REVIEW. Sail away: The 7th South African Film and Television Awards once again a sinking ceremony; a how-to NOT of disaster coverage.

Mock-up paper boats littering the stage and stage front area - and which had nothing to do with the theme of film or television - didn't add anything to the 7th South African Film and Television Awards - except maybe contribute to the overall sinking feeling that television viewers were once again being subjected to a below par production of a local TV awards ceremony which is still battling to just get the basics right.

The 7th Saftas which played out on TV screens on Saturday night on SABC3 (and played over - it was supposed to end at 22:00 meaning viewers who recorded it missed the end since it only finished at 22:17) remains stuck in the doldrums of disaster coverage.

The 7th Saftas was produced by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and Vertical Limit Productions this year with the help of the SABC TV Outside Broadcasts fascilities and crew as a live broadcast on Saturday night from Gallagher Estate.

Executive producers Delmarie Seaward and Sam September, Kai Masterson as floor manager and Eugene Naidoo as director were responsible for the broadcast.

The 7th Saftas was not as bad as previous years, but it was still pretty bad. And why a TV award show would continue to show panning camera shots of empty tables with empty chairs in the foreground as a live shot over and over will remain a mystery.

In hindsight the 7th Saftas' disastrous red carpet coverage employing clearly inappropriate people like Nthato Mashishi was the harbinger of the horribleness to come.

While Nik Rabinowitz surprisingly shined with real humour as Saftas co-host and was clearly well-prepared and worked hard at incorporating jokes into the script, a staccato Connie Ferguson came across as stilted, struggling to read and struggling to get her words out properly.

For the first time ever at the Saftas, the "In Memoriam" segment wasn't botched. The pace of the show and the flipping through categories were also quicker than in years before and was a marked improvement.

The bad overall awardcast however wasn't helped by the massive bungle which got worse when Nik Rabinowitz was given the wrong envelope to read for best writing team for a TV drama series. The result led to an even bigger embarrassment playing out live on air.

While 7de Laan won as best TV soap of the evening, I would say it's actually Scandal which took the top prize as far as the broadcast of the 7th Saftas is concerned.

Technically, the 7th Saftas was marked by shoddy and bad sound throughout - sound problems as well as sound mistakes, open mics when it should have been muted; loud singular hand clapping constantly audible and which should have been equalised everytime it occured, and sound distortion - especially from Nik Rabinowitz and Connie Ferguson's mics.

Inappropriately, unqualified people are used as presenters of categories. Inappropriately, government and other organisational figureheads are given airtime to drone on with incessant chatter.

Realise that if you make a TV awards show that it is for the viewers - they don't want and shouldn't be subjected to your bureaucracy, ministerial, and sponsorship fuelled "must include" blabbing binges.

Visually the unimaginable bland black stage with black backdrop and twinkly red stars was more evocative of a dinner theatre evening out than what is supposed to be a glamorous TV award show.

The stage was also not quite disabled people friendly - especially for the several old and frail and injured who clearly needed help and had to make an effort to climb the steps to accept awards.

The few musical numbers tended to more French burlesque circus acts than actually being related to film and television like the Oscars and Emmys do. The ZA News cast who won an award and started singing with the music as the music started playing to force them off the stage, was unintentionally funny and a good moment

Samuel L. Jackson from Snakes on a Plane and who was Jedi Mace Windu appeared to present the awards to the actor and actress in a movie. Sadly Riaad Moosa, the doctor who turned stand-up comedian and who won, didn't attend and Craig Freimond had to accept on his behalf.

The best pre-prepared and produced moment of the 7th Saftas came far too late - 5 minutes before the end of the awards ceremony. On it's own as a standalone segment, it was magical and beautiful.

In the taped piece, intercut industry faces from the world of South Africa's television and film spoke to camera about why they're doing what they're doing and what it's all really about. It was mesmerising, great television and well done editing, cut with excellent mood music to fit the theme.

As what would be a truly magical standalone public service announcement (PSA), that minute and a half which could be its own separate TV advert to promote South Africa's film and television industry was really of outstanding quality. That is what the Saftas should be, look like and showcase.

Sadly it doesn't.

SAFTAS RED CARPET DISASTER: Utter incompetence on full display as inexperienced and amateur red carpet 'presenters' are let loose.

The pitiful and pathetic red carpet pre coverage of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards broadcast on Saturday evening on SABC3 with clearly unqualified and unprofessional live television "interviewers" was once again a jarring and eye-popping example of South African television's embarrassing and shameful refusal and inability to get it and do it right.

South African television, production companies and spotlight-seeking telenalities refuse to accept and work from the most basic premise of so-called red carpet award show coverage: investing in, and finding properly skilled people with experience who know what they're doing, can work under pressure, and can juggle the live demands and various simultaneous processes of red carpet coverage and make it look natural, smooth and easy.

Anyone cannot do it, and anyone shouldn't be doing it. Having watched Ryan Seacrest or Giuliana Rancic on E! Entertainment do red carpet coverage, isn't your "academic qualification" for thinking you're suddenly able to.

The gaffe-filled 7th Saftas red carpet coverage on Saturday evening with a meek Lerato Kganyago and a tragically inept, unprofessional and unqualified Nthato Mashishi was another sad display of exactly what happens when people who don't know what they're really doing - or who haven't done it for years and can't deftly adapt with live TV cameras rolling - try to do so-called "red carpet coverage".

What a national shame. And even more ironic that it keeps happening at a so-called awards show dedicated to honouring the best of television.

The numerous mistakes - especially of Nthato Mashishi - beamed into viewers' homes on Saturday evening by the producers as part of the 7th Saftas are simply too numerous to mention and was complete and utter failure television. Lets take just one cringe-inducing example:

Celebutant Jen Su in the yellow is talking, but viewers can't hear anything because neither of the vapid red carpet co-host, all smiling and apparently over-awed, can't be bothered or isn't technically focused enough on holding an actual mic immediately, and steadily, in front of her. And it happens multiple times, constantly.

Interrupting interviewees after they were just asked a question, sound here, sound there, sound gone, crazy and uncontrollable big windmill hand and arm movements and wholly uninformed interviewers is what viewers are shown.

"Are we seeing you playing a role, a cameo maybe?" asks Nthato Mashishi after Jen Su mentions she hopes soap Isidingo wins.

"I have actually before in the past. I've done a cameo role in Isidingo and I hope so again maybe again in the future," said Jen Su, nicely answering diplomatically and trying to lessen the obvious embarrassment.

"Okay. Thank you Jen Su. You look amazing."

If you do red carpet interviews - especially live - you need to know you're production information and the background on the TV talent walking the carpet inside out. You're get paid to know everything because you're supposedly better than the viewer watching. You don't ask questions if you don't know the facts.

If you're co-host mess up, you need to step up and smooth it over and cover for the other person's problems  - delicately - because you're a team. You don't just stand there.

You are also able to present to the camera (and the viewer) whilst simultaneously connecting to the person you're interviewing, while you listen to the director or floor manager, and as you keep an eye on the cameraman to adjust your standing angle and floor mark, and look for cues about what to do next, or how long to continue.

What on earth were the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the Saftas organising committee and the production company thinking by using utterly inappropriate and unprofessional people not versed in red carpet coverage to do it - red carpet coverage which is also live?

People study, learn, qualify and work their way up for years in order to do skilled television presenting work like this - presenting work which is some of the hardest and most technical to pull off successfully.

The 7th Saftas red carpet was once again substandard trash television and an unmitigated disaster.

The black full wall curtain in the back like last year with "emptiness" stretching into the background? Another fail. The organisers probably haven't yet heard of pop-up banner screens with your award logo and that of the sponsors as a backdrop for your red carpet put up not randomly, but exactly behind your red carpet where the TV interviews are taking place - which is how real award shows do it.


ALSO READ: 7th Saftas massive mistake with best writing for a TV drama category creates huge embarrassment and confusion.
ALSO READ: Saftas judging: "No doubt there's room for improvement," says Nodi Murphy, judging chairperson for the 7th Saftas.
ALSO READ: Reeva Steenkamp not included in the "In Memoriam" tribute of the 7th Saftas; segment done properly for the first time ever.
ALSO READ: Nik Rabinowitz bring real funniness for the first time ever as co-host of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards; staccato Connie Ferguson fails.
ALSO READ: Review. Sail Away: The 7th South African Film and Television Awards once again a sinking ceremony; a how-to NOT of disaster coverage.

Saftas judging: 'No doubt there's room for improvement,' says Nodi Murphy, judging chairperson of the 7th Saftas.

''There's no doubt that there's room for improvement, when is there not? And specifically for growth" said Nodi Murphy, the overall judging chairperson of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards during the live broadcast of the awards ceremony which was shown on Saturday night on SABC3.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) tries to honour South Africa's film and television industry by organising the award ceremony which sadly mostly remains mired in amateurism with a convoluted nomination, selection and judging system, and a shoddy televised ceremony which year after year is always filled with a myriad of production mistakes.

"We're talking about the Saftas here," said Nodi Murphy. "This is only possible with each of you lending your considerable power to the process and being involved, for they are your awards, and they are decided by your peers," she said.

"So I'm grateful to address hundreds of you here - powerful; powerful and influential - shapers of our aspirations and interpreters of dreams. I encourage you to continue to responsible to delve and discover and to bring to light as yet untold histories and stories to challenge attitudes and inequalities."

Zama Mkosi, chairperson of the South African Film and Television Awards committee and NFVF CEO said on Saturday night that "the committment shown by our broadcasting partners - SABC3, Mzansi Magic and Top One - is an indication of the growing stature of the awards, and will ensure that even more South Africans are exposed to the amazing talent found in our industry."

FINALLY, FUNNY. Nik Rabinowitz brings real humour to the South African Film and Television Awards for the first time ever.

Nik Rabinowitz brought actual real funniness to the South African Film and Television Awards on Saturday night for the very first time in the history of this awards ceremony trying to honour South African film and television, with the 7th (definitely not annual) incantation which took place at Gallagher Estate.

While a staccato co-host Connie Ferguson struggled with her words and seemed to suffer as she waded through her lines with a stilted performance right through the evening, Nik Rabinowitz clearly showed that he not only prepared before the time, but that he worked hard at finding really humorous, clever and inventively funny comedy.

Nik Rabinowitz' 7th Saftas co-hosting act was refreshing delightful, truly funny and hilarious making a stiff Connie Ferguson seem like nothing more than just a playing-it-straight, side act  - a mere on-stage foil for his material which was spot on, creative and made for a sparkly difference for the South African Film and Television Awards which is always a dismal and flawed television production.

Constantly framed against a very amateur-looking black backdrop with blinking red stars - a backdrop more reminiscent of and belonging at a Madame Zingara dinner theatre evening than a TV awards show - Nik Rabinowitz kept bringing the jokes with perfect timing as Connie Ferguson constantly kept awkwardly laughing at whatever he said.

He delighted the Gallagher Estate crowd several times with his fluency in African languages - itself a stage act employed with great effect.

Nik Rabinowitz clearly worked hard at writing a script, doing research and memorising lines, and it showed.

Nik Rabonowitz' clever on stage zingers prevented the 7th South African Film and Television Awards from sinking away into the deep tedium which usually characterised this award show broadcast:


"Statistically, most of you nominated here tonight are not going to win anything."


"Connie, I just want to say this, I'm a big fan. I've watched all your stuff. Possibly my favourite episode ever was when Karabo was about to get married, and whatshisname just arrived out of the blue. And then of course Nikiwe demanded the paternity test from Beth which was totally hectic for her. And then of course Thandalo was cheating on her husband, which eeeverybody knew - she was so obvious. And then afterwards Sisbusiso gave the company to Mulano. But Mulano wasn't his son. He thought he was his son but actually it was his cousin's brother. And then he was spying on Putla and doing these dirty tricks. And then Sibusiso had to go for a kidney transplant overseas because of the stress."


Hilariously, when Nik Rabinowitz did the intro to tell viewers that the technical categories in film and television of the 7th Saftas were awarded on Friday night but is not filmed for broadcast, the camera panned to the left and off of him [conceivably due to an "upset" cameraman].
"Most of the cameramen that I know, don't like too much attention."


"Our next presenter will stop at nothing to get the story. He got arrested when he was filming a documentary about pirates. He was then kidnapped by the pirates, who then released him when they realized that he was a South African filmmaker, and probably had no money."


"I just want to find out how your love life is?"
Connie Ferguson: "Why?
"You know, I've followed it for a while. Karabo first dated Max Naidoo. You then married Mandla. You then got engaged to Glen, who was cheating on you with Kgomotso.  You then got together - you married - was it Tau? You married Tau. Then you married Sibusiso. Later you got divorced; you got back together with Tau. Tau then left for Muvhango to become Pheko. He got together with somebody else, right? Then at the same time you married the dead guy - or was he a ghost - nobody is quite sure?
Then Pheko came back from Muvhango, you got back together with Tau. You went on honeymoon for forever. Then you became Marang on The Wild and you fall in love with Itumeleng who is ..."
Connie Ferguson: "... my real-life husband."
"I love it when a plan comes together."


"Our next presenter is head writer of The Wild. Well, he was head writer of The Wild, until ... Well. You know..."

BREAKING. 7th Saftas massive mistake with best writing for a TV drama category creates huge embarrassment and confusion.

The always amateur South African Film and Television Awards made another massive boo-boo it tried to rectify as the live TV awards was shown on SABC3 tonight: after majorly botching the best writing for a TV drama series award, the 7th Saftas tried to lessen the huge embarassment by calling the real winners to the stage later to make an acceptance speech.

The 7th Saftas caused huge embarrassment - both for Born Free Media's writing team and SABC2 and 90 Plein Street, as well as e.tv and Quizzical Pictures which produce 4Play Sex Tips for Girls - by completely messing up the best writing for a TV drama category and spoiling prematurely the winner for the next category of best supporting actress in a TV drama series.

When it was time for the 7th South African Film and Television Awards to make the award for best writing for a TV drama, the recorded nominees introduction for the category for best TV writing in a drama series played.

"And the award goes to: Nazli George as Shireen in 90 Plein Street," read co-host Nik Rabinowitz.from the golden envelope he opened. Then he turned to his side as if helplessly looking for support after he read a wrong envelope. "It seems ..." and then a dumbfounded, perplexed and visibly embarrassed Nik Rabonowitz simply stopped talking as he looked sheepishly in front of him.

Music blared. The voice-over announcer announced: "The 4Play Sex Tips for Girls writing team wins their first Safta. It's also their first nomination."

Then, super cringeworthingly and super awkwardly, Teddy Mattera, a writer from 90 Plein Street walked up and stood behind the Saftas stage microphone.

He was oblivious that he shouldn't be there, that 90 Plein Street's writing team didn't really win - and nobody from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) or Saftas production team or Vertical Limit Productions producing the show was seen on the Saftas stage trying to intervene and stop him.

Teddy Mattera then launched into an acceptance speech, making the live on-air 7th Saftas gaffe even worse.

"It's miraculous. Khalo Matabane, our head writer couldn't be here today, but respect to Sue de Groot, Ndumiso Khovano, and myself Teddy Mattera, it's been a beautiful ride. Finally we predicted the fall and the rise of somebody in our story. You know who. Thank you."

The live and embarrassing mistake being played out on stage and on TV screens in South Africa was surreal, shocking and highly embarrassing.

The next category of best supporting actress in a TV drama series was also spoilt because of the mistake. An introduction of the nominees played, but viewers and the Gallagher Estate audience already knew it was going to be Nazli George who wins.

After the embarrassing spectacle the 7th Saftas continued by handing out five further awards without getting the real winners - the real writing team of 4Play Sex Tips for Girls - on the stage.

Then 4Play Sex Tips for Girls won in the category for Best TV drama series. The e.tv show's production team blatantly made mention of the mess-up when Harriet Gavshon, accepting the award, said: "For the wonderful writing team who I hope will still be acknowledged ..."

Then after a musical performance by Chris Chameleon the 7th Saftas couldn't ignore the embarrassing mistake any longer.

"Earlier we didn't give the writing team for 4Play Sex Tips for Girls an opportunity to make their acceptance speech," said 7th Saftas co-host Nik Rabinowitz, "so please welcome the 4Play Sex Tips for Girls writing team."

"So I leave you alone now?" viewers then suddenly heard 7th Saftas co-host Connie Ferguson say off camera - an open mic mistake which should have been muted on the sound desk and which was once again part of the many sound problems the Saftas broadcast had on Saturday night as usual with this award broadcast.

The 4Play Sex Tips for Girls writing team of Minky Schlesinger, Gillian Breslin and Busisiwe Ntintili then made their way to the stage to make their acceptance speech.

It's not clear whether Teddy Mattera and the 90 Plein Street writing team now have to give their golden horn trophy back - or whether he already did so.

The NFVF also didn't issue any statement during or after the conclusion of the live broadcast about the embarrassing on-air mishap and what exactly happened with the best writing award. The NFVF didn't immediately respond to a media enquiry made about it on Saturday night after the awards.


ALSO READ: 7th Saftas red carpet disaster: Utter incompetence on full display as inexperienced and amateur red carpet "presenters" are let loose.
ALSO READ: Reeva Steenkamp not included in the 7th Saftas "In Memoriam" tribute; segment however done right for the first time ever.
ALSO READ: 7th Saftas judging:"No doubt there's room for improvement," says Nodi Murphy, judging chairperson.
ALSO READ: Nik Rabinowitz brings real humour to the South African Film and Television Awards for the first time ever.
ALSO READ: Review: Sail away. The 7th South African Film and Television Awards once again a sinking ceremony; a how-to NOT of disaster coverage.

PROPERLY DONE. Reeva Steenkamp not included in the 'In Memoriam' tribute of the 7th Saftas; segment done right the first time ever.

Reeva Steenkamp, the current Tropika Island of Treasure 5: Jamaica contestant on SABC1 who was shot and killed by Oscar Pistorius was strangely left out of the "In Memoriam" tribute of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards on Saturday night - however the usually always botched "In Memoriam" tribute was for the first time ever in the history of this usually dismal South African TV awards show, done properly and right.

The "In Memoriam" segment is a tribute dedicated to South African film and television talent who've passed away in the past year.

Besides the noticeable Reeva Steenkamp ommission, the Saftas "In Memoriam" segment, usually painfully pathetic for a litany of production problems, for the first time ever were not marred by mistakes. 

Unlike in the past with the Saftas during the "In Memoriam" tribute no names were obscured by the musical act or weird camera angles, names were each individually flashed, fully, on screen and were then also shown on the stage screen.

There were no spelling mistakes, no sound problems, and the string heavy sentimental musical number "Khumbul'Ekhaya" performed live by The Muffinz was appropriate in tone and performance and perfect. The simple design of black-and-white tribute cards also worked.

"Thank you to The Muffinz for a deeply moving tribute to some very talented people. They may be gone, but their work lives on," said Connie Ferguson, co-host of the 7th Saftas.

The Saftas "In Memoriam" segment honoured Marjorie Brooks-Morris, Greg Cameron, Jan de Klerk, Jaco Espach, Justin Wayne Fouche, Milla Louw, Hulisani Memetsi, Richard Matthews, Thami Geoffrey Mbenge, Humble Mhlongo, Morgan Naidu, Lloyd B. Phillips, Llewelyn Roderick, Daniel Richmond Setshedi, Zwelakhe Sisulu, Andre Smit, Andrew Thompson and Louis van Rensburg.

7th South African Film and Television Awards shown on SABC3 on 16 March - contracts with DStv's Mzansi Magic and TopTV still negotiated.

The 7th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) will be broadcast on SABC3 on Saturday 16 March at 19:30 - but while the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) which runs this award ceremony says the 7th Saftas will also be broadcast on TopTV and on the M-Net run Mzansi Magic channel on DStv, I can reveal that both satellite channels are still negotiating.

I've spoken to both Mzansi Magic and TopTV and both say they don't have broadcasting dates and times yet two weeks before the actual event is going to take place, since nothing regarding the 7th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) have been concluded yet.

"Mzansi Magic and TopTV will broadcast an edited version of the awards," says the NFVF in a statement on its website.

Mzansi Magic told me there isn't a date yet because it's not finalized yet; TopTV told me today "the agreement is still in the process of being finalised" and broadcasting details don't exist.

Meanwhile the TV broadcast of two and a half hours until 22:00 will be a delayed live broadcast from Gallagher Estate at Midrand on SABC3 on 16 March. Highlights from the technical categories awarded on the previous night, 15 March, will be included in the broadcast on 16 March on SABC3.

The event production for the award ceremony will be done by Vibe 2000 Entertainment and Vertical Limit Production.


ALSO READ: 7de Laan as a TV soap back in for the 7th Saftas; Binneland and Villa Rosa on kykNET shut out.

Nominees for the 7th South African Film and Television Awards to be announced on 13 February in Johannesburg.

You're reading it here first. 

The South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) will announce the nominees in the various categories of this local awards ceremony on Wednesday 13 February in Johannesburg, which will be followed by the main, two-evening awards show, the 7th South African Film and Television Awards taking place on 15 and 16 March at Gallagher Estate.

This year the Saftas, organised by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) received 354 entries - 120 more than the year before.

While SABC2's 7de Laan is back in as a contender in the best soap category, both of kykNET's soaps Villa Rosa and Binneland are not - continuing the public farce of this category purported to be a "viewers' vote", although the public can't really vote for all soaps.

The Saftas is currently in the last phase of judging which started in October 2012 and which will be completed by 4 February.

Nodi Murphy is the chairperson of the judging panels this year.  Vibe 200 and Vertical Limit Production have been appointed by the NFVF to do the stage and event production in March.

For the first time the second round of judging for categories took place in Durban and Cape Town as well, and not all in Johannesburg.

"This year the media was requested to be a part of the Saftas final judging process as observers in order to get first-hand experience on how the final nominees and winners are selected," the NFVF tells me.

"The judges have commented on the quality of the content and are impressed by the standard of the entries."