Minnie Dlamini who is finally ready to showcase her self-produced TV wedding special to DStv viewers in South Africa and across Africa from this Friday, tells TVwithThinus that "even thinking about it makes me nervous but I can't wait to share it".
The TV star also laughs about hilariously inaccurate tabloid reports in June this year that she "sold her wedding to MultiChoice for R6 million".
It's actually a 3-episode wedding TV special that was acquired by M-Net for its VUZU AMP entertainment channel that is carried on DStv.
"I did not get R6 million for the show. I wish I did, but I did not," says Minnie Dlamini.
At the beginning of the year the veteran TV presenter jumped from the SABC to SuperSport, and is now co-presenting the show Homeground that is being simulcast on SuperSport and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).
Minnie Dlamini's wedding TV special, Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones, will unspool as a 3-part special on VUZU AMP (DStv 103) starting on Friday 13 October at 19:30.
The first episode of Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones will take viewers through the process behind planning her wedding and the preparations for the traditional and western ceremonies.
The second episode of the 3-part special produced by her Beautiful Day Productions with Minnie Dlamini in the role as executive producer for the first time, follows her to Paris for her lavish bachelorette party with her bridesmaids.
This episode will also include her dazzling traditional wedding and a deeper look into how her Zulu culture celebrates marriage.
The third and final episode will showcase the elegant western wedding set in the opulent backdrop of Somerset West in the Western Cape and is the episode Minnie calls "closest to her heart" as viewers will see her get married to Quinton Jones in a white wedding dress covered in Swarovski crystals, designed by Gert Johan Coetzee.
Minnie: Firstly, I did not get R6 million for the show. I wish I did, but I did not.
This is more of a 3-part documentary series. I came up with the idea after the media frenzy after the announcement of my engagement. I thought it was the perfect idea to flex my producing skills but also control the narrative of my own story.
What will viewers see and what will you not show? And how did you decide what level of what happens at your wedding and the pre-planning you will show?
Minnie: I have shared with my followers as much as I could possibly share with this TV project, giving them a true insight into my life on one of the most important journeys in my life.
Showing
your wedding, like what we've seen with Kim Kardashian - it invites people into
your personal life. How do you then strike the balance when you get interest in
your personal life but don't want the public to know about certain things?
Minnie: As a media personality you are constantly taking risks and
which is the best risk to take.
You reveal what you're comfortable revealing and
protect what is important.
What is important to me is that I am married to someone
who has no desire to be in public eye. Throughout all my narratives I need
to protect and respect his views. It's no longer just about me anymore.
There
isn't a right or wrong - stay true to yourself what you're comfortable doing.
You cannot control people's opinions about you. Instead of showing 10 different
narratives, I put together my own story, my way.
There is a significant
difference between the two, The Kardashians is a reality show whereby this is a
3-part documentary - what the public will see is my journey from start to
finish.
How did having cameras around change the experience? You're used to having cameramen around but did you prep family members and wedding
guests on what to do or how to behave?
Minnie: Just like in every wedding there are always photographers and
videographers. We made sure our camera men blended in.
It was very important
for my guests not to feel like they were on a film set, but instead to show the
real emotions.
Viewers
have grown up watching Top Billing weddings and now Our Perfect Wedding on
Mzansi Magic and have become used to a certain level of production value. How
will what viewers see maybe be different or the same in terms of expectations
of wedding television?
Minnie: My format is different from the other 2 productions.
In terms of
the level of production it has really never been seen on South African television.
I can truly
say it's world class. I worked with a team of incredible talented creatives whose
brief was to go completely out of their comfort zone to create a completely new
viewing experience.
What does
filming your wedding for a TV special allow you to do, or for it to be that you
wouldn't otherwise have been able to have?
Minnie: It allowed the happiest moment to live forever, not only in
my memory but in the hearts of South Africans.
How will
you describe why people should tune in and watch?
Minnie: A lot of people think they know me –
what makes me happy; what makes me tick.
This is a piece of work that shows me.
This also shows me thought the people that I love. It is deeply personal and deeply
transparent. Even thinking about it makes me nervous, but I can't wait to share it.
■ Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones, starts on Friday 13 October at 19:30 on VUZU AMP (DStv 103).
