Mikayla and Jesse Brown’s heartfelt journey in ‘Finding Optel’

CAPE Town siblings Mikayla Joy Brown and Jesse Brown have always enjoyed a good relationship.

- KARISHMA DIPA

In their teenage years, they began to collaborate creatively as they worked together on YouTube videos and other social media content.

Mikayla had a love for storytelling while her brother had extensive skills behind the scenes.

The pair decided to take their skills to the next level when they decided to enter a Showmax and Joburg Film Festival competition for first-time filmmakers.

When Mikayla’s script, which was based on a heartwarming detective story set on the Cape Flats and was part of her end-of-year project for her Honours creative writing project, was chosen, she enlisted her brother's services.

“We agreed that we would embark on this thing together and that I would take on more of the technical side of things like shots and editing and she would look at the story and the characters and that’s how we decided to go about it,” Jesse explained during an interview with Independent Media Lifestyle.

Together, they co-directed the new local film titled Finding Optel which will premiere on Showmax next month.