What is the best thing that I love about my work?

The best thing about my job is being able to make-up stories and create characters that audiences can connect with.

What is my idea of happiness?

In the past I always used to think if I could just have a house of my own, I would be happy, feel secure and wouldn’t want for anything. To a certain extent this is still true because paying rent is a burden. But lately happiness also means surrounding myself with people who love me and accept me for who I am, and not what they want me to be or the idea they have of me.

What is my greatest fear?

It has to be losing my mother. My father died when I was very young, in my early 20s, and it’s been quite a challenge navigating life without him. My mother is all I have. She encourages me, she’s very supportive and she’s my biggest fan. She recently got ill and I got quite a scare which made me realise just how much I still needed her in my life.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

I tend to ruminate a lot which means it takes me longer to get over things, move on or let go of things. My therapist says it’s a result of childhood trauma. I’m trying to work through it.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?

Jordan Peele. I’m not really a fan of horror but I love how Jordan Peele uses film to critique white supremacy and systematic violence. From Key & Peele to Get Out, he has given us some of the best criticism of whiteness. He’s a great filmmaker to learn from and try to emulate. As someone who wishes to use their work to speak truth to power, his work inspires me and is testament that it is not impossible to push for radical content even within the limitations of mainstream television.

What is my greatest extravagance?

I’m a content junkie. I spend most of my time binging on shows. If I wasn’t a starving freelancer I would have every single streaming app on my TV.

On what occasion would I lie?

I’m a very bad liar. My friends know instantly when I’m lying. Lying also makes me very uncomfortable so it would have to be a life and death situation, if I felt my life was being threatened in some way.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

Writing synopsis and pitch documents.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

I’m currently headwriting on a 13-part political thriller called Bova, funded by South Africa’s National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF). It is a small team and we are under-resourced but I’m having the best time ever. It is a welcomed break from the usual telenovelas I work on. It’s not often that we have a chance to work on political dramas in South Africa, so I’m thrilled that this opportunity came my way. The story has lots of twists and turns, it’s been an absolute joyride working on it. I have the best co-writer in the world, Precious Sithole. The topic is quite heavy but we’ve managed to have a fun time writing it. I hope viewers will enjoy our fictional depiction of the scourge of political killings in KwaZulu Natal when it eventually hits our screens.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

Nothing. What is my greatest achievement in work?

I recently finished writing my first feature film, Bank Rollers. It’s a story that looks at the housing crisis in South Africa with a specific focus on home repossessions and gentrification. The story unpacks how the private sector, that is, banks and developers, contribute to homelessness by following the lives of a woman whose house gets repossessed and a gay man who is evicted from an abandoned building in Joburg’s CBD.

Where would I most like to live?

West Africa, for the music and the culture. It’s been my dream for the longest time. Even if I live there just for three months, I would be happy.

What is my most treasured possession?

My life. I am lucky to be alive. I have survived a chronic illness. I also caught Covid a couple of times and I’m still here.

What is my most marked characteristic?

I’m very sensitive.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

This is a tough one, I don’t think I have one. I can be quite a hermit; my garden is my source of inspiration.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?

Cut ‘n Craft restaurant in Kensington, Johannesburg. It’s also convenient as it’s down the road from my place.

What books influenced my life and how?

Steve Biko’s I Write What I Like: It shaped my politics and outlook on life.

Laura’s Esquival’s Like Water for Chocolate: I love the magical realism and the melodramatic storytelling.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

West African music. I love the sound of the Kora.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Too many to mention.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My mother.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

Get Out.

What role do stories play in my life and work?

I find solace in stories.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me?

It means that I am in charge, I’m in control of my life and I am the only one who can choose the direction it takes.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

My mother.

Which people or companies would I like to work with?

Jordan Peele.

Green Door Pictures.

What project am I looking forward to work on?

I’m looking forward to diving into a passion project, a series I’ve been working on for a while, as soon as I get some free time. The series is called Mmaselepe. It’s a crime drama set in Welkom, Free State and it’s my first attempt at writing subversive content. I would love to finish writing the story at the end of the year.

Where can you see me or my work?

You can find some of the TV shows I worked on such as Gomora, The Queen and The Throne on http://www.showmax.co.za and uMbali on http://www.evod.co.za.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

If you truly love something, you will find a way to do it despite the obstacles thrown in your path. I didn’t study film but I have a deep love for television as a medium. I made sure that I found a way into the industry even though I had studied something else. My first TV writing job was on a local soapie Scandal and I haven’t looked back since.

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?

Precious Sithole, Sinethemba Keleku, Sizwe Fortune Zuma.

How can you contact me?

tiisetso_tlelima@yahoo.com