by Thinus Ferreira
A lump of cold rice, a few centimetres of corn on the cob and a few carrot pieces - thrown into a foamalite box - is what background actors allege they've been served on Tuesday last week as craft lunch in Durban on the set of a South Africa TV show.
While a newspaper report said it's on the set of SABC1 and South Africa's biggest TV show, Uzalo, Stained Glass Pictures denies that this food, in this way, was served by this production which is also filmed in Durban.
A shocking image, taken by a background actor of the food they were served as part of a TV show's craft service, came to light last week - with the barely-there "lunch" looking like the scandalous lunch box that festival-goers received at the disastrous Fyre Festival in April 2017 in the Bahamas.
Background actors have now come forward to share and show what they got to eat, claiming that the "meals" they have been served for lunch differed from those given to the show's main actors and crew.
It's standard in South African craft and catering services that all cast and crew eat together and are served the same food on a production, without any delineation between main and other on-call or guest actors, and crew.
While even on big-production, big-budget shows the craft service is never five-star food since cast and crew are not on-set to eat, it is an included production budget expense line-item with decent portions, bulk-prepared but properly made and served, and often with the option for a second helping.
After the image was shared on social media last week, Jack Devnarain, chairperson of the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) shared another image of "breakfast" given to background actors in Durban.
It's unclear what Durban-based production this "breakfast" - also in a foamalite box comprising a hard-boiled egg, a vienna, and a piece of bacon on top of a few baked beans - is from.
Jack Devnarain noted "It's an absolute disgrace and an insult to both the background actors and to the industry itself. The worst part is that its now become the new normal. This pic [is] from background actors in Durban - this is breakfast apparently".
The Sunday World newspaper quoted Uzalo production insiders and background actors who claim they were ordered not to even ask for water or juice since that "is reserved for the main crew of actors, video editors and lightning guys".
Background actors say Uzalo main cast members get to eat "better food" like salads, beef and chicken.
"The shabby treatment started last week," a background actor said. "I thought it was a temporary thing but it has gone on until this week. I was expecting a better service since Uzalo is one of the big productions in the country".
"At Stained Glass TV, we take such matters seriously and are
committed to ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of all individuals
involved in our productions," King David Mukwevho, Uzalo series producer told TVwithThinus in response to a media query.
"We also consulted with the catering team to conduct thorough
investigations, and we are certain that the referenced image does not belong to
our production."
"Whenever we are serving food, there is always enough for
everyone. This could be another production that shoots here in Durban. Our
priority is to provide a comfortable and nourishing environment for everyone on
set."