Mikayla and Jesse Brown on co-directing Showmax film Finding Optel

In the feature film Finding Optel, 16-year-old amateur detective Claire Abrahams’s search for a missing dog unexpectedly reopens old wounds when she also finds clues relating to her older brother’s disappearance. 

Siblings Mikayla and Jesse Brown co-directed the film, with Mikayla also penning the screenplay and heading the cast in the role of Claire. They share more about their debut feature, produced by Blended Films.

Where did the idea for this story come from? 

Mikayla: In 2022, I completed my Honours in Creative Writing at Stellenbosch University, and I wanted to write a screenplay for my final assignment. I was stuck between a detective story and a story about grief. My amazing lecturer, Malan Steyn, suggested I combine the two. From that, Finding Optel was born! 

I wanted to write a story that was quirky and incorporated my childhood experiences. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house. I have such fond memories of the parks, the winkeltjie, the wide-open streets we played in, and my grandparents’ home. I wanted to capture those memories in the screenplay. 

Why did the two of you decide to take on this project together? 

Mikayla: Finding Optel was accepted for Showmax’s open call for first-time writers and directors. I was very nervous to direct my first feature film, and wanted my brother, Jesse, to do it. He, however, encouraged me to do it together with him. I am glad we did! We worked well as a team. 

Jesse: We actually have a long history of collaboration. Back when I got my first cell phone when I was 12 years old, I would film all sorts of clips, and Mikayla was often the lead actress! We made a lot of silly shorts over the years, and we have a good understanding of what we both like and look for. I felt secure in knowing that Mikayla was also making some of the decisions. Her vision for the world of the story meant that she didn’t overthink certain options like I would. 

Mikayla, you have many roles in this film – writing the script, directing, and acting. How did you keep your focus? 

Mikayla: Fortunately, there was time to focus on the writing, co-directing, and acting. For the script, I received mentorship from Marianne de Klerk and the Blended Films team of Dominique Jossie and Quanita Adams. As they say, “writing is rewriting”. I had to write a few drafts to make my script budget-friendly. 

During pre-production, Jesse and I did the storyboarding together to ensure we had the same vision. We split up other tasks but made sure to inform each other before a decision was finalised. 

Once filming started, I took a step back so that I could focus on acting. On set, I’d see where I could support and offer direction when I wasn’t in a scene. When I was in a scene, Jesse took the lead. We made sure to discuss the scenes before filming. For post-production, Jesse and I would discuss notes together, but he was the point person when it came to editing, grading, and sound. Splitting up the work ensured we could work efficiently. 

Tell us about your approach to the production design and the general style of the film. 

Mikayla: A lot of films about the Cape Flats focus on gangsterism and violence. Though this is sadly a reality, it’s not the only reality. There is such beauty that exists in those communities. I wanted Finding Optel to portray a different narrative that is more hopeful than harrowing. The story is presented through Claire’s eyes. She is full of life, child-like, and imaginative. I wanted to bring that child-like lens through the art direction and the cinematography. 

Jesse: We had a strong sense about the style from the beginning. While I lean towards serious arthouse films, Mikayla appreciates quirkier, light-hearted films. We thought this would help Finding Optel have emotional weight while also being fun. The idea was to show a different side of the Cape Flats, and this needed to be reflected in the film’s style as well. We drew from films like Amélie and The Royal Tenenbaums without wanting to emulate them too much. 

Watch the trailer for Finding Optel

The dialogue in the script is authentic and realistic. Why was doing it this way important to you? 

Mikayla: I don’t like watching a movie and feeling like the characters don’t speak like that in real life. When writing Finding Optel, I drew a lot of inspiration from my family. They are a busy bunch! I listened to how differently and uniquely they speak, which helped me find nuance when writing the characters. We were also blessed to have veteran actors in the cast. Jesse and I gave them space to experiment and make the character theirs. It was as if the characters were made for them. 

Jesse: Mikayla enjoys writing dialogue based on our family’s use of language. There’s something about the way we speak to one another colloquially that is so enjoyable to listen to. We tend to quote things to one another that someone said 10, 15 years ago! 

The cast includes some stellar veterans. How did this come about? 

Jesse: This is down to the team at Blended Films. They are well-connected with local talent and were able to get people that we would never have dreamt of to play in our debut feature! We had a few options in mind for each character and often got our first choice. 

Mikayla, did you originally write Claire intending to play her yourself? 

I didn’t intend to play Claire. I thought co-directing while acting would be too much on my plate. But our producers at Blended Films and the team at Showmax encouraged me to play her, and I’m so glad I listened to them. Playing Claire was such a joy! I love her quirkiness and busy-body nature. It was quite easy to connect with her character. 

What would you like viewers to remember after they’ve watched the film? 

Mikayla: I believe that we weren’t made to do life alone. We need people to get us through the tough times and to celebrate the good times with us. Just as it takes a village to raise a kid, it still takes a village to live as an adult. That’s Claire’s coming-of-age journey. I want people to realise the importance of community and to feel hopeful when watching the film. 

Finding Optel comes to Showmax on 5 September 2025, after launching at Silwerskerm in August.