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Q: You%u2019ve worked across multiple industries and continents. How has your global perspective influenced the themes you choose to explore in your films??A: I%u2019m always interested in films that explore universal human themes in geographically specific contexts, and I often find film ideas most compelling when the location or environment acts as an antago,nistic force on the interpersonal relationships. For me, the location isn%u2019t just a character in the film, as is often said; it%u2019s the invisible antagonist, a kind of emotional catalyst that intensifies the conflict between the characters.Having left South Africa when I was 12, and having had a relatively international upbringing, I find that my work usually centers on people searching for their tribe%u2014outsiders trying to fit in, often misunderstood, out of place, and in a deep (spiritual) need to be seen.Q: What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers who may not have formal training but want to make a significant impact in the film industry, like you have?A: The biggest lesson I%u2019ve learned is the importance of being self-motivated and developing a relentless curiosity. You don%u2019t need formal training to be a filmmaker; you just need a hunger to tell stories and an unwillingness to believe that other people control your destiny. Start small, but focus on the ideas, the stories, and the concepts. Try to be resourceful, and create within the means that you have. Develop your own voice%u2014that is the rarest gift you have to offer the world. It took me a couple of years to recognize this fact.MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 64 57