Television / Multimedia Journalist
THOMAS MILLS
Below are the films I have produced over the course of 2012 and RUTV4. They include genres such as a Music Video, a Profile, Documentaries and News. (These were all filmed in HD)
SHACKLES & BONES - DEATH CLOWN COMMUNIST
Shackles and Bones debut music video, Death Clown Communist, takes a satirical look at capitalism and communism as one clown tries to transform the whole town into a brainwashed mob.
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Beneath the Surface is an investigative documentary that takes a look into one of South Africa's least publicized industries; commercial shark fishing. This documentary serves to inform the public that this industry exists.
KARIEGA RHINO POACHING 2012
Thandi and Themba are two rhinos that survived the Kariega game reserve poaching incident on the 3rd of March 2012. This video looks at how they are both coping a week after the attack when they both received extensive treatment to aid their survival.
South Africa is in the middle of a rhino poaching crisis. The Kariega game reserve in the Eastern Cape had three rhinos attacked with two left in critical condition. We look at their condition a week from their attack with veterinarian, Dr. William Fowlds.
A few weeks after filming, Thandi died of his wounds.
DEADLY RHINO HORN TRADE
South Africa is currently experiencing catastrophic rhino poaching with more than 1200 rhinos dehorned since the beginning of 2008. The number of rhino poachings seems set to reach beyond the 500 mark this year alone. This video documents why poaching is getting out of control and what NGOs such as TRAFFIC are doing to stop it. Dr Joanne Shaw's lectures at SciFest Africa 2012 explain why rhino poaching is so much on the rise and what is being done to curtail it.
FACING THE MUSIC
Music is a recreational activity offered in prisons nationwide. Five male ex-convicts in Grahamstown explain their crimes and show the power that music has played in giving them a sense of discipline, self-worth, focus and an occupation to help avoid further crime. Music alone cannot be credited; the characters highlight the importance of family support as a driving force behind their successful reintegration into society and as a curb on their potential re-offense. This documentary takes a look at Norman Plaatjie and friends, all ex-prisoners trying to re-assimilate into the community.
CATCHING GHOSTS
Widely celebrated South African artist, Diane Victor, discusses two of her most prominent artistic mediums, her smoke drawings and her print pieces. Through these, she aims to showcase contemporary issues faced by South Africa and its people by voicing her own concerns about the country’s woes. Catching Ghosts demonstrates how Victor creates her fascinating smoke drawings as well as her large-scale etchings.