Maropeng Vushangwe

No two days are the same for film director Maropeng Vushangwe. Whether it's working with actor Forest Whitaker or filming musician Stormzy up on stage, the Canon Ambassador's career is hugely varied and consistently on the rise.

"I feel like it's just been the grace of God," says Maropeng, reflecting on his career to date. "Obviously, you do the best that you can, but you can also be up against financial constraints, or other constraints which limit you. But suddenly you think, 'I'm filming with Forest Whitaker' or 'I'm flying around the world for my work' and it's amazing."

Maropeng, whose first Canon camera was an EOS 700D, began experimenting with his mother's camera during high school. "My mum was an estate agent and she used to take pictures of the properties," he explains. "I really enjoyed using her camera, so I continued using Canon when I moved to South Africa to study."

The more he learned about filmmaking, the more Maropeng fell in love with the profession. "Initially, I just wanted to make movies," he says. "Then I began to learn about the different roles: a director, a producer, cinematographer, and various other technical positions. I still do photography here and there, but everything has just kept on growing."

It's not just his love of filmmaking which has grown – Maropeng has continued to hone his slick style as his career has moved forward. "I like to make each project I work on personal – I enjoy the smooth shots, and giving the editors the type of shots that they can speed ramp," he says. "I'm also into handheld filmmaking, and I love working with lens flares. I think that encapsulates my style."

As for whether he prefers shooting stills or video? "I think I might lean more towards video, to be honest," he admits. "That's my space, that's what I'm known for. It's where I really thrive."

What has been your most challenging shoot to date?

"I worked on a shoot where I had to film 'out of town'. Sometimes, I can be a wimp when it comes to nature and bugs and things like that, so the crew will know that if the camera needs to get close to water, they really have to convince me! We had two challenges – the actress hadn't told us that she couldn't swim, and we were shooting at a lagoon. When you got in, you were knee-deep, and there were these harmless creepy crawlies, but they were dancing around my feet the entire time. I had to just get the shot, and it looks phenomenal now, but I always remember it was a tough environment for me. I was thinking, 'These things could bite me and what happens if I drop my camera?' It was challenging and uncomfortable, but we got there. I have also filmed in South Africa's townships, and we have had to get in and tell a story, on one occasion without security. But we got it done."

What's been the most valuable lesson you've learnt during your career?

"Communication, communication, communication – from start to finish, on any project. I often have so much going on, and then I need to keep on top of emails. Some days, I will work on multiple shoots in a day. You just have to keep communicating. And that might mean on a shoot day, you have to say, 'Listen, guys, I just need 20 minutes to send a really important email.' It's nice in this industry that people understand and respect that."

Do you have a favourite location to shoot in?

"I really enjoy going to new places, so anything that allows me to travel is amazing. But I also love the commercial space, as you can be so creative."

What's next for you?

"I want to shoot in every country in the EMEA region, and also in the United States of America. Other than that, I would just like to continue to film amazing stuff and meet new people and broaden the knowledge – not only for me, but also for the team I have been growing. That way, it is a win for all of us."

"Relationships are so important. The next person you meet could be the contact for your next gig, so it's really important to treat everyone you meet nicely. Keep it rocking with every single person that you meet, and meet as many people as you can. Then when the opportunities come through, just make the most out of them – really go all the way, and don't hold back."

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