Talented Luke Tyler and I meet at the Ferryman’s Tavern, V &A Waterfront.
Originally from Johannesburg, he’s now living in Cape Town and is actively working in the film industry of South Africa.
At only 23, his life is a kaleidescope of action.
He has landed roles in well-known films shot here – including Dredd 3D, Chronicle and Sleeper’s Wake – and he’s a familiar face in popular commercials.
He’s had the pleasure of seeing himself in a BBC series aired on Sky1 last year, not to mention the pleasure he’ll get in watching the forthcoming movie he just starred in as a supporting lead opposite Halle Berry!
Flashing me a lovely smile, we sit down and order our coffees before getting started.
Tamika: Where are you from originally?
Luke: Johannesburg. I moved to Cape Town when I was nine and have been here, in Table View, ever since.
Tamika: Where did you go to school?
Luke: Table View High.
Tamika: What did you do after school?
Luke: I took a GAP year. I travelled the States and Canada with a carnival company called “North American Midway Entertainment” (http://www.namidway.com/) for nine months. After that I applied to AFDA to do Screen Acting. I was accepted, but had a change of heart at the last minute and decided to go to the Screen Actors Studio here in Cape Town instead. I did that when I was nineteen for a year and a half. I completed my Advanced Diploma in Screen Acting in 2009. I then started working professionally as an actor for film and television. I’m a screen-trained actor but have had basic theatre training and will be branching out into theatre in late 2012. No promises!
Tamika: Name some of your most memorable roles –when were they, what was the film about and what was your role?
Luke: I started my film career with Dark Tide which was shot here in Cape Town last year (2010). It’s a movie about a shark-cage-diving instructor, played by Halle Berry. She’s a shark whisperer and dives outside the cage with Great whites until a tragic event makes her stop altogether. I play a lead, ‘Luke’, who’s the son of a millionaire and pays her to get back in the water because he wants to dive. Dredd 3D also stands out for me. That was shot here in Cape Town this year (2011) at the new Cape Town Film Studios (http://thestarlitpath.com/2011/10/28/cape-town-film-studios-gives-hollywood-a-run-for-its-money/). It’s a remake of the comic. I play a supporting lead character who’s “in” with the rebel kids; ‘Freel’. That was great fun because we got to do a lot of stunt work – including gun work! It was cool. I also really enjoyed Chronicle. It’s a 20th Century Fox film about three kids who get telekinetic powers. That was also shot this year and I play a bully in the film, named ‘Sean’. Scaredy Kat is another film I did this year which stands out for me. Shot here in Cape Town, it’s a South African horror film about a girl who stays home one night while her friends go to a big Halloween party. I play her boyfriend, ‘Raynor’. Finally, Sleeper’s Wake is another memorable one. It was shot in Durban and Johannesburg this year. It’s based on a book by a South African novelist, Alistair Morgan. It looks at extreme tragedy and the human coping mechanism for dealing with it. I’m part of a family in that, my name is ‘Simon’. My father is played by Deon Lotz; well-known for his role in South Africa’s recent entrant for the Oscars 2012, Skoonheid. Finally, a BBC series I did last year was also very memorable. It’s called The Runaway. It was shot here in early 2010 and it follows the lives of two youths in post-world war England. I play ‘Harry Clark’, a kid in a gang.
Tamika: Have you done any commercials? If so, what?
Luke: Yes I have. Some of the biggest were for Trina Fruit Drink, Go Compare, Old Mutual and Omo.
Tamika: What is the most recent you have done?
Luke: I’ve been shooting an Algida, a.k.a. Ola ice-cream, commercial for Poland and Hungary.
Tamika: What’s in the pipeline for you at the moment?
Luke: Hmm… It’s that weird waiting period before my films come out! Haha!
Tamika: Who is your agent?
Luke: APM.
Tamika: Do you also model?
Luke: No.
Tamika: What are your favourite South African films?
Luke: Paljas and District 9.
Tamika: Where do you party, usually?
Luke: Mercury and Assembly, when I’m in Cape Town. Otherwise I love Pakalolo in Blouberg.
Tamika: What’s in the boot of your car right now?
Luke: A 6-pack of water from Rocking the Daisies!
Tamika: Do you have siblings?
Luke: Yes, an older sister.
Tamika: What does your family do?
Luke: My mom’s a home-maker and my dad works for Fast-trims.
Tamika: What is your health routine like?
Luke: I’ve grown up eating very healthily because my dad is a vegetarian. So I eat well by default. But I do binge! And I try to gym at least twice a week!
Tamika: Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Luke: I see myself in a position to be able to choose my roles so that I can tell the stories I want to tell and teach the things I want to teach. I would love to live abroad- anywhere sunny- but Cape Town will always be home. That will never change. Oh, and driving a sports car! That would be nice!
Tamika: Haha! How long are you planning on staying in South Africa? Do you have plans to move to another country?
Luke: Well I’m reticent to make any plans to leave South Africa at the moment.
Tamika: What’s one interesting thing about you that your followers don’t know?
Luke: I live on quotes! I eat quotes for breakfast 🙂
Tamika: Name a place you love.
Luke: My happy place would have to be Big Bay Beach.
Tamika: Do you do any charity work?
Luke: Yes, I’m looking to get involved in the Santa Shoebox Project from this year. It’s a non-profit organization that collects and distributes Christmas gifts to underprivileged children throughout South Africa (http://www.santashoebox.co.za/).
Tamika: What do you tell yourself when you walk out of an audition?
Luke: “What’s next?”
If you want to follow him on Twitter, he goes by @LukeTyler_
You can also check him out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/midway.luke
