by Thinus Ferreira
A South African reality TV star and producer known as Tebogo Ramokgadi is accusing e.tv of theft of his filmed pilot and proposal for Smoke & Mirrors which is now a new e.tv drama series - although eMedia denies that the broadcaster stole his show, saying his show concept with the same name was rejected and that any alleged similarities including the name are purely coincidental.
Tebogo Ramokgadi claims that e.tv has stolen his idea for a 13-episode series with Smoke & Mirrors.
e.tv's Smoke & Mirrors which is now on-air is produced by The Final Chapter Production. It's a new drama series that e.tv held some event for this past Sunday but couldn't bother to even tell media stakeholders would be taking place.
Tebogo Ramokgadi says that he pitched Smoke & Mirrors, with this name, to e.tv content executive Khanyi Nxumalo on 20 September 2020 through Leo Phiri, after R1 million was spent to film a type of pilot episode.
Tebogo Ramokgadi has been sharing screenshots of his show pitch, along with responses from Khanyi Nxumalo who was initially very impressed with the show and its visuals, with promises that Smoke & Mirrors would get a full commission from e.tv.
"The visuals are amazing and the story itself is really compelling. It's a higher LSM but I'm sure e.tv will start moving into that direction, now that they've launched eVOD. Again they don't do licensing," Khanyi Nxumalo wrote.
"This is an excellent production it will definitely be picked up. Congratulations, Khanyi Nxumalo said, adding: "Please send content that you haven't shot, for consideration for full commission", with the producer who responded: "I'm looking for a commission for Smoke & Mirrors. What you saw was a pitch teaser".
When Tebogo Ramokgadi and Leo Phiri discovered that Smoke & Mirrors is coming to e.tv - something they had sent to e.tv but that wasn't their show - a concerned Leo Phiri emailed Khanyi Nxumalo.
"It has come to our attention that e.tv has commissioned a show that I'm currently developing titled Smoke & Mirrors set in the North West."
"My concern and that of our partners is that I submitted a pitch deck to you and a visual promo for a show titled Smoke & Mirrors on 20 September 2021 and are gravely concerned that a new show under your watch and also set in the North West has inherited the same title."
"Given the above, kindly shed some clarity to put our minds at ease as we do not want to speculate at this stage as to what might have transpired."
eMedia in a statement now says its story of Smoke & Mirrors is set in a small mining town called Emnyameni and that Tebogo Ramokgadi's concept was rejected.
"eMedia confirms that an unsolicited proposal was received from Tebogo Ramokgadi's then series producer in September 2021." eMedia says "the show and concept, like many other pitches, was not accepted".
According to eMedia's corporate communications press statement "The title, Smoke & Mirrors is not a unique name, and is a general phrase used in everyday language and by many other producers for album and song titles, and also across many industries. Any alleged similarities to this, or many other dramas is purely coincidental".
