With continued upheaval behind the scenes of M-Net's soap The Wild - now losing its executive producer Bronwyn Berry and series producer Richard Nosworthy at the same time as what there have been continued talk of unhappiness behind the scenes for the past few months - M-Net is responding.
Here is what I've asked M-Net, and here is exactly what the pay broadcaster says:
As I have it pieced it together from several people, Bronwyn Berry is gone from The Wild immediately and Richard Nosworthy will stay on for a few weeks more. Have they've been fired and why?
M-Net: Both of them resigned, giving three months notice. We respect then and hold both of them in high regard.
How many actors on The Wild don't have contracts yet?
M-Net: Everybody is under contract, some on fixed-term freelance contracts, others on month-by-month freelance contracts. The actors who did not want to sign their fixed-term freelance contracts are all on month-to-month freelance contracts.
I'm hearing a lot of people have resigned from the soap (working behind the scenes of The Wild) the past 2 months and that they're unhappy with how the show has been managed. Does M-Net have any comment about this?
M-Net: It is not uncommon to have a turnover of personnel on a big-budget television production and The Wild is no different in this regard. A ''lot of people'' is an over-statement.
I'm told Bobby Heaney is replacing Bronwyn Berry. Does that mean that Imani Media takes over from M-Net's Magic Factory. How exactly does this work, for instance, will new producers now come in?
M-Net: M-Net's Magic Factory continues to produce the show, with in-contracted expertise.
I've followed up and hear that Tony Kgoroge is now planning to take M-Net to court after last week's CCMA hearing. What is M-Net's latest comment or position on specifically Tony Kgoroge's case?
M-Net: The matter has been referred to the Labour Court.
What is the current mood/atmosphere on set? How would M-Net describe the behind the scenes atmosphere (or situation). It would appear to outsiders as if its not happy?
M-Net: The general mood is that of excitement to be part of such a groundbreaking production. Teething problems are normal in new and big ventures such as these and we address them as they appear.
What is M-Net doing now, or doing in general, or taking what steps to help or work on the soap behind the scenes or management wise, or what does M-Net want to say about what is happening behind The Wild?
M-Net: It is a normal big production with a lot of challenges, nothing different to what we've had before.
The Wild is not a top 10 show on M-Net according to week 20 of TAMS which I've looked at last week. Egoli was always number 1 or 2, tied for first place with Carte Blanche. Does M-Net have any comment about The Wild's performance viewership wise?
M-Net: The Wild is not a traditional Afrikaans M-Net soap and should therefore not be compared to Egoli or Binneland. It is designed to cross over in all pay TV markets as well as new demographics not previously targeted by M-Net, and to this end it has exceeded our expectations in the short time it has been on air.
ALSO READ: The Wild's executive producer and series producer gone; replaced with Bobby Heaney.
