LEON SCHUSTER
Mr. Bones

Leon Schuster is South Africa’s foremost comedian and the mastermind behind the phenomenally successful comedy feature, “Mr Bones’ which broke all local box office records to become the highest grossing South African film of all time when it was released in 2001.  Leon was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age and fondly recalls how, as children he and his brother would play practical jokes on his family and film their escapades with an old home movie camera. 

After studying for a BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State, Leon spent two years teaching at a high school in Bloemfontein before joining the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 1975.  During his time at the SABC, Leon created the hit Afrikaans radio series ‘Vrypostige Mikrofoon’ – where he would disguise his voice and take the mickey out of unsuspecting victims.

In 1982, Leon was approached by Decibel Records to compile a series of sports songs and his first record, ‘Leon Schuster’ sold 100 000 units.  His second album ‘Broekskeur’ sold in excess of 40 000 units and this was followed by ‘Briekdans and Leon Schuster – 20 Treffers’ which sold in excess of 270 000 copies.

His hit CD ‘Hier Kom Die Bokke’ garnered an FNB Sama Music Award for Biggest Selling CD of 1995.  His following CD, the acclaimed ‘Gatvol in Paradise’ sold in more than 125 000 units and gave rise to the unofficial Gauteng anthem, ‘Gautengeling’. 

Schuster the well loved comedian became Schuster the South African Comedy Legend with his foray into film.  His first feature, ‘You Must be Joking’ produced in collaboration with Johan Scholtz and Elmo de Witt became an instant hit with South African audiences and it gave rise to the equally successful sequel ‘You Must be Joking Too’.

Having captured a massive and very loyal audience with his slap-stick brand of comedy, Schuster produced a string of films that hit the mark with his adoring public.  These included ‘O Shucks, it’s Schuster’, ‘O Shucks, Here Comes Untag’, ‘Zulu on My Stoep’ (released internationally as ‘Yankee Zulu’), ‘Short and Sweet’ and ‘Panic Mechanic’.  ‘Yankee Zulu’ became a mega-hit in Germany where it became the biggest box office earner after the Bruce Willis vehicle, ‘Die Hard with a Vengeance’.   Following ‘Zulu On My Stoep’ was ‘The Millennium Menace’ which was initially filmed as a series of candid camera television inserts.  This became an instant hit with viewers and created such a hysterically funny reaction at a private screening that it was released at cinemas.

The highly successful ‘Mr Bones’ marked a departure from Schuster’s candid camera formula and was a sophisticated film that remained true to the Schuster formula, with classic slapstick elements.  The film emerged as the most successful Schuster film of all time, earning more that R33 million at the South African box office.
In 2004, Schuster was back with the hilarious film ‘Gatvol’ which looked at the funny side of people emigrating to Australia with the added twist of Schuster being stalked by a fictional despot, Samoosa Woestyn.  The film saw Leon once again teaming up with Alfred Ntombela in the film.

Mama Jack saw Schuster regroup with the team that made ‘Mr Bones’ – director, Gray Hofmeyr and producers Anant Singh and Helena Spring.  The film tracks Jack Theron, who works on a movie set as a grip.  His movie producer boss hates Jack and in a bid to get rid of him, the producer spikes his drink at a glamorous function, and before long Jack has unwittingly offended all the attending dignitaries, ruined the function and got himself on the wrong side of the law.  Now, on the run and desperate, Jack turns to his friend, Shorty, a make-up artist for help, and emerges disguised as a black woman, Mama Jack.