by Thinus Ferreira
In a very nasty and extremely insulting move, a press release about South Africa's M-Net (DStv 101), Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle with a general announcement (that it will only be send to South Africa's media on Wednesday morning) has been given to America's The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday evening about the new 8-episode local South African series White Lies which will soon start filming in Cape Town with British actor Natalie Dormer.
Utterly dissing South Africa's publications, journalists and media who are good enough to constantly report on M-Net's news and convey its information to the local TV and film industry, the general press release about M-Net was sent to The Hollywood Reporter to appear as an "exclusive".
In this general press release published as an "exclusive" - although the exact same information will be sent to other media - M-Net "announces" that the Game of Thrones starlet Natalie Dormer is in Cape Town for White Lies which will start principal photography on 6 March together with South African actor Brendon Daniels as detective Forty Bell.
In a big middle finger to South Africa's own media - although MultiChoice and M-Net continue to do lip service about how it supports local - M-Net will send the same general press release out to South Africa's media but only on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile an American media outlet had already published it - with South African media getting it half a day after giving it was already given to foreign media first.
It appears as if M-Net and Quizzical Pictures have a lack of understanding about why South African journalists and publications won't bother covering White Lies later, why they find this type of behaviours offensive within a media environment, and why local South African media will be resistant to give the show any actual exposure in print and otherwise, later.
What is really happening and being communicated, is that PR people are actively and directly angering and disrespecting local South African media, editors and journalists - upfront showing them that they presumably matter "less" than American media when it comes to M-Net getting a press release "exclusives" in overseas media.
Besides Natalie Dormer, The White Lies cast of the M-Net series will also star Langley Kirkwood, Morgan Santo, Daniel Schultz, Jane de Wet, Katlego Lebogang, Robert Hobbs and Athenkosi Mfamela.
M-Net in the press release describes White Lies as a "murder mystery series" which was created by Sean Steinberg and written by Darrel Bristow-Bovey. The series will purportedly "explore race, privilege, and inequality".
According to the M-Net general press release which M-Net will only send to South African media on Wednesday, "White Lies is set in the wealthy neighbourhood of Bishopscourt, Cape Town and sees Dormer taking on the role of an investigative journalist Edie Hansen, who gets caught up in the ugly underbelly that lies beneath the picturesque beauty of the city".
"Following her estranged brother's murder in his luxury home, Edie's world plunges deeper into chaos when her brother's teenage children become prime suspects for the crime."
"As Edie investigates, she finds herself at loggerheads with veteran detective Forty Bell, and grapples with the crumbling local police force, a corrupt political system, and the secretive world of extreme Cape wealth," M-Net says.
In a prepared quote in M-Net's press release, Natalie Dormer says she is apparently "thrilled to be in Cape Town and begin this beautiful, gripping show. South Africa has so much to offer an international audience in its storytelling".
"I'm truly excited to bring Darrel''s 8-episode page-turner to life with such a group of talented directors, led by John, and a superb ensemble cast," Natalie Dormer says in the general press release that M-Net didn't want to send to South African media on Tuesday.
There is also a prepared quote from Harriet Gavshon, Quizzical Pictures creative director and White Lies producer, in the press release.
She says "We are very happy to be
working again with our partners at M-Net and Fremantle, and especially
delighted to have Natalie Dormer join our South African cast. Once again, we
are happy to showcase the wealth of South African talent both behind and in
front of the camera".
M-Net also has a prepared quote in the general press release from Waldimar Pelser, M-Net's director of premium channels.
"White Lies brings together an exceptional creative team and stellar cast in a riveting story set in Cape Town, an iconic city with great natural beauty but also hidden undercurrents."
"We believe White Lies will resonate with series lovers locally and globally. Partnerships such as this one with Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle give shows the best shot at reaching their full potential, and cements M-Net's reputation as the home of world-class entertainment."
Unfortunately, and ironically, what is actively getting damaged here is M-Net's reputation with local media through very disingenuous PR general press release distribution decisions.
