by Thinus Ferreira
A new telenovela Skemergrond, set in a small Western Cape town will replace the popular Arendsvlei from July on kykNET&kie (DStv 145) with the new Afrikaans show also produced by Penguin Films and filled with characters "all carrying dark secrets".
Once the cancelled Arendsvlei ends, Skemergrond will also broadcast four episodes weekly from Mondays to Thursdays in the 19:30 timeslot on kykNET&kie. Casting that will include veteran actors as well as new faces is still to be announced.
The new telenovela is set in Gemoedsdrif, a small town in the Western Cape where the Louw family has a flower farm.
The Louw lives are thrown into tumult when guests arrive unexpectedly, threatening to divulge shocking family secrets.
Roxanne Blaise who starred in Sara se Geheim and M-Net's upcoming White Lies is the principal director and also worked as director on Arendsvlei.
"We're ecstatic over this fantastic opportunity," says Roxanne Blaise. "The fresh and exciting cast will bring an epic family saga to television. Skemergrond is set in the rural Western Cape and the flower markets of Cape Town, filled with interesting characters who are all carrying dark secrets".
The other director on Skemergrond is Marissa Drummond who starred in kykNET series like Suidooster and Spoorloos: Die
eiland. Bobby Stuurman who did director training on Arendsvlei is the dialogue coach and apprentice director on the new show.
The Skemergrond writers' room consists of Jo-Ann Scholtz, Johann Davis, Alyzzander Fourie, Margaret Goldsmid, Meesha Aboo, Kanya
Viljoen, Lauren Scholtz, Henry Cloete and Tristam Atkins.
Skemergrond's creative producers are veteran producer Roberta Durrant and Andrea Frankson-Titus.
"We've brought together an exceptional cast and a brilliant crew behind the scenes to tell a multi-faceted story filled with secrets, love and revenge," says Roberta Durrant. "Viewers will be captivated and surprised by all of the emotional twists and turns."
