Bridging Worlds: How Bongani Mlambo Uses Filmustage to Democratize Filmmaking

Bongani Mlambo is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles, originally from Harare, Zimbabwe. He is the founder of DHAFU, a filmmaker ecosystem and community space designed to democratize access to professional resources and build sustainable creative communities. His cinematography work includes We’re All Gonna Die (SXSW 2024), The Hair Tales (OWN/Hulu), and Netflix’s Waffles and Mochi Holiday Feast. He is passionate about bridging cultures through visual storytelling and creating opportunities for underrepresented voices in film.

A Journey Rooted in Resilience

Growing up in Harare, where there was no robust film industry, the dream of filmmaking felt both impossible and essential. “I was this curious kid, always searching for truth and meaning,” he recalls. Starting with graphic design and experimenting in After Effects and Premiere, Bongani gradually moved from sound engineering and band life into film.

The turning point came when he watched Troy, Van Helsing, and Underworld all in one week. “Something clicked,” he remembers. “Cinematography made the most sense—it’s the artform that sits right between technical mastery and creative storytelling.”

When he came to the U.S. for film school, he discovered that beyond cameras and lights, cinematography was about emotional authenticity. “Every role on set contributes to the final product. When we create nurturing, supportive environments for filmmakers, we’re literally improving the quality of the art. That’s my quantum creative theory.”

This philosophy has carried him from fellowships like Film Independent’s Project Involve to collaborations with Disney Launchpad, WarnerMedia OneFifty, and Netflix’s Emerging Filmmaker Initiative.

A Creative Style Called Systematic Flow

Bongani describes his approach as Systematic Flow: a blend of technical precision and intuitive creativity. “As someone with AuDHD, I see patterns others might miss. I’m always connecting dots—between memories, experiences, perspectives, and imagination.”

What sets him apart is his ability to create calm, collaborative environments. “Directors often say I bring a calming presence to set. That’s intentional—I want to create safe spaces where people feel comfortable taking risks.”

For Bongani, tools like color psychology, camera movement, and light are never just technical. “Light isn’t just illumination—it’s emotion. Camera movement isn’t just coverage—it’s the audience’s psychological journey through the story.”

Projects That Define a Vision

When asked which past project he is most proud of, Bongani points to We’re All Gonna Die, which premiered at SXSW 2024.

“‘We’re All Gonna Die,’ which premiered at SXSW 2024, holds a special place for me. Not just because of the festival recognition, but because it exemplified everything I believe about collaborative filmmaking. We had a tiny crew, limited resources, and were shooting across the American West with just two Canon cameras and Zeiss lenses. The constraints forced us to be innovative and agile.”

The film’s unique tone—equal parts absurdist humor and existential reflection—pushed his cinematography into new creative territory.

“What made it special was how we turned limitations into creative opportunities. The directors, Freddie Wong and Matt Arnold, trusted my approach of embracing practical restraints without losing creative intent. We created this beautiful visual poem about grief, connection, and resilience in a world with an alien spike on the horizon—both humorous and deeply human. The project challenged me to find visual language that could navigate between absurdist humor and existential depth, pushing my cinematography into new territory.”

But for Bongani, what mattered most was the collaboration: “The way our small team supported each other, the trust we built, the creative risks we took together—that’s what I’m most proud of. We’re working on their next feature, Nail House, and this time they are sharing every part of the process from development, pre-production, and beyond.”

Alongside the recognition of SXSW, Bongani also highlights a more personal project: “I also want to acknowledge Veins of the Veld, a short film in development with my sisters Nomsa and Sibongile. While smaller in scale, it holds special significance as it brings together everything I believe in: authentic African storytelling, family collaboration, and challenging stereotypes about African narratives—and it’s genre film with vampires and a twist!”

Discovering Filmustage

At the end of 2022, Bongani stumbled upon Filmustage and quickly recognized its potential.

“Before Filmustage, I would spend 6 to 8 hours just breaking down a script into spreadsheets. Filmustage compresses that into minutes. That shift isn’t just convenient—it frees up so much time for face-to-face collaboration and brainstorming with the team.”

The tool fit naturally into his collaborative philosophy:

• “The automated breakdown is like a second set of eyes—it catches things I might miss.”
• “The scheduling tools keep creative momentum going, especially early on before an AD comes in.”
• “Risk detection is a lifesaver for indies—it flags safety and legal needs that are easy to overlook.”
• “And with team access, everyone stays synchronized. Transparency builds trust—and trust creates better art.”

Filmustage in Action: Veins of the Veld

When developing Veins of the Veld—a vampire short film co-created with his sisters Nomsa and Sibongile—Bongani used Filmustage to explore feasibility.

“All we had was a script and no money. Filmustage let me test different schedules—two days, three days, four days—and immediately see how that would affect the budget. That perspective gave us confidence to move forward. Honestly, having the ability to do that at such a low cost was incredible.”

This efficiency meant the team could shift energy toward creative conversations instead of logistics. “It’s not about working faster for the sake of speed. It’s about freeing time for the art—for performance, for story, for building chemistry.”

AI as Amplification, Not Replacement

For Bongani, AI is a tool of empowerment. “AI in filmmaking is about amplification, not replacement. Tools like Filmustage give indie filmmakers access to workflows that used to be reserved for big-budget productions.”

He cautions, however, against leaving AI development solely in the hands of tech companies: “We as creatives need to be at the forefront of shaping these tools. They must remain accessible, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. Otherwise, we risk widening the digital divide.”

His vision for the future is expansive: “Imagine AI that helps with international co-productions, or matches filmmakers with resources based on creative needs, or preserves institutional knowledge for the next generation. That’s what I hope we can build.”

Advice for Filmmakers

To filmmakers hesitant about adopting AI, Bongani’s advice is simple: “Start small and stay curious. Try one tool for one pain point. See how it affects your creative process. The goal isn’t to replace your creativity—it’s to amplify it.”

He emphasizes that efficiency should never compromise storytelling. “Efficiency without purpose is just speed. The time you save should be reinvested into what matters—refining performances, shaping the visual language, and making sets healthier. Let’s work shorter hours, not longer ones.”

Looking Ahead

Bongani’s vision for the future of filmmaking is rooted in accessibility. “I want a filmmaker in Zimbabwe, or rural America, or anywhere in the world to have the same chance to tell their story as someone in Hollywood. That’s the future we should be building toward.”

For him, the key is keeping human creativity at the center: “AI should expand possibilities, not narrow them. It must remain an assistant—not the director.”

His message to the Filmustage community is both hopeful and urgent:

“The magic isn’t in the technology—it’s in what we do with it. Tools like Filmustage don’t change the collaborative nature of filmmaking, they enhance it. Let’s make sure we’re telling more stories, from more voices, with more impact than ever before.”

Connect with Bongani

🌐 Website: bongaj.com
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/bongaj
🎬 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3277241/