SAFTAS 2014: The Saftas again botches the In Memoriam segment by forgetting or simply not knowing, and then blatantly leaving out names.

The National Film and Video Foundation's 8th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) once again did a disrespectful disservice by messing up the In Memoriam segment with not just being unable to spell the dead's names correctly but even blatantly leaving out names of industry people who've passed away.

For a South African awards show that is supposedly for the South African film and TV industry, the NFVF, the Safta organising committee and Clive Morris Productions are falling far short of the very basic standards and expectations of what something like the Saftas should be.

Instead viewers and the South African industry get a trash production year after year after year.

Those who've passed away, and those still living and working in the TV and film industry and who should get recognition, all deserve better than this.

Who are the people creating this shoddy awards show who are not even able to get a very basic thing right like a complete In Memoriam list, with a proper spell check of names of the people who've died in our TV and film industry in the past year?

The Saftas "In Memoriam" segment honoured Alyce Chavunduka (spelled incorrectly as Chuvunduka), Bhoyi Mgena, Chaneli Moshoeshoe, Dale Cutts, Dudley Saunders, Ferdie Uphof, Jeremy Bonell, Joan Brickhill, Karabo Maithufi, Kurt Wustmann, Larissa Peters, Lesego Motsepe, Lisa Melman, Mixael de Kock, Paddy O'Byrne, Peter Hayes (spelled incorrectly as Heyes), Peter Krummick, Ronnie van Wijk, Sandra Ferreira, Vuyo Mbuli, Vuyolwethu Lima and special inclusion of Nelson Mandela.

If you instantly not just spotted the "Alyce Chuvunduka" spelling problem when the In Memoriam segment started, but also instantly knew of names left off, and out of, the list from those who've died, you can go and do the Saftas better than the production company and the organisers.

Click below to have the names revealed.

SAFTAS 2014: You CANNOT make this up. A sound guy and stage hand walks onto the stage at the Saftas to place a mic DURING a live skit.

This wasn't a rehearsal but what viewers had to see during the very live 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) - and which an accredited film school would fail.

The National Film and Video Foundation's Saftas shown on SABC3 and produced by Clive Morris Productions was once again a groan eliciting television study of how not-to.

Like when viewers had to watch a sound guy and stage hand in dark silhouette, walking onto the stage during another skit, to position and place a mic and a mic stand - worsened by the fact that the camera didn't even cut away.

The mic and mic stand positioning disturbing the scene wasn't part of the co-hosts Alan Committie and Tumi Morake's joke.

It was a complete mistake, worsened by whoever didn't cut away to another preview camera angle within a second but kept showing how the man walks on stage and place down the microphone.

You just cannot make trash television like this up.

It was just another one in an unmitigated string of flubs ranging from spelling mistakes, no sound, audio problems and others, which were all part of the 8th South African Film and Television Awards and took place on Saturday night at Gallagher Estate.

SAFTAS 2014: Yes. Just like the Saftas' captive audience, you're wondering what the f- you're watching.

Yes.

Just like the captive audience at Gallagher Estate on Saturday night and Atandwa Kani rather sheepishly and perplexingly looking straight into camera, viewers at home watching the eye-poppingly bad 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) were probably wondering:

What the f- is this!?

At a badly-done awards show from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) meant to and purportedly celebrating and honouring South Africa's film and television industry, it was funny (not in a good way) that Saftas co-host Alan Committie kept dissing and making put-downs jokes of film and television.

Like saying movies cost R7. "But the popcorn and Coke cost R186." (Let's gently encourage rather than dissuade people from going to the movies on South African film's biggest night, shall we?)

Like saying "there's too many soaps to choose from" on television (conveniently leaving out that the Saftas Favourite Soap list is not complete or credible because SABC2's Muvhango is deliberately left out).

Like dissing the SABC on SABC3 which broadcast the Saftas, referring to how the public broadcaster "lose people all the time".

SAFTAS 2014: Oprah! Lady Gaga! The Saftas supposed to celebrate South African TV and film still has a desperate yearning to be American.

"I was like Oprah. You get a Safta! You get a Safta! You get a Safta!"

That is how Tumi Morake as co-host of the television travesty known as the 7th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) for 2014, tried to joke in the botched-again live broadcast on Saturday night on SABC3.

Not only is Oprah Winfrey American and could Tumi Morake not bother with, or come up with, a more proper localised joke, but even the whole reference is old and dated. 

Comedy should be au courant, girl.

And it wasn't the only Oprah joke at the National Film and Video Foundation's Saftas - even her co-host Alan Committie earlier chimed in with his own Oprah jokes.

Then there was Lady Gaga - neither a TV star, nor a film star - who made an appearance as a ZA News puppet after Alan Committie said last year that Safta viewers got to see Samuel L. Jackson.

As if the Saftas should be about what type and caliber of international stars filming in South Africa can be roped in for a local awards show.  

It belies a sentiment, an unexpressed yearning, and is a devastating reflection of what the Saftas really sees and heralds as good and great, or perhaps even what the South African film and TV industry longs for, reaches for and aspires to be: still American.

Listen to, look at, and analyse the various quips and chirps, mannerisms and fronting from the various personalities, actors and cultural references and constructs at the 2014 South African Film and Television Awards.

You'll notice how - consciously and unconsciously - seemingly everybody imitates the stereotypical American playbook, both in terms of how they think they're supposed to act at events of this nature from having watched too many Emmys, Grammys and Oscars; as well as subtly endorsing that what is American is better than what is South African.

It's the underlying current and the unchecked, skewed values quietly and constantly reaffirming that America is better, or that American TV and film is the (real) benchmark. 

If you use Oprah - not once or twice but thrice - as your reference; if you use Lady Gaga and Charlize Theron as Tinseltown-based puppets for your reference point because you think they are the people everybody will know; if you tell people "Remember last year when we had Samuel L. Jackson (instead of the local sought-after star(s) you got), you're in fact telling and signaling to not just the local film and TV industry but every viewer that what is American is more important and deserves more recognition that what is authentically South African.

It's sad and disappointing coming from an awards show supposedly there to build up, celebrate and recognise South Africa's film and television industry.

SAFTAS 2014: Presenters are again clearly not briefed on pronunciation as they struggle to get nominees' names right ... while Saftas mock Gaga for struggling with Tina Jaxa.

Category presenters and on-stage personalities who botched name after name at the 8th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) were in an amateur way, as in previous years, clearly not briefed and not audibly voice coached on how to actually pronounce the names of nominees and winners - while the Saftas saw it fit to ironically make fun of a caricature of Lady Gaga unable to pronounce "Tina Jaxa".

Nobody at the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Saftas organising committee, or Clive Morris Productions responsible for this shoddy television travesty apparently bothered to do more than shove envelopes into the hands of presenters who then struggled to pronounce names correctly.

As in past years with the Saftas, it created a cringe-worthy and highly embarrassing refrain to watch actor after actor and personality after personality rambling through names they don't know how to say, just like a Grade 3 child struggling to read.

The Saftas and the NFVF purportedly want the awards show to celebrate South Africa's film and TV industry - but actually trashes it by constantly broadcasting a Saftas which shows how little those in the industry know, or care to know, of how to pronounce fellow South Africans and industry peers' names.

As in past years, the Saftas couldn't even get the name of their own Roberta Durrant, the chairperson of the Saftas judging committee right.

Mmabatho Ramagoshi, council chairperson of the NFVF called Roberta Durrant, "Roberta Durrant" as in "due rand", while Zama Nkosi, NFVF CEO called her "Roberta Durrant" as in "currant". (During the red carpet coverage, Roberta Durrant wasn't even be identified by either name, nor on-screen graphic.)

So which pronunciation is it NFVF and Saftas?

Ironically the Saftas, broadcast on SABC3 on Saturday night from Gallagher Estate, included a skit where ZA News puppets - a "Charlize Theron" and a "Lady Gaga" (a star of film? a star of TV?)  - appeared.

Lady Gaga had to get Charlize Theron to say "Tina Jaxa" since Lady Gaga is unable to pronounce the "African name" because of "all that letters".

Why does the foolhardly NFVF, Safta committee and designated production company not go through the names and have those presented who they have lined-up to hand over trophies practice the nominees' names out loud before presenting?

Or is all that matters what they're going to wear, that they're able to walk, and that they just show up at the event?

South Africa's film and TV industry is a part of the broader South Africa and reflects that world.

It is high time that the NFVF and the Saftas start to do the same and in turn accurately reflect the industry it is supposed to serve - an industry built on the spoken world and performance art, where people know each others' names and are able to do the correct on-air pronunciation of talent names.

SAFTAS 2014: The Saftas is now apparently handing out a prize for Best Compost.

The embarrassing and total trash fest, the 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) is now apparently handing out an award for best compost.

Clearly the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Saftas committee and Clive Morris Productions responsible for this once-again badly done production did not do their work as good and as properly as it should have been.

You simply don't see compost like this at the Oscars or the Emmys and real and credible televised awards shows. "Best Music Compostition". Imagine.

Meanwhile South Africa's TV and film industry - and viewers - have to watch a sad Saftas year after year after year.

The 2014 Saftas of course also couldn't even start this year's In Memoriam segment right - it had a spelling mistake in the very first name.

SAFTAS 2014: Lillian Dube storms the stage to grab the Best Actress in a TV Comedy Award which she didn't won.

Actress Lillian Dube stormed the stage at the 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) shown on Saturday night live on SABC3 to grab the award that went to Tsholo Monedi for Best Actress in a TV Comedy - and nobody knew what was going on.

While confused presenters Mongezi Mgcobondwana and Anele Mdoda looked on, Lillian Dube screamed away from the mic. "She's outside! They didn't open for her!"

Neither the presenters nor Lillian Dube made it clear to viewers watching that the award is being accepted on Tsholo Monedi's behalf who was a no-show at the 2014 Saftas.

Lillian Dube and Tsholo Monedi both appeared in the second season of Skwizas; Lillian Dube's Lillian Dube Productions in fact also produced the show.

SAFTAS 2014: Award show co-host Alan Committie takes a dig at the SABC on SABC3 and how the SABC 'lose people all the time'.

The audience at the trashy-as-usual 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) laughed audibly when co-host Alan Committie got in a snide joke right at the start as he dissed the SABC live on the air right on SABC3 which is showing the amateur awards show.

"I'm sorry. I took the wrong turn. I was in the bottom floor of the SABC. You know they lose people there all the time," he said during the opening skit as co-host Tumi Morake had to help Alan Committie out of a hole cut on stage.

Then Tumi Morake got her own somewhat insensitive joke in regarding the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet which is still missing somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Then the announcer voice cut in welcoming the audience, but of course that microphone wasn't on - the second big sound oops of the 2014 Saftas - meaning viewers didn't hear what was being said from the beginning.

SAFTAS 2014: Red carpet coverage with Bonang Matheba kicks off with NO SOUND at the 2014 South African Film and Television Awards.

Don't adjust your TV set.

It's not you, its the shockingly inept, embarrassing, eye-roll inducing and cringe-worthy South African Film and Television Awards 2014 and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) once again creating a live television mess.

The South African Film and Television Awards 2014 on SABC3 is kicking off with ZERO SOUND, embarrassing red carpet presenter Bonang Matheba who is talking but viewers not being able to hear anything.

Also, the SABC, SABC3, and the production team responsible for this instant mess, are all apparently not noticing. Or if they are, they're unable to immediately fix it - which is as bad.

Bonang Matheba is talking, looking like an overly-animated mime artist due to the complete lack of sound from the 2014 Saftas.

Then the shoddy production, clearly already out of their depth yet again, breaks away to roll the 2014 Saftas logo. There is music for a second. Then back to Bonang Matheba. Still no sound.

Bonang Matheba interviews the first red person on the red carpet. Still no sound.

The totally silent red carpet coverage breaks away mid-interview (terrible!) to a stock promo (with sound). "Catch the Saftas live on SABC3 this Saturday at 8pm".

Yes. I'm trying to, but dear NFVF, SABC, SABC3 and production company responsible for the national disgrace once again inflicted on South African viewers: there isn't any sound.

Then we get a lot of commercials.

And back to Bonang Matheba. Now there is sound but the sound is out of sync with the visuals - and remains so for the duration of the red carpet coverage.

The people being interviewed are hardly audible due to the insanely loud, monotonous background music drowning out the people being interviewed. Even Bonang Matheba can't hear and have to ask the same questions over and over.

Then Bonang Matheba interviews Isibaya actress Nomzamo Mbatha and asks her about the production schedule. Nomzamo Mbatha says she left the show. It's extremely embarrassing.

Clearly nobody properly briefed Bonang Matheba on who she is going to interview and what to ask - the TV production, the NFVF and the Saftas 2014 organising team should have had a person, or a team, helping specifically with that.

The rest of the red carpet show is done with badly spliced and edited clips - all with differing sound levels and jarring editing.

This is how South Africa does live awards show television, people. And year after year the NFVF apparently refuses to learn and do this TV trash any better.

SAFTAS 2014: SABC cameras once again pan lovingly over a shocking and massive number of completely empty chairs.

Will this trash never learn?

Viewers watching the shockingly bad 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) are once again treated to panoramic shots of, and cameras lovingly panning over, completely empty seats at Gallagher Estate - just as it does year after year after year.

You simply don't see empty seats at the Oscars or the Emmys.

Clearly the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invite people who don't show, or haven't heard of the industry concept of seat fillers for live awards.

Here's another novel idea: How about inviting South Africa's film critics and TV critics who were largely (yawn, nothing new here) shunned yet again.

They'll help to fill those seats - unless they're somewhere locked up in some room again - as what happened in the past. Or being told they can't come in because there isn't space - as what happened in the past.

Get real and get professional Saftas and NFVF. The embarrassing awards show - which you still have the audacity to call "annual" although for that to be true it had to take place every year instead of the years you've skipped - remains painfully empty and devoid of quality - just like your seats.

SAFTAS 2014: Can somebody please help this trash production with the spelling? In Memoriam segment starts with a spelling mistake.

Somebody please help the amateur trash known as the South African Film and Television Awards 2014.

The 2014 In Memoriam segment of the Saftas starts with Alyce Chavunduka. But spelled incorrectly "Chuvunduka".

And that's just the very first name. Who is in charge of this trash and gets paid to embarrass and degrade South Africa's TV and film industry years after year after year?

Why does it remain so difficult to do a decent tribute and recognition for and to the South African film and TV industry? Why are people who can't spell put in charge of this national embarrassment by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF)?