The Team
These are our team members
John Barker
Director/writer/producer
John Barker is a South African filmmaker, he is best known for his feature film directorial debut BUNNY CHOW. The film was officially selected to screen at the TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, AFI Los Angeles, ROTTERDAM (TIGER AWARDS) LOCARNO and RAINDANCE in 2006. The film received many international and local awards.
John is born to parents Clive Barker (national soccer coach) and Yvonne Barker. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, John made a documentary SOUTH OF THE UMBILO about his childhood growing up in the southern suburbs of Durban.
John wrote, directed and produced South Africa’s first music mockumentary BLU CHEEZ, South Africa’s worst rock band. He gained recognition in SA for his controversial short film on the QUICKIES series.
He next directed the music documentary KWAITO GENERALS which focused on the KWAITO movement of the late nineties and early 2000s. He went on to direct 5 ON THE STREET music documentaries throughout Africa for Channel O.
During this time he joined THE PURE MONATE SHOW (Iconic sketch comedy show). He directed and wrote on season 1 and 2.
He then produced and directed BUNNY CHOW which employed a retro scripting technique. Written by Barker and David Kibuuka and improvised by all the cast, Kagiso Lediga, Joey Rasdien, Jason Cope and Kim Engelbrecht.
Feature films 31 MILLION REASONS and the acclaimed music rock documentary on the band CASSETTE followed.
John then joined SA’s most successful film franchise SPUD, directing SPUD 3 with John Cleese and Troye Sivan.
After this commercial venture he dived back into indie filmmaking, writing directing and producing WONDER BOY FOR PRESIDENT – a political satire on the ANC, starring many of the same actors/comedians from BUNNY CHOW.
Following the film John joined BOMB PRODUCTIONS as head director on ISIBAYA, ISITHEMBISO, AYEYA and the critically acclaimed period TV show THE ROAD (set in SOPHIA TOWN). He then directed BET’s first daily drama ISONO.
John has recently completed his 15 year journey film THE UMBRELLA MEN and the sequel THE UMBRELLA MEN: ESCAPE FROM ROBBEN ISLAND which he co-wrote, directed and produced with KNOWN ASSOCIATES ENTERTAINMENT. Both films were Officially selected to screen at TIFF 22 and TIFF 23.
John is currently completing another lifelong project BAFANA the BOYS, a six part doccie series on the 1996 and 1998 Bafana Bafana winning team coached by his father Clive Barker.
A BARKING RAT Upcoming Projects:
LOLLY: The ‘Lolly Jackson’ gangster film/series.
THE GREEN FAKTOR: The film the Apartheid government wanted to bury.
LEXINGTON MABASO: Weird day at Black Rock, Nevada.
NONGOLOZA, KING OF THE NINEVITES: The private revolution of the first freedom fighter of Johannesburg.
Marilyn Barker
Executive Producer
Marilyn has funded and been executive producer on many of John’s projects including Bunny Chow, Cassette, Soccer South of the Umbilo and Wonder Boy for President.
Thembe Mfebe
Producer
Thembalethu Mfebe is an award-winning South African producer, writer, and director, and co-owner of Barking Rat Film Company. Born in Welkom, he is known for his dynamic storytelling and prolific body of work across film and television, with more than 20 made-for-TV films to his name.
A graduate of the University of Cape Town’s Film & Television Drama Honours programme and an alumnus of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, Themba has played a key creative role in some of South Africa’s most successful series, including Outlaws, Adulting, Miseducation, and Youngins. His feature film credits include Wonder Boy for President and the internationally acclaimed The Umbrella Men, which received honours at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022.
Recognised as a Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African and winner of the AMP CAMP MultiChoice Digital Innovation Challenge, Themba is regarded as a leading voice of the next generation of African storytellers. Through Barking Rat Film Company, he continues to develop bold, authentic stories with strong local voices and global resonance.
Deirdre Mullan
Production Manager
Deirdre Mullan is a production manager with a strong track record across feature films and long-form projects. She has worked closely with director John Barker, serving as Production Manager on several of his standout films.
Her credits include Wonder Boy for President, as well as The Umbrella Men and The Umbrella Men: Escape from Robben Island. She was also Production Manager on Bafana the Boys, supporting complex productions from development through to delivery.