I spoke to Isidingo creator Gray Hofmeyr who is part of the judging panel of the nationwide Isidingo Talent Search that concludes today in Johannesburg after they've scoured the country looking for a new actor to play an ex football star on the SABC3 soapie.
At the auditions I asked him whether the football star character was dreamed up because we are in 2010 and South Africa is hosting the World Cup Soccer tournament and if it will be a permanent character.
For Gray Hofmeyr's answers you can click on READ MORE below.
Do you envision this to be a permanent character?
We definitely want a permanent character – that's our objective. We hope he's fantastic and will stay with us for a long time. We're writing lots of stories already for this character – that's the objective. Also what happens is - if an actor really works in a role - it kind of grows itself. That's what we would like.
Because he's an ex-football star, because he's kind of a player, did you create the character because it's 2010 World Cup soccer this year, or was that just a fluke?
No I suppose it's a bit of a fluke, really. I suppose we were influenced in that regard, but it's not our objective. The character needs to last long after 2010 soccer world cup.
