by Thinus Ferreira
e.tv is again commissioning a few regional half-hour documentaries, preferably from first-time producers, who will get R265 000 per documentary project to film stories from South Africa's Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North-West provinces.
The closing date is 5 June and the 23-minute documentaries should be in vernacular languages, with English subtitles.
The documentaries are part of eMedia's budget for content made outside of Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and according to e.tv should "concentrate on strongly-researched information, while providing entertainment value through relatable characters that drive the narrative messaging of the selected subject matter".
Production companies must be registered in these provinces outside KZN, the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Documentaries should have a "unique and compelling story about a township/dorpie/village told through the eyes of the people who live there" and "showcase the beauty and uniqueness of the hometown and its people".
e.tv says proposals must deal with subject matter that is thought-provoking and entertaining, featuring characters that are layered and engaging and "hold appeal for a national audience".
Submissions must be sent to documentaries@etv.co.za
