Callum Peters, a Durban University of Technology (DUT) alumnus in Drama and Production Studies and a current honours student in the same programme, has earned a career-defining credit by appearing in the award-winning short film: Playtime, directed by renowned South African playwright and filmmaker Ashwin Singh.
Playtime, which recently clinched the Best Short Film award at the Reels Film Festival in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India, is a compelling anti-fairytale set in a decaying South African village. The story follows a young girl named Samantha on a perilous journey to find a mysterious healer, Harry, who may be the only hope to save her terminally ill brother.
Peters who is signed with the OC Actor Management Agency, (a South African agency that manages and promotes actors across various media), features in the film alongside a star-studded cast including Raquel Pillay, Lisakhanya Zwane, Bryan Hiles, Derosha Moodley, Cara Roberts, Sandile Mthembu, Cardelle Peters and Ashwin Singh himself.
Reflecting on this recent achievement, Peters highlighted his earliest influences as being his parents and late grandmother, particularly when it comes to punctuality and work ethic.
“My support system is my parents and more especially my father. They always taught me that if you go for a rehearsal and actually in whatever you do within your field you must be punctual, be disciplined, you must have a high work ethic and you must do your best, not try but do,” said Peters.
On Playtime, Peters expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to work with respected professionals within the drama and production community. “I have been blessed with this opportunity to appear in not just any film but an award-winning short film,” Peters remarked.
He further noted that this was not his first collaboration with Singh. Their first was at the 2023 Durban International Book Fair, where Peters performed an excerpt from Singh’s stage play ‘Shooting’ on promotion for it to be a novel.
“I portrayed one of the major supporting roles in the film and it was a very gratifying experience, because I got to do what I studied. I got to do the work and when studying any course within the arts fields you are not always going to get opportunities to work in that field,” Peters said.
According to Peters, nothing beats the joy of applying what you have studied in the real world. He proudly attributes his success to the training he received at DUT.
“To have actually studied Drama and Production Studies at DUT, to have appeared in this short film, is such a gratifying experience. Not only to appear but the fact that this film won such a prestigious award is a great feeling, all the reason to be a proud alumnus,” said Peters.
He also described working with seasoned professionals as a masterclass in performance and discipline. “It was great to share the screen with the likes of Sandile Mthembu, Cara Roberts and the writer himself. To work with these greats who have not only graced the stage, been on television and appeared in film was an absolute honour as not only did I learn but got to live my dream of being a professional actor,” concluded Peters.
Pictured: Callum Peters
Nkosingiphile Dladla
