HOT CHILI

Directed by Moabi Mogorosi

Country: Botswana/US

Duration: 49 min.

Year: 2003

Format: Shot on Super 16mm screened on DVD

Language: English

Genre: Romance

SHORT SYNOPSIS

A modest but honorable gardener and a village Princess fall in love against the background of tribal intrigue and class division.

SYNOPSIS

Inspired by classic Setswana folklore, Hot Chili, explores tribal intrigue and class division on the dusty plains of a fictional southern African village. Princess Phatsimo is pledged by her father, King Tlhabano to marry the most prominent suitor who can past his contrived ordeal. In reality he has pre-selected the handsome and devious Prince Moelwa to marry his daughter.

Standing in the way of his plot is the humble and clever village gardener, Motshwari, the true love interest of the willful and independent minded Phatsimo.

Unwilling to allow Phatsimo to choose for herself, King Tlhabano and Prince Moelwa conspire to humiliate and ultimately assault Motshwari.

But it is tradition that determines fate in this village and it will be the suitor who can drink the specially prepared HOT CHILI whom will overcome and win the hand of a princess.

Not to be outdone, the Wily Motshwari crashes the chili test and proves why he is loved by the people of the village.

HOT CHILI

PRINCIPAL CAST

Seingwaeng Kgafela as Princess Phatsimo

Kabo Ditlhakeng as Prince Moelwa

Moabi Mogorosi as Motshwari

CREW

Director: Moabi Mogorosi

Production Company: ABI Films and Wright Brothers Photoplay

Producer: Moabi Mogorosi

Director of Photography: Michael NJ Wright

Associate Producers: John Clement and Renee Gilbey

Music: Segaetsho Orchestra

Editors: Michael NJ Wright and 6 O’Clock

Writer: Moabi Mogorosi

For more information contact Carolina Posse at 773/358-5020 or by email at cposse@wbphotoplay.com

Visit our website, www.wbphotoplay.com

HOT CHILI

From left, Seingwaeng Kgafela (Princess Phatsimo) and Moabi Mogorosi (Motshwari).

BIOS

MOABI MOGOROSI (Writer, Director, Producer)

Moabi Mogorosi is a gifted artist, filmmaker who completed his BA in Film and Video at Columbia College, Chicago in 2001. He is the Writer, Director and lead actor of Hot Chili. This film is the first ever directed by a Motswana. While completing his BA, Mogorosi worked on professional film productions in the United States, like as Second Assistant Camera for the Hollywood feature, Manic, and stand-in for Don Cheadle, the acclaimed actor seen in such pictures as Traffic and Oceans 11. He also wrote, directed and stared on a thirty second commercial for Reebok in Chicago. Mogorosi started working on documentary videos and commercials in 1994 and his quest for knowing more continues to drive him today. He is working on a documentary series for Botswana Television. He is an established storyteller, writer, director whose work is sure to captivate people around the world. He currently resides in Botswana and his production company is ABI Films.

MICHAEL WRIGHT (Director of Photography)

Michael Wright began his film career in Hollywood after graduating as a Cinematography Fellow from the prestigious American Film Institute. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Chicago to accept the position of Artist in Residence in the Cinematography Department of Columbia College. A position he held for six years. It was at this time that he launched Wright Brothers Photoplay an independent film production company. In collaboration with Palmargo Productions, and serving as Director of Photography (DP), he produced the award winning sci-fi thriller Changing Man, now in broad video distribution.

Wright has also freelanced as Director of Photography and counts among his clients McDonald’s, Sears, Coca Cola, Minute Maid, NBC and Telemundo. His public service announcement, Bullet, for The Off The Street Club, received a Silver Hugo Award from Cinema Chicago. His own short film, Ego Corum Paribus, premiered to sold-out audiences and received the Cinematography Award at the Illinois International Film Festival. It was also features at the IFP (Independent Feature Project) Market in New York City and the Clermont Ferrand Short Festival in France.

In 1998, Wright’s commitment to film production and to teaching the craft of filmmaking brought him to the attention of the government of Botswana in Southern Africa. This resulted in his serving as DP on the film Hot Chili, the first film produced by Botswanan nationals. Hot Chili has since become a favorite on the international film festival circuit and has initiated a promising film industry in Botswana.

Wright is the Executive Producer and DP of The Quiet, awarded the Best Independent Production by Screen Magazine for 2003, this feature length film is now touring throughout Europe. Other notable works as DP include the drama Unscheduled Stops, in which he introduced the innovative technique of filming in both Super 16mm film and anamorphic lenses.

This year, Wright launched Bina Media Tools, to develop and market innovative film and television equipment for world-wide location photography.

“It would be difficult living in Botswana, I do want to stay here.” -

The Voice Newspaper, Botswana, Filmmaker Interview, November 2003

“Every scene has a genre of traditional music”. –Tebogo Sebopeng The Botswana Guardian Newspaper, Life Style Section, Report, December 2003

“It is a film to be enjoyed by all,”- Bokang Ditlhokwa, The Midweek Sun Arts, Featured Article, December 2003

“President Festus Mogae attended a special showing of the film Hot Chili,” The Daily News, Arts and Culture Section, Report, March 2004

HOT CHILI

SHORT SYNOPSIS

SYNOPSIS

HOT CHILI

PRINCIPAL CAST

CREW

HOT CHILI

BIOS

MOABI MOGOROSI (Writer, Director, Producer)

MICHAEL WRIGHT (Director of Photography)

PRESS COVERAGE