WALKING
Dreaming big !
Reggie in Cowboy Dan with Brandon Daniels wherever I could . Unfortunately , that job didn ’ t last very long , and that led to a period of real struggle for me , where I really came to understood what it meant to be depressed ,” he says .
“ It felt like I was going nowhere , because my relationship with writing and music was up and down , and I didn ’ t get any acting work , just a few commentary jobs here and there . Thankfully , a few people really helped me , but it was a difficult time . A bit later I got involved with former SA 1500 Champ Johan Cronje and his brother Hendrick , who is an actor , writer and director , at their film production company , Kompanjie Stories . They welcomed me and gave me work behind the scenes , and when I told them I am also a writer , they encouraged me to write as well . Since then , I have been working on a movie script , which I believe will be made some day .”
Acting Breakthrough
Good news arrived in early 2018 , when Reggie received a call from a production company he had worked with before , to offer him a role in the short film , Cowboy Dan , being made for Kyknet Silwerskerm Festival . “ I had not auditioned for much of anything for a while , so the call came out of the blue . Fortuantely they were shooting it in Cape Town , so I was in the right place , and I got to play alongside Brandon Daniels , a highly respected actor that everybody wants to work with .”
Cowboy Dan was nominated for four awards at the festival , with Brandon winning Best Actor , and the film taking the Best Editing award , and Reggie says it was the highlight of the year for him , but when things went quiet again after that , he slipped back into an emotionally low state . “ Things stated changing for me when I began focusing on myself , spending more time alone , meditating and visualising going after my dreams . Then I watched film about guy who made it in Hollywood . In the film , he said , ‘ If I don ’ t make it in six months , I will leave ,’ so I told myself , ‘ Reggie , this is your chance , so go for it .’ I wrote down my dreams and hopes in my affirmation book , one of which was to be cast for one of SA ’ s biggest soapies in 2019 , and then I decided to move back to Joburg in January 2019 to pursue my dreams as a performer .”
Not long after the move , Reggie auditioned for Die Spreeus and returned to Cape Town for two weeks of shooting , which he describes as an amazing experience , and it was while there that the phone rang with more good news . “ My agent called to say there ’ s a role for me to audition for in Generations . I told him I was shooting in Cape Town , so I had to make a video to send in , and a few days later I heard I had landed the role of Luke . It was originally supposed to be just a three-day role , but then they asked if I was interested in extending the role , and it ’ s now been going for more than a year . In the meantime , I also got work in Huis Leliefeld , and I ’ ve been told by fans that they ’ re looking forward to seeing more of both characters in coming months . That was incredible to hear !”
The Adventure Continues
Ironically , things actually almost came full circle earlier this year , when Reggie was due to play a leading role in the stage production , Die Atleet , at the Arts Festival in
Grahamstown . Based on a true story and produced by well-known actor and producer Lizz Meiring , the story was about a young man from the Eastern Cape with a gangster father and alcoholic mother , who ends up in a state-run children ’ s home . A woman doing welfare work at the home spots the shy child ’ s obvious athletic talent , as she was herself an athlete , and she realises he has the potential to do well in race walking . The relationship that develops between them is ultimately a turning point in both their lives , and it is a story about not only athletics , but also survival and triumph .
Sadly , the entire Klein Karoo Arts Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 lockdown , but Reggie remains excited about the coming months . Last year at the Silwerskerm Festival , he entered one of his works in the script competition , and it ended up as one of the winning scripts to be selected . “ That was a real boost for me , and I was very encouraged by the support and encouragement from people in industry . For example , to get a call from Willie Esterhuizen , the creator of Vetkoek Paleis and producer of Huis Leleieveld … that ’ s huge for me ! I ’ m grateful to be surrounded by such supportive people , and I am excited to see where things will go from here ,” he says .
As for keeping fit , Reggie says he still runs quite a lot to get exercise and maintain his health , and he says he enjoys using different muscles , while it is nice to be out and about , but he is not actively doing any race walking for the moment . “ I am focused on my acting and music right now , but I do plan to get involved in walking again , as it is the sport that got me through university and opened doors for me . It will always be part of me .”
The main cast of Huis Lelieveld
Another music single release
Give It a Listen You can check out Reggie Peace ’ s music on Soundcloud at https :// soundcloud . com / peacemaker-26 , or watch his music vid for the song Move at www . youtube . com / watch ? v = -7kXAChEGPI .
Images : Courtesy Reggie Hufkie
46 ISSUE 136 DECEMBER 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za