Leon Schuster

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use South African English Template:Infobox person Leon Ernest "Schucks" Schuster (born 21 May 1951) is a South African filmmaker,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> comedian, actor, prankster and singer.

Early life

Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age. As a child, he and his brother would play practical jokes on his family and film them. He explained, in a 2010 interview, about his early life in Bloemfontein, "I remember running down the aisle of the Ritz Theatre, playing cowboys & crooks, which was all the rage at the time. I also remember loving Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and the Three Stooges. I was always acting things out, and pulling pranks. I used to fool my grandma into thinking I’d shot myself in the foot with my pellet gun… tomato sauce everywhere, me squealing like a wild pig. Pranking is just in my nature, but I’d never thought I’d become a movie star… no, I’m not a movie star, I’m just a local outjie that likes to entertain people."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Schuster studied for a BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State, where he played rugby for the first team.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> He returned to Jim Fouché as a teacher for two years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

Schuster began working for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. During his time at the SABC, he created the Afrikaans radio series Vrypostige<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mikrofoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with Fanus Rautenbach – which involved disguising his voice<ref>Drum, 2002, p. 52.</ref> and playing phone pranks on unsuspecting victims.<ref name=":0" />

Music

In 1982, Schuster was approached by Decibel Records to compile a series of sports songs, which resulted in his first record entitled, Leon Schuster, having sold 10,000 units. His second album, Broekskeur ('trouser-tearing' literal translation, broekskeur means that things are difficult - you are having a difficult time), sold in excess of 40,000 units. This was then followed by Briekdans and Leon Schuster – 20 Treffers, which sold more than 270,000 copies.

His hit CD Hier Kom Die Bokke ('Here Come The Boks') garnered an FNB Sama Music Award for Biggest Selling CD of 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His following CD, Gatvol in Paradise,<ref name=":1" /> sold in more than 125,000 units and gave rise to the unofficial Gauteng anthem "Gautengeleng".

Film

Schuster's first feature, You Must Be Joking!,<ref name=":2" /> produced in collaboration with Johan Scholtz and Elmo de Witt, became popular with South African audiences and gave rise to the sequel You Must be Joking! Too.<ref name=":3" />

These films were candid camera sketches and Schuster made many more of these films as well as slapstick films, including Mr Bones, his most successful film, which earned more than R33 million at the South African box office.

On 16 September 2011, it was reported that Schuster's next movie, Mad Buddies, would be partly financed by the Walt Disney Company, which would also handle the distribution and marketing of the film.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film was released in 2012 and starred Schuster opposite funnyman Kenneth Nkosi. It received poor reviews, and garnered R4.5 million in the opening weekend from a budget of R20 million.<ref name=imdb>IMDB: Mad Buddies</ref>

Comedic style

According to Schuster, his appeal to the public stems from him making "them used to a certain style of comedy that they seem to like. They like trouble, and they know when Schuster is there, there is trouble. They also like me to rip off the topical stuff be risky and take chances.....and get 'moered!Template:'-".

In 2018, the comedian was "unapologetic about playing on every racial stereotype in his films", but openly admitted that he "does have some regrets about having profited from blackface". He further stated: "I'm so sorry that I can't make Mama Jack 2. If I had a dream come true, my next movie would be Mama Jack 2. But especially on Twitter they said stay away from the blackface, it's not on. It was black people talking to me and you've got to listen. I can't do it because I'll be heavily criticised. In the olden days it troubled nobody. But I won't go blackface now, I can't do it. There's not one actor in the world that will. It's just racist".<ref name="Channel" />

Showmax film removals

On 19 June 2020, South African streaming service Showmax removed over six of Schuster's films,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> citing his content as being "racially insensitive", considering he has used blackface in many of his films for "comedic effect". This came during the heightened Black Lives Matter protests. Schuster reacted, saying he was "shocked" and "can't believe that the content of his films does any harm". He said his work is "innocent" and just him "pranking people".<ref name="Channel">Template:Cite web</ref>

Frank and Fearless (2018) was returned to the circuit after review.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Year Film Role Gross Soundtrack Music
1986 You Must Be Joking!<ref name=":2">Template:Citation</ref> Schucks
1987 You Must Be Joking! Too<ref name=":3">Template:Citation</ref> Schucks R43 Million
1989 Oh Schucks...It's Schuster!<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Schucks
1990 Oh Schucks...! Here Comes U.N.T.A.G. (aka Kwagga Strikes Back)<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kwagga Robertse
1991 Sweet 'n Short<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sweet Coetzee Clarke/Bremer Performed by Adult Art<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1993 There's a Zulu On My Stoep (aka Yankee Zulu)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rhino Labuschagne
1997 Panic Mechanic<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Schucks
1999 Millennium Menace<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Schucks R40 million In Love With You sang by Dana Winner<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
2001 Mr Bones<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Bones R33 million
2004 Oh Schuks... I'm Gatvol<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Schucks
2005 Mama Jack<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Jack Theron
Mama Bolo
Donald 		$4.4 million
2008 Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Bones R35 million Theme song music & performed by Don Clarke<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Schuks Tshabalala Schuster/Clarke, performed by Crutchmullets<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012 Mad Buddies<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Boetie
2013 Schuks! Your Country Needs You<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Schucks Don Clarke<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
2015 Shucks! Pay Back the Money!<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Schucks Don Clarke<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
2018 Frank and Fearless<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Frank Nic Paton and Don Clarke
2022 Mr Bones 3: Son of Bones<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bones

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • Hou Jou Bek (Dolce/Schuster) / Ek Was Op Jou Troue (Robinson/Schuster/Rautenbach) (1981)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
  • She Sells Sea Shells / Dis Lekker Innie Army (1982) <ref>Template:Citation</ref> 7" single on vinyl
  • Hey, Bokke! <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>(2019) With Don Clarke, performed with Drakondale Girls' Choir and Michaelhouse Choir<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Digital

References

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