Gravel Road CEO was recently up in New York for the screening of “Joe Bullet” – our restored South African film which was banned in the 70’s. Here are some photos of his time here and how he rocked New York an L.A. in proudly South African style!
joe bullet
MOMA Screening of Joe Bullet
In New York this month, “Joe Bullet” is screening at the MoMA Museum of Modern Art. The screening will take place on the 8th + 13th of November.
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Read more about the MoMA “To Save and Project” Film Festival here.
Fast Facts about Joe Bullet
+ Stars: Ken Gampu, Abigail Kubeka, Joe Lopez, Jimmy Sabe, Cocky Tlholthalemaje,Matthew Molete, Sidney Charma
+ Genre: Action, Blaxploitation
+ Directed By: Louis de Witt
+ Synopsis: In the criminal underworld of soccer, one man will have to save the championship! When local soccer team “The Eagles” fall prey to a series of onslaughts from a mysterious gangster only a week before the championship final, the team turns to the one man that can help save their chances at victory – Joe Bullet.
How To Watch Our Restored Films
framegrab from “Mandla”
+ We’re on kykNET’s “Flits” Channel 144 DSTV tonight! Tune in at 9:30pm as CEO Ben speaks about #RetroAfrika
+ We’re screening “Joe Bullet”, “Fishy Stones”, “Umbango” and “Trompie” in Johannesburg in association with The Bioscope Independent Cinema between 24th-26th October. More here (including where you can buy tickets)
+ We have a YouTube Channel with trailers for our films
+ “Joe Bullet” will be showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on 8th & 13th
November as part of the “To Save and Project” Film Preservation Festival
+ Soon “Trompie” will be available in Musica (South Africa) nationwide
+ “Joe Bullet” will be screened at the Carthage International Film Festival in Tunisia in December
framegrab from “Trompie” screening in Johannesburg 24-26 October
framegrab from “Fishy Stones” screening in Johannesburg 24-26 October
framegrab from “Umbango” screening in Johannesburg 24-26 October
Ben in France for the “Lumiere Film Festival & Classic Film Market”
Our CEO Ben Cowley is currently in France for the “Lumiere Film Festival & Classic Film Market” in Lyon! Retro Afrika will be exhibiting some retro titles at the Classic Film Market as well as its restoration services. Think of him from October 15th-18th! We wish him all the best!
Details for Retro Afrika Fest in JHB
Where
286 Fox Street, Johannesburg
When
24th – 26th October
Directions
From the M1 South, go around the city on to the M2 EastTake the Joe Slovo off ramp.
Programme
Joe Bullet
When a mysterious gangster starts sabotaging soccer team The Eagles’ chance at winning the upcoming championship final, there is only one man who can save the day…Joe Bullet.
FRI 24 OCT 7:30PM BUY TICKETS
SUN 26 OCT 7PM BUY TICKETS
Fishy Stones
After a well-executed jewellery store heist, two amateur thugs go on the run.
But the police are not too far behind, and after a chase through the countryside, the thugs are apprehended – but only after they stash their loot in a clump of nearby bushes.
When two best friends head off into the wilderness on a camping expedition together, luck seems to be on their side when they discover the hidden stash of diamonds.
But life is never that easy, and the two thugs, after a daring escape from prison, pick up the trail of the friends, hunting them down in order to reclaim their loot.
In the end, the boys’ parents come to their rescue, and the two dim-witted criminals are sent back to jail once more – hopefully for good this time!
SAT 25 OCT 6PM. BUY TICKETS
Umbango
When Kay Kay, a powerful, ruthless businessman sets out on a mission of revenge against two men accused of killing his brother, he strong-arms the local sheriff into forming a posse of thugs to aid in his vendetta. But when Jet and Owen, the two easy going friends, learn of the gang out for their blood, they prepare to stand their ground and fight back. It all comes to a head in a final gun-fight, a showdown in the small western town where blood will have to be spilt if the friends wish to come out of this alive.
SAT 25 OCT 8PM. BUY TICKETS
Trompie
The original feature film produced in 1975, based on the books by Topsy Smith that ultimately led to the renowned and well-loved television show, introduces Trompie as a freckle-faced eleven year old boy, and the Big Chief of the Boksom Gang.
Together with his mates Rooie, Blikkies and little Dawie, the young boys embark on a series of mischievous adventures that often land them in hot soup with the townsfolk of their hometown of Kwaggaberg.
Their cajoling with the Reverend’s pet baboon gets completely out of hand and Trompie’s innocent attempts at fixing his sister, Anna, up with a boyfriend goes terribly wrong.
Not only does Trompie and his gang of friends almost ruin the annual school concert, but their shenanigans leads to a bet that Trompie will be able to crash the show and appear on stage that evening. Throughout all these misadventures, Trompie befriends a playful mongrel who belongs to an old man about to leave the town. As the story comes to a close, Trompie will have to watch on as the mangy dog has to choose between staying with the impish young boy or leaving with it’s old master.
SUN 26 OCT 5PM. BUY TICKETS
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Tonie Van Der Merwe
On The Expresso Show on SABC!
CEO of Gravel Road Entertainment, Benjamin Cowley, and Producer/Director Tonie van der Merwe sat down with Expresso presenter Katlego Maboe to talk about the Mayibuye Film Festival currently running on SABC1. For more information on the festival and the films, read this article and join the conversation with us on Facebook here.
Benjamin Cowley and Tonie vd Merwe on the Expresso Show on SABC
Benjamin Cowley, Katlego Maboe and Tonie vd Merwe on the Expresso Show on SABC
Joe Bullet
Made in 1971, this action film directed by Louis de Wit and produced by Tonie vd Merwe was shot on 16mm in Johannesburg. Banned in South Africa by the government when it originally came out, it stars Ken Gampu, Abigail Kubeka, Jimmy Sabie and Joe Lopez.
TAGLINE
In the criminal underworld of soccer, one man will have to save the championship!
SYNOPSIS
When local soccer team The Eagles fall prey to a series of onslaughts from a mysterious gangster only a week before the championship final, the team turns to the one man that can help save their chances at victory – Joe Bullet (Ken Gampu).
Joe will have to battle against villainous henchmen, escape booby-trap bombs and bring his martial arts expertise to the fore in order to survive an attack from a deadly assassin.
In the end he will have to infiltrate the mysterious gangster’s hide-out in a dangerous cat-and-mouse rescue mission to save not only The Eagles’ two kidnapped star players, but that of his beautiful love interest, Beauty (Abigail Kubeka).
The odds will be stacked against him, but he’s the man that fights crime, the man that no one can tie down! Joe Bullet!
Film Schedule for Mayibuye Film Festival
A screengrab from the first film of the fest – “Ambushed”
The following is the film schedule for the Mayibue Film Festival on SABC:
13 April 2014
a. Ambushed
b. Ezintandaneni
a. Ambushed
b. Ezintandaneni
20 April 2014
a. Joe Bullet
b. Bona Manzi
a. Joe Bullet
b. Bona Manzi
27 April 2014
a. Treasure Hunters
b. Isiboshwa
a. Treasure Hunters
b. Isiboshwa
Screen grab from “Bonamanzi”
Retro Afrika Bioscope 