Former Miss Namibia 2021 Chelsi Shikongo is stepping into the spotlight once again, this time as a leading actress in new film “Home is Where the Money Is”.
In the film, which is directed by renowned filmmaker Michael Pulse, Shikongo takes on the lead role.
The former beauty queen portrays Lelani Davidson, a young woman from a humble background who embarks on a daring journey of self-transformation. Lelani infiltrates the affluent Molondo family, assuming a false identity in a bid to change her circumstances.
“This was my first Namibian feature film, and it was an incredible experience. However, it was also one of the most challenging periods of my life. I was navigating a very public break-up, and the emotional transition of no longer being Miss Namibia. Despite these obstacles, the unwavering support of my loved ones and the sheer joy of acting kept me going. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to have pushed through and delivered my best performance,” she said.
Her acting journey began organically when Pulse saw her potential and directly approached her for the role, bypassing the traditional audition process.
This unique opportunity further solidified her passion for acting, particularly in comedic roles.
“I have always been drawn to comedy. My comedy brand, NamibianGirlHumor, has been a part of my career, allowing me to explore different characters and connect with audiences. This platform has opened doors for me, including appearances in television series, commercials and interviews in South Africa,” she added.
While still considering a full-time acting career, Shikongo emphasises the importance of consistent effort and self-improvement, believing in continuous learning and refining her skills.
“I am constantly practising and working on my showreel to ensure I’m always prepared for the next opportunity,” she said.
Though she hasn’t yet summoned the courage to watch the film herself, she has received overwhelming positive feedback from viewers who have praised her performance and portrayal of Lelani.
Marchell Linus So-oabeb is the line producer, and said the film production was made up of a local cast and crew, from the lead actress to catering. Ingo Shanyinge was the designer of all the garments, and Jeffrey Hui the stylist.
“I would say amongst the challenges faced were collaborations from Namibian’-owned business, location usage, or renting out of equipment and a shortage of funds. The funders were quite generous, but seeing the climate of the film industry, feature films would need additional funding from our Namibian counterparts to execute the films to the highest quality. After all, we do tell Namibian stories,” he said.
Michael Pulse, the film director, stated that “Home is Where the Money Is” is a film that came about when he observed how people treat the death of a loved one like a cash exchange.
The process of grieving a loved one is forgotten, and what the person left behind takes center stage. He wanted the film to also remind the audience that money can never replace family. Family is all they have, and those who have left them deserve to be remembered more for who they were to us when they were alive rather than what they left us.
“The film took 10 months from pre-production to post-production. Pre-production started in August 2022, with production starting in September 2022 and post-production finishing in June 2023,” he said.
He added that this film was a woman-led film, which he really wanted due to the influence all the women have had in his life.