Popular Mzansi star, award-winning actor Wiseman Mncube has weighed in on claims Skeem Saam actress Nompilo Mwelase was “rude and heartless” towards aspiring actors during the auditions by Black Brains Pictures at the Bat Centre in Durban this past weekend.
Mvelase (who plays the role of Nokuthula on the SABC 1 educational drama series) received backlash for not giving hopefuls enough time during their monologues.
The actress was also accused of being biased and giving special treatment to actors who had already established themselves in the industry.
Speaking to Sunday World, Mwelase said she was only doing her job, and to the best of her ability.
“People must work on their craft. I’m not gonna be having bosses not happy with my work trying to please people,” said Mwelase.
“I had a judge having to do pre-screening after me because I was being kind and letting people go through, but judges complained that they were getting only ‘wooden mics’ instead of people they were really looking for
She added that, having been down the same road, and with her experience, she can easily spot potential.
“I have been down this road myself, but I dusted myself up and kept knocking on doors until my break came.
“This year is the fourth year I am working with Mandla N [Black Brain Pictures founder] because I had to go through phases. As much as some people were desperate for opportunities at the auditions, I was also doing my job to the best of my ability.”
Mncube – who stars in Mzansi Magic’s telenovela, My Brother’s Keeper – said casting directors should always give hopefuls a chance to showcase their talent.
“If I advertise that I’m hosting auditions for a certain production and I need you to prepare a monologue, song dance, piece, or a poem, I should give you a chance to showcase what you’ve prepared even if I see that ‘okay, you are not the look I’m looking for but let me give you a chance to prove me former Shaka Ilembe actor wrote on his Facebook page.
Mncube further slammed fellow actors who mistreat those who have not made it.
“This thing of saying I’ve been through this and that must change manje [now] cause when we were going through that it wasn’t nice.
“It was also hard on us and it’s time we change that because I don’t buy this thing of saying it’s part of the game, because all we are doing is condoning it. Remember that behind the auditionee is a person. So give that person a chance to showcase what you’ve advertised that you are looking for.
“I could be wrong because I believe in genuine craft, not looks. We are here to act, not to showcase how good looking we are. This has made me toy with the idea of opening up my modeling production.”