to Johannesburg, City of Gold, to become a star. She lands a role in a musical play about Zulu Queen Mkabayi, Shaka's aunt, and searches for her identity as a performer, a Zulu, a Woman, and a daughter.

“We want to show you that young African women are exactly the same as young Chinese women, American women, Brazilian women and German women,” says a statement from the producers. “Our film tells a universal story that is fun and entertaining while sending positive messages to young women everywhere.”

For more information, visit the She is King campaign website.