10 years on, there's still an appetite for iconic local movie 'Spud'

Thursday marks a decade since Spud, a local film based on a 2005 book set in 1994, was released in South Africa.

Spud was already a cultural phenomenon in this country — and, to some extent, around the world — when the film adaptation brought the tender, comic coming-of-age story about a young boy finding his way at a prestigious school in the newly-minted post-apartheid SA, to the big screen.

The film, starring Troye Sivan and John Cleese, was the ninth-highest grossing film overall at the South African box office in 2010, second only to Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa in terms of grossing for local films that year.

The book and film are a snapshot of a particular time in our history, which author John van de Ruit says gives him a special feeling he still carries in his heart.

"As I've grown older and a little wiser, the longevity of the story grants me the most pleasure. The film has helped to keep the spirit of the book alive, particularly for the new generation".

Cleese says he wasn't surprised that fans embraced the film. "I understood how much the book meant to South Africans — it was treated as a kind of historical record of what the country looked like at the time. People were full of affection for the books and had a quiet patriotic pride towards the characters."

Sivan says he's proud to have worked on a film so close to so many South Africans' hearts. "It was my first lead role in a film and was a warm welcome to acting. I learnt so much on the three movies and had great, formative life experiences off the set. Filming Spud gave me the confidence to pursue the big dreams I had."

The pursuit of those dreams has yielded some impressive results, including albums peaking on Billboard 200, Hot 100 and Dance Club Songs charts, performances on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Ellen — and more than 8.5-billion global streams of his music. He's just completed his first lead role in a film since Spud and is always working on new music.

Aged just 14 when production started in March 2010, Sivan was clearly a star on the rise and his casting as the titular character was a coup — as was the landing of Monty Python star Cleese as "The Guv".

"With Troye, we knew pretty quickly we had something special on our hands," says Producer Ross Garland. "I think John van de Ruit called him 'otherworldly' — a natural talent and star. His later success in music is no surprise to me."

Producing partner Brad Logan agrees: "We knew from the first self-tape that Troye was our Spud. He's one of the most talented and hard-working actors that I've worked with in my career. The fact that his massive international success has come from his music career reinforces the scope of his talent".

Marsh says Sivan had a magical presence on screen, enhanced by the fact that he was utterly unaware of it: "It was a remarkable vulnerability — the lack of a certain filter most people use to protect themselves from the world. That made him a very special and open kid."

Sivan and Cleese formed a bond on set: "I was struck by Troye, from the start," says Cleese. "His acting instincts were so good at such a young age — I constantly found myself thinking 'Where did this knowledge and understanding come from?'. We didn't make allowances for his youth — he was there performing toe-to-toe with me, right away. I got to like him a great deal and as much as I don't know anything about the world of music, what he's achieved has been extraordinary."

Sivan still thinks about working with Cleese: "I think about how lovely it was of him to take me under his wing like that. I learnt so much from him."

Having worked with Gary Oldman, Michael Nyqvist and Gerard Butler since Spud, Marsh has many projects in the pipeline, including a sequel to iNumber Number, as well as a US remake of the original. "I also developed an app during lockdown called The Movie Star Experience — I direct users to make 60-second Hollywood-style viral movies, starring themselves," he says.

Cleese is working on adapting The Life of Brian for the stage and on a project linked to A Fish Called Wanda with his daughter Camilla. "Next up? A light comedy about cannibalism, called Yummy," he says, mischievously.

Since completing the Spud series Van de Ruit has done some theatre work and has been working on a new comedy novel, The Millennials, which he hopes will hit shelves in 2021. "I've also been working on Spud the Musical — 'the potato' grows on, in a different genre," he says.

Three Spud films were produced and the fourth was close to being made. "The fourth film was financed, the screenplay was written, and Cleese attached, but then Troye's music and YouTube career exploded," says Van de Ruit. "It was decided against shooting the final film with a new actor playing Spud, so it ended there. It does mean that if some creative bright spark makes a series of Spud, the final year will venture into new filmic territory".

Even without the fourth film, the first stands as a remarkable tribute to one of the country's favourite stories and is a set work book for many grade 7 and 8 pupils — entering a new world, like Spud Milton did.

WHERE ARE THE CRAZY EIGHT NOW?

Sven Ruygrok (Rambo), @svenruygrok

"I've been incredibly grateful to have worked with some renowned international and local talents and I've learned a lot from them. I've really enjoyed being challenged by doing some work in theatre and a highlight was getting the opportunity to play Alan Strang in Equus."

Byron Langley (Simon), @byronlangley

"I now live in London — I originally came to play cricket but that slowly changed into doing things online with Instagram and YouTube and some modelling here and there. I've been lucky enough to feature in a few films (including Netflix's The Kissing Booth trilogy). My day job is being a full-time musician."

Blessing Xaba (Fatty), @blessxaba

"I'm a full-time filmmaker and performer. My last TV acting role was playing Monty Masondo on Mzansi Magic's The Road. Shortly after that, I co-directed a documentary, Ms Trans Diva, to raise awareness about the transgender community in SA. Today I'm an undergrad student in media with focus in journalism. I head back to the stage in 2021 as Queen Malicia in Kickstart Productions' Snow White".

Tom Burne (Vern), @thomasmarkburne

Having graduated from Michaelhouse with eight distinctions, Tom completed his Bachelor of Business Science (accounting & finance) degree at UCT in 2016, and now works as a senior associate consultant at Bain & Company in Johannesburg.

Jamie Royal (Gecko), @theroyalworks

"I live in Cape Town and am working towards making my own films and documentaries via gaining all the experience I can in different film industry roles. While the world rides out this crazy time, I'm spending my time free-diving and mountain climbing and just experiencing what the earth has to offer."

Travis Hornsby (Boggo), @ashtatravista

"I matriculated in 2014 with a taste for filmmaking, punk expressivity and competitive pole dancing. Performance is an exploration of and elaboration upon the body-vehicle, and that's been my guiding philosophy over the past few years. I'm currently based in Cape Town, living with my partner and feline friends, teaching yoga and pole fitness, and concocting covert means to achieve mass meditative bliss."

Josh Goddard (Mad Dog), @goddardjosh

"I'm a retired actor! After Charlie 'Mad Dog' Hooper's exit from Spud: The Madness Continues, I enrolled at UCT and did a BSc Eng (Civil). I now live and work in Zimbabwe and roam mostly between Harare and the rural areas, building dams and other agriculturally inclined projects."

HONOURABLE MENTION

Alex McGregor (Christine), @alexpiaramcg

"I'm still doing what I love and working my butt off to do it. Last year (2019) I played humanoid alien mechanic Amae in the American SYFY series Vagrant Queen — an incredible experience that taught me so much. I'll be emigrating next year — but more on that closer to the time."