Mad Buddies is the latest comedy caper from the legendary South African filmmaker and fans can now view the first hilarious trailer as well as see a teaser poster for the film right here.

The movie is Schuster’s first outing since 2010′s World Cup-inspired hit Schuks Tshabalala’s Guide to South Africa, which broke local box office records and far out-performed Schuster’s previous biggest hit Mr Bones 2.

Schuster, a South African comic legend, is responsible for some of South Africa’s most notable local box-office successes, including Mama Jack, two Mr Bones movies and Millenium Menace.

Jam-packed with stunts

“We are thrilled to be able to bring another fun-filled Schuster adventure to South African audiences,” says Helena Spring, producer of Mad Buddies, who worked with Schuster on Mr Bones, Mr Bones 2 and Mama Jack.

“Mad Buddies is a fast-paced comedic romp, jam-packed with stunts and laughs that will have audiences rolling in the aisles,” she promised fans.

Says Schuster, who is responsible for 4 of the top 10 grossing films of all time in South Africa, ‘I am very excited to share this trailer with fans! I can’t wait to hear how people will start reacting to Mad Buddies.’

The film kicks off when sworn enemies, Boetie (Schuster) and Beast, played by Kenneth Nkosi (Jerusalema, Tsotsi, White Wedding), are forced to embark on a road trip as unwitting subjects of a new TV reality show devised by a gorgeous TV Producer, Kelsey, played by Tanit Phoenix (Spud, Straight Outta Benoni). On camera, with the whole of South Africa in on the joke, the pair comes unstuck at every stage of this hilarious journey until they discover that they have been conned and join forces to exact revenge.

Mad Buddies also stars long-time Schuster collaborator Alfred Ntombela as Mr Mda, the Minister of Tourism; is Directed by Gray Hofmeyr and Produced by Helena Spring. The film releases nationwide on 22 June 2012.

Distribution rights for the film have been acquired by Disney South Africa – although the film will not be distributed under the Disney banner, although they will be handling the distribution and marketing of the movie. Disney indicated through its publicity company in South Africa that its involvement in Schuster’s movie is a way to confirm the company’s support of the South African entertainment industry.

“We are sure others will agree that if Disney were to become involved with a local movie, a Leon Schuster movie would be the obvious choice,” Jared Stokes of Taryn Fritz Public Relations said.

TRAILER OF MAD BUDDIES

Credits: Channel 24 and MadBuddies Youtube channel

Age difference
Schuster is nearing 60.

Du Plessis, then a reporter for Beeld, met Schuster in February at a memorial service for Fanus Rautenbach.

“I took her out in July for the first time,” Schuster said. “I can talk to her. She is a beautiful and intelligent girlfriend. “She is very knowledgeable about the political situation in the country and she has a lovely sense of humour.

“She has been a friend of mine for a long time. We are currently in a friendship where we are both aware of the huge age difference.”

‘Good friends’
After his marriage with Lalie ended in 1999, Schuster is much more cautious.

He also has four children (a 30-year-old, a 28-year-old and 22-year-old twins).

At this stage relationships play second fiddle because of the challenges that his latest film, titled Mad Buddies, poses. The film will be in theatres in July 2012.

“Meanwhile, we are just really good friends,” Du Plessis said and laughed at the question of a relationship.

“At this stage we enjoy each other’s company. Leon is someone whom you can level with and appreciate for his maturity.”

Credits – Beeld, Channel 24

Leon Schuster se nuutste fliek, Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa, het tot nou toe alle plaaslike loketrekords oortref toe dit meer as R37 miljoen ingepalm het. Dié fliek is amptelik die derde mees suksesvolle fliekvrystelling in Suid-Afrika ná Avatar en Titanic.

Sy vorige flieks, Mr Bones en Mr Bones 2, lê in die vierde en vyfde plek op die lys van mees winsgewende flieks van alle tye in Suid-Afrikaanse fliekteaters.

G’n wonder dat Schuster gisteraand dié gesogte toekenning van Ster-Kinekor ontvang het nie. Sy vermoë om Suid-Afrikaanse gehore te lees en flieks te vervaardig wat tot hulle spreek, maak van dié fliekmaker ‘n legende in die bedryf. Ster-Kinekor het ook onlangs hulself geherposisioneer as “Your Happy Place” – iets wat Leon keer op keer regkry wanneer sy flieks in dié teaters draai, sê Fiaz Mahomed, die hoof uitvoerende beampte van Ster-Kinekor Teaters.

Talle bekendes in die plaaslike fliekbedryf waaronder regisseur Gray Hofmeyr, aktrise Mary-Anne Barlow en vervaardiger André Scholtz het die geleentheid bygewoon.

Credit: Sarie Tydskrif, August 2010

Leon Schuster, komediant en rolprentmaker wie se jongste gekskeer-fliek in Maart 2010 verskyn, kyk na binne.

EK HOOP…

om onthou te word as iemand wat mense se lag-lewens verryk het. My ou groot UmFaan, Fanus Rautenbach, het ‘n mooi sê-ding: Die lewe is ‘n lag lank.

om my kinders oorsee te neem, veral wanneer die Bokke in Nieu-Seeland en Australië toer.

bittergraag vir ‘n Ferrari – dan kyk die meisies verby my bles! En ek wil graag op die stoep van my Umhlanga-huisie sit en net ontspan, sonder om verbygangers dop te hou en te dink hoe ek hulle kan prank.

ek gaan nie geslaan word in die gekskeer-fliek wat tans op my agenda is nie!

dat korrupsie, misdadigers, kapers en ander chroniese kranklikhede wat ons land se ordentlike voortbestaan bedreig, aan hul keelgatte gegryp sal word voor ons ons naam krater maak in 2010.

dat die term “oupa” my sal ontwyk vir minstens die volgende vyf jaar – hoewel ek mal is oor kinders. Ek hoop my twee oudste dogters lees hier.

om eendag weer te trou, maar dis ‘n netelige saak. Wanneer gaan ‘n girl vir jóú, en wanneer gaan sy vir die sg. glamour – wat ‘n illusie is, want al wat glamorous is, is die fênsie hotel waarin ek vir die duur van die maak van die rolprent bly.

EK IS BANG…

vir hysbakke en die idee dat ek eendag in een kan vassit. Ek klim trappe vir ‘n vale, maar dis nogal ‘n probleem as jy soms op die boonste vloer van ‘n groot hotel bly.

Die Bybel sê vrees is ongegrond as jy glo. Ek glo, maar ek bly mens. Ek koester my gesin, my Ouboet-hulle, my “jong” moeder, en soms vrees ek dat hulle iets sal oorkom. Gelukkig het ek ‘n plek om daardie vrese te bêre en vrede te ervaar.

Ek is nie bang my idees vir flieks gaan opdroog nie. Elke opskrif teen ‘n lamppaal is ‘n rolprent, elke Carte Blanche-uitsending ‘n briljante bron vir idees, elke Julius M-uitspraak ‘n Three Stooges in One-movie.

William Goldman het gesê: “Nobody knows anything.” Ek stem. Ek weet eintlik niks van rolprente nie, ek leer bietjie vir bietjie met elkeen. Dis ‘n deksels moeilike vorm van vermaak wat jou terugklap aarde toe as jy ontspan en dink dis maklik.

Die basics laat mense lag. Komedies is nie doktorsverhandelinge wat ‘n gehoor beloer en met wroeging ontleed nie. Hoe eenvoudiger die storielyn, hoe beter. Ek probeer so na aan die been van Suid-Afrikaners se daaglikse bestaan beweeg as moontlik: hul passies, hul frustrasies. (Die kritici sal wil byvoeg: en hul purgasies!)

My ouers se beste raad: Jy kom nêrens nie sonder klippe kap, harde bene kou en oë op die pad met die Hand van die Groot stuurman op die rat.

Ek raak meestal bedruk wanneer ek nie kan vorder met my skryfwerk nie. Dan gooi ek my tee oor my keyboard uit sodat ek ‘n paar dae kan wegbly van my rekenaar terwyl dit herstel word!

Oor my swakste eienskap is daar baie te sê. Kortliks: soos Paulus se stryd tussen die begeerte om die regte ding te doen en uiteindelik die verkeerde te kies, so sukkel ek ook maar.

Ek weet regtig nie van my beste eienskap nie. ‘n Bejaarde swart dame wat my baie goed geken het, het haar eendag (dalk) effens verspreek toe sy sê: “Ou Leon, jy’t ‘n gat van goud.” Ek hoop sy’t “hart” bedoel. Indien nie, moes ek seker meer boud gewys het in my rolprente.

Die grootste uitdaging wat ek moes oorkom, was om nie te tob oor foute nie, dit te delete en net op die toekoms te fokus. Mislukkings lê gestrooi op almal se lewenspad – nie noodwendig in jou werk nie, maar persoonlik, veral verhoudings wat skeefgeloop het. Dis moeilik om dit uit te vee. Al wat ek daaruit kon leer, is om nie die foute te herhaal nie.

Ek mis dit om weer kind te wees. Die ongekompliseerdheid van kindwees is een van die dinge waarna ek die sterkste hunker.

Ek sal nooit kan aftree nie, solank mense my wil sien “optree” en met die genade wil ek aanhou doen wat ek doen. Weet nie hoe die bejaardes in die ouetehuis gaan voel as ek (DV) met groot kitaargeraas ‘n Bokke-song vir 2030 probeer komponeer nie . . .

Credit: Sarie Tydskrif, December 2009

Dis hoekom hy weet: die nasie het weer opcheer nodig, hulle het Schuster nodig; hulle’t Schucks nodig. En einde Mei, kort duskant WB 2010, kry hulle dit in Leon Schuster se nuutste fliek: Schucks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa 2010. In dié fliek gaan Leon terug na sy wortels – die versteekte kamera.  Al die “gags”, soos hy dit noem, word saamgebind deur ’n karakter genaamd Shucks Tshabalala, natuurlik gespeel deur Schuster.

“Ek is ’n swart man en ek het my gewone sidekick, Alfred Ntombela. Ons het ons eie toerismekantoor en ons neem ’n klomp buitelanders op ’n trip deur Kaapstad. Dan lig ons hulle in oor die do’s en don’ts van Suid-Afrika.”

Elke “lessie” word geïllustreer deur ’n versteekte kamera-voorval.  Hy wil nie nou al windgat wees en sê die fliek gaan ’n sukses wees nie, maar te oordeel na die skaterlag van die toetsgehore kan hy hoor dit werk – dit beur mense op. Hulle lag hulle slap, veral as die mense Leon so disnis klap.

“My blerrie lewe is in gevaar. Maar hoe meer snotklappe ek kry, hoe happier is my fans. Ek moet my klappe inwerk. Ek raak banger, want ek raak ouer, so ek moes baie dapper wees in hierdie movie.  “Jy weet, ek het ’n ou tannie op ’n gholfbaan rondgejaag. Jis, sy’t my amper sewe keer met daai gholfstok raakgeslaan.”

By Leon se huis aan die Wes-Rand langs ’n dam vol watervoëls kan ’n mens begin glo Julius Malema en slaggate en blouligbendes is net kwaadwillige gerugte.  Hier by Leon, buite op die stoep, is dit net mooi, lekker en rustig. Mens hoor nie eens ’n sirene nie – net die tjiertjiertjier van die voëls op die dam en die val van sy klein swembad-waterval.

Die lewe het wye paaie met hom geloop, sê Leon. Hy lag. “Ja, baie wyd.” Nou het daardie paaie hom teruggeneem na dít wat hom al 30 jaar die bekendste grapjas in Suid-Afrika maak: poetse bak.  Hy wou nie, glad nie, “omdat ek banger is, omdat ek ouer is, omdat ek bang is ek word geskiet – in hierdie land is dit baie, baie moontlik.” Maar hy het geweet dis wat sy aanhangers wil hê.

En toe, op die ouderdom van 58, trek hy weer die monderings aan en word die boetebessie en die vet Hollander en die “cheeky ” Zimbabwiër wat die slegste en snaaksste uit ander bring. Dié keer was sy vermommings meer gesofistikeerd as ooit, want elke Suid-Afrikaner ken al vir Leon Schuster. Hy kan nie meer wegkom met ’n snor of ’n pruik of ’n paar valstande nie.

Hierdie keer was dit fat suits en prostesis en die grootste bra wat hy in sy lewe gesien het, “wat hulle gevul het met sykouse vol voëlsaad om dit bietjie natuurlike beweging te gee as ek loop”.  Onder al hierdie lae en lae kamoeflering het hy hom doodgesweet, maar dit was als die moeite werd. Want die mense het die een na die ander daarvoor geval. Hárd.  Daai astrante Zimbabwiese baljoggie het ’n gholfspeler so woedend gemaak dat hy hom amper aangerand het.

“Sy vuis was al teruggetrek, reg om my te dônner. Gelukkig gryp Toks (van der Linde, rugbyspeler, wat deel was van die poets) hom toe van agter af en sê: ‘Dis Leon Schuster’.  “Die verligting was vir hom net so groot soos vir my. Daai ou het sulke lang Wes-Indiese arms. As hy my geklap het, het ek drie bolmakiesies gemaak by daai gholfbaan af.”

Nie dat dit vir hom vreemd sou wees nie. In sy 30 jaar het hy al meer klappe gekry as wat hy kan tel.  Eendag, ses jaar gelede, het daai einste Alfred Ntombela – “hel, daai outjie, ek en hy is ongelooflike great pelle” – by Leon kom sit en met trane in sy oë vir hom gesê: “Schucks, you must stop this candid camera. They’re going to kill you.”

Net die volgende dag het Leon en Alfred as deel van ’n poets by ’n vulstasie ’n man se motorruit met “vrot bruin water” gaan was. “En voor ek kan sê ‘Leon Schuster’, toe slaat hy my met ’n vuis – kadwa – dat ek 40 sekondes lights out was. Laaste wat ek onthou, is Willie Esterhuizen (destydse regisseur) wat skree: ‘Dit is moerse nice !’”

In die nuutste Schucks was daar baie sulke noue ontkomings, selfs toe hy in die rol van ’n vrou was. “Ek speel boetebessie, maar dis ’n lekker groot antie en sy trek mense af by ’n plek met ’n teken wat sê jy mag nie daar stop nie. Sodra ek hulle gestop het, dan sê ek: ‘Sir, you’re not allowed to stop here, can’t you read the sign?’”

Een ou het uitgespring. “Ek het gesien hy gaan my neuk, toe skree ek: ‘You can’t hit me, I’m a woman!’ “En die man kyk my so ernstig en verward aan en sê: ‘You don’t look like a woman, you look like a man.’  Ek wou nog aangaan, ek wou dit nog verder vat, maar toe crack ek net op en lag. Toe lê ek en hierdie ou seker drie minute en lag ons gaie af.”

Veral in hierdie land is dit “die wonderlikste beloning” om mense te laat lag, sê Leon.  Maar dis nie altyd maklik om “die mense se clown” te wees nie.  “Jy kan nooit eintlik normaal wees nie. As ek gaan petrol ingooi, moet ek eers die Mama Jack song sing.”

Waar hy wel normaal kan wees, heeltemal homself kan wees sonder dat hy snaaks hoef te wees, is by sy familie. Sy oudste dogter, Lelani (29), is nou swanger, “so ek gaan ’n ding word wat ek nooit wou geword het nie en dis ’n oupa,” skerts hy.  Nee, eintlik sien hy vreeslik uit. Half trots: “Ons het klaar vasgestel dis ’n laaitie.”

Self het hy “glad en geheel nie ’n girlfriend nie”, want ’n geskeide man trap “drie keer, vier keer, vyf keer versigtiger” ná sy egskeiding.  “Dis maar ’n feit soos ’n koei, want die pyn is maar nie lekker met ’n egskeiding nie. In die meantime is daar mense om my wat my gelukkig hou. Dis vir my fyn. My laaitie kan nou al vir my braai en hy kan Durban toe bestuur. Dis vir my groot vreugde.”

Sy afdae kry hy, wanneer daar ’n “loodswarigheid” in sy hart kom lê, “dat ek voel hoekom is ons ooit geskei met vier kinders”. Ja, mymer hy, en sy vingers trommel op die houtreling van sy stoel: “Enige clown het sy hartseer en jy mag dit vir niemand wys nie.” Hy kyk weg, sodat sy hartseer nie wys nie. “Niemand hou van ’n sad clown nie.”

’n Ruk lank bly hy stil en dan praat hy dit weg, sy blou oë weer lig en vol lag: Eintlik is hy nie so gekompliseerd soos almal dink nie, sê hy.  “Omdat ek van die Vrystaat af kom en geleer is om met my voete so plat op die grond te staan dat ek sukkel om my broek uit te trek, het ek nie wrokke nie.

“Ek probeer ook nie vir mense enige kulturele wyshede gee nie.” ’n Halwe smiletjie. “Ek probeer maar net ’n clown wees, dis al. Maar dis die moeilikste.”

Krediet: Marida Fitzpatrick, Beeld, 26 Maart 2010

At the end of its sixth weekend on circuit Mr Bones 2 had earned R 29,3 million according to the industry top 10. Schuks Tshabalala has earned R 29,5 million in the same period, placing it 2% ahead of Mr Bones 2 for the weeks in question.

“At this stage it seems fairly certain that Schuks Tshabalala will surpass the life to date takings of all previous Schuster-helmed feature films,” says producer Lance Samuels, of Out of Africa Entertainment. “Schuks Tshabalala has already superseded the life to date takings of Mama Jack (R 27,2mil in 2005) and Oh Schuks I’m Gatvol (R 23,4 million in 2004).”

Following its release on 28 May, Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa held the number one position on South Africa’s top 10 films at the box office for four consecutive weeks against stiff competition including Sex and the City 2, Robin Hood, Iron Man 2 and Prince of Persia.

“Schuks Tshabalala has already earned itself the number six position on South Africa’s all time top 10 after less than six full weeks on circuit,” adds Helen Kuun, head of Indigenous Film Distribution, which is handling the film in the country.

Schuks Tshabalala earned 8% more in weekend two than Mr Bones 2, 17% more in weekend three, 42% more in weekend four, 29% more in weekend five and 56% more this past weekend than the correlating weekends for Mr Bones 2. Mr Bones 2 holds the number three position on the Top 10 releases of all time in South Africa after Avatar (in first place), and Titanic (in second place).

Despite the recent releases of extraordinary films like Toy Story 3 and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Schuks Tshabalala is showing no sign of letting up and audiences continue to buy tickets to watch Schuks and Shorty’s tourist guide to the rainbow nation.

Leon Schuster is South Africa’s foremost comedian and the mastermind behind the phenomenally successful Mr Bones franchise which broke all local box office records to become the highest grossing film of all time in South Africa when it was released in 2001. Three of the ten positions on South Africa’s all time top 10 are held by Schuster-helmed feature films. Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide looks set to change this – soon four of the top 10 positions will be his to claim.

Out of Africa Entertainment and Indigenous Film Distribution in association with The Industrial Development Corporation (South Africa) and Leon Schuster presents an Out of Africa Production Starring Leon Schuster & Alfred Ntombela “Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa”, Produced by Lance Samuels and Directed by Gray Hofmeyr.

BUY THIS LEON SCHUSTER MOVIE
Schuks Tshabalala and his friend, Shorty, are commissioned by the 2010 tourism body to produce a movie as a visual guide and aid for foreigners coming to SA for the World Cup.

TRAILER AND MOVIE SCENES FROM SCHUKS TSHABALALA’S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA 2010

What’s it about?

Who will enjoy it?
This is a Leon Schuster flick for people who don’t like Leon Schuster flicks. You’ll find yourself laughing despite yourself – there are some hysterically funny (but also cruel!) scenes. To Schuster no one’s a sacred cow–not even himself – and for this he deserves praise. With this film he shows he can also poke fun at himself and take the same comic punishment he dishes out to others. At a time when it seems there’s nothing left to laugh about in this mixed-up, chaotic country Schuster shows us the funny, absurd side of our community. Some scenes – such as the one with the corpse in a taxi–may seem cruel but the squatters setting up shacks in Sea Point and the traffic cop pulling people over are Schuster at his best.

Wait for DVD?
This movie is being released at just the right time – if you have foreigners staying with you kidnap them if you must but make sure they get to see Schuster doing what he does best. He comments on the absurdities of life in South Africa – for instance when he warns prospective tourists to bring their own electricity and they believe him! And at a time when we’re no longer laughing at Julius Malema’s escapades Schuster sends him and his F inwoodwork skyhigh with a musical number that will have you rolling in the aisles. Even if on principle you don’t want to see a Schuster flick this one is guaranteed to bring wonderful relief to your stressed-out South African nerves. Recommended.

Similar films
There’s a Zulu on My Stoep, Mama Jack, Mr Bones 1 and 2.

Popcorn fact
Leon Schuster has made only one Afrikaans film; all the others have been in English.

BUY THIS LEON SCHUSTER MOVIE
Schuks Tshabalala and his friend, Shorty, are commissioned by the 2010 tourism body to produce a movie as a visual guide and aid for foreigners coming to SA for the World Cup. (Buy this Leon Schuster DVD…)
Was R160.95
Now on SPECIAL for R144.86

He  is South Africa’s foremost prankster and the mastermind behind the phenomenally successful comedy feature, “Mr Bones” and “Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa 2010“.  Leon was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age and fondly recalls how, as children he and his brother would play practical jokes on his family and film their escapades with an old home movie camera.

After studying for a BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State, Leon spent two years teaching at a high school in Bloemfontein before joining the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 1975.  During his time at the SABC, Leon created the hit Afrikaans radio series ‘Vrypostige Mikrofoon’ – where he would disguise his voice and take the mickey out of unsuspecting victims.

In 1982, Leon was approached by Decibel Records to compile a series of sports songs and his first record, ‘Leon Schuster’ sold 100 000 units.  His second album ‘Broekskeur’ sold in excess of 40 000 units and this was followed by ‘Briekdans and Leon Schuster – 20 Treffers’ which sold in excess of 270 000 copies.

His hit CD ‘Hier Kom Die Bokke’ garnered an FNB Sama Music Award for Biggest Selling CD of 1995.  His following CD, the acclaimed ‘Gatvol in Paradise’ sold in more than 125 000 units and gave rise to the unofficial Gauteng anthem, ‘Gautengeling’.

Schuster the well loved comedian became Schuster the South African Comedy Legend with his foray into film.  His first feature, ‘You Must be Joking’ produced in collaboration with Johan Scholtz and Elmo de Witt became an instant hit with South African audiences and it gave rise to the equally successful sequel ‘You Must be Joking Too’.

Having captured a massive and very loyal audience with his slap-stick brand of comedy, Schuster produced a string of films that hit the mark with his adoring public.  These included ‘O Schucks, it’s Schuster’, ‘O Schucks, Here Comes Untag’, ‘There’s a Zulu on My Stoep’ (released internationally as ‘Yankee Zulu’), ‘Short and Sweet’ and ‘Panic Mechanic’.  ‘Yankee Zulu’ became a mega-hit in Germany where it became the biggest box office earner after the Bruce Willis vehicle, ‘Die Hard with a Vengeance’.   Following ‘There’s a Zulu On My Stoep’ was ‘The Millennium Menace’ which was initially filmed as a series of candid camera television inserts.  This became an instant hit with viewers and created such a hysterically funny reaction at a private screening that it was released at cinemas.

The highly successful ‘Mr Bones’ marked a departure from Schuster’s candid camera formula and was a sophisticated film that remained true to the Schuster formula, with classic slapstick elements.  The film emerged as the most successful Schuster film of all time, earning more that R33 million at the South African box office.

In 2004, Schuster was back with the hilarious film ‘Gatvol’ which looked at the funny side of people emigrating to Australia with the added twist of Schuster being stalked by a fictional despot, Samoosa Woestyn.  The film saw Leon once again teaming up with Alfred Ntombela in the film.

Mama Jack saw Schuster regroup with the team that made Mr Bones – director, Gray Hofmeyr and producers Anant Singh and Helena Spring.  The film tracks Jack Theron, who works on a movie set as a grip.  His movie producer boss hates Jack and in a bid to get rid of him, the producer spikes his drink at a glamorous function, and before long Jack has unwittingly offended all the attending dignitaries, ruined the function and got himself on the wrong side of the law.  Now, on the run and desperate, Jack turns to his friend, Shorty, a make-up artist for help, and emerges disguised as a black woman, Mama Jack.

Little is known about his personal and family life, though Leon has mentioned, through public interviews, that he is divorced with four children of which one is pregnant with his first grandchild.

Something many people may not know is that Leon Schuster is an ardent Cheetahs supporter and is passionate about rugby. So much so that his new album includes the latest theme song for his favourite team. In fact, this boytjie from Bloem was an aspiring rugby hero in his heyday and this is how the fun and games started – when he was at varsity in the Free State, and his nickname was ‘the fastest foot in the West’.

He was playing for the university’s pride team on an overseas tour just before the international sports ban gripped the country. ‘We bussed around Europe so we had hours to kill. I used to take the microphone and make up songs, rip the guys off and generally entertain the team,’ he says. He chose to study a BA in languages because his brother chided that only ‘moffies’ studied drama. He had a good relationship with the drama department though and used to get involved in productions on the sly.

‘Ouboet had spoken… I couldn’t go ahead and take up drama studies but when the lecturer approached me to get involved in skits, I did it skelmpies,’ he says. However, his mother was his biggest influence as she was always playing practical jokes on the family. ‘She’s 85 and still has a fantastic sense of humour!’

He always knew he wanted to be involved in making movies… and he loved sport. So his ideal job, then, was to become a sports commentator. His role model was Afrikaans rugby commentator Gerhard Viviers and when Leon imitated him at his SABC audition, he failed the test because he was too much like his sports hero!

But he joined the SABC as a presenter and started hosting a radio show called Vrypostige Mikrofoon. This is where he put his comical persona on the map and where his career as a prankster kicked off.  ‘Those were serious political years,’ he remembers. ‘So I would provide some relief and upliftment by disguising my voice and posing a dilemma each week.’

It was hard work to come up with eight or nine skits every Wednesday night but the show was such a hit, it ran for six years. By then Leon was approached with so many opportunities outside the SABC that he was enticed to go solo and start his own one-man show.

He toured the country and those were the days, he says, when he just did it for the love of it, without ‘fear or hang-ups’. It was only when he started making movies that it became more of a job and there was a bit more at stake. He’s been described as a barometer of the national mood, and he agrees with this, saying the public has changed along with the political changes. ‘People have become more fearful, aggressive and less approachable than 10 years ago.’

He tells the story about when he posed as a scruffy vagrant who washed cars with dirty water at a petrol station. The public saw only the funny side in the movie but when he was filming the scene, he says one guy just walked straight up to him and smacked him. ‘It’s getting very tense and although people want me to carry on with the sketches, I am wary of getting hurt or shot. At 55 I am getting a bit too old for this!’

He finds the scriptwriting part of movie making the most challenging. ‘A script is a control thing and often what I want is something that needs to be acted out instead of scripted. It’s also the loneliest job in the world, he says, and he takes his job seriously. ‘I like to think I take people on an emotional ride they have to laugh but there has to be a sense of drama and action too.’

His audience has also changed a bit with the times – he now has the challenge of having to please all South Africans. His movies have always been loved by people of all ages, and today he also has a growing black audience. They love stories they can relate to like black against white, stories about taxi drivers… I had a great reaction from movies like Mr Bones and Mama Jack.’ And what does he say about negative criticism? ‘I’ve been around long enough to realise that critics write for their tjommies and they want arty-farty subject matter. As far as ratings go, a fart movie blows an art movie down the wind… Critics don’t affect the box office – word of mouth has the biggest impact.’

He lashes out against piracy as he lost about R10-million on Mama Jack because the pirated copy came out seven weeks before the movie. ‘They should be behind bars as they are taking the food from our mouths. Leon says he’s become interested in property, having been wowed by the Simbithi eco estate development near Ballito on the KwaZulu-Natal northern coastline. ‘I called the éLan MD Mark Taylor about buying a stand and that is how we became friends.’

He’s invested in a large modern house in a secure complex in the West Rand but longs to live at the coast, go fishing and have a haven in which to write. Ultimately, he dreams of owning his own unspoilt piece of land on the ocean and claims the worst property decision he ever made was after his divorce when he sold his beach cottage at Brenton-on-Sea. ‘It was before the Knysna boom and I sold it for next to nothing. Friends who hung onto their cottage were recently offered R4-million!’

MR BONES 2: BACK FROM THE PAST TRAILER