Rhythm World Productions tells unpaid Umkhokha cast and crew it has 'cash flow' problems as MultiChoice vows stronger checks on growing trend of payment-skipping producers

by Thinus Ferreira

The crew and cast of yet another South African TV show are struggling to get paid, with Rhythm World Productions telling the workers of DStv's Umkhokha: The Curse it has "cash flow" problems.

MultiChoice now says it will introduce stronger check-ups to ensure and try and prevent that production companies making TV shows for DStv and that have been paid, actually pay their workers.

While DStv subscribers are watching episodes of Umkhokha: The Curse on MultiChoice's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) the cast and crew are struggling with not being paid for their work by Duma Ndlovu's Rhythm World Productions.

Sadly they are hardly alone in what has become a troubling growing trend in South Africa's TV and film industry.

Just this year so far, Clive Morris of Clive Morris Productions (CMP) defaulted on paying the crew and cast of Paramount Africa's Queendom on BET (DStv 129) multiple times, while the crew and cast of the drama series Pound 4 Pound, produced by Kagiso Modupe's Bakwena Productions, are also fighting with Kagiso Modupe to just get paid for the show which is also being broadcast on BET. 

Paramount Africa says it has paid its part of the costs and it is the production companies of these shows who have not paid the crews and casts.

Meanwhile, workers on SABC2's Muvhango, produced by Duma Ndlovu's Word of Mouth Pictures, also struggled to get paid after the show restarted production for the SABC after it got a new contract.

After not getting paid at the end of October, without any explanation, Rhythm World Productions told the crew and cast of Umkhokha: The Curse last week there is a "cash flow" problem.

Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Rhythm World Productions CEO, told workers in a "October 2024 payments" letter "This memo serves to inform you of a delay in the end of October payments due to a challenge with cash flow".

"Please be advised that payments will be affected as soon as the funds are received. Kindly accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. We further note the level of stress that the late notification may cause."

According to insiders, MultiChoice executives are livid over Rhythm World Productions defaulting on properly paying the Umkhokha cast and crew on time and keeping it a secret, while MultiChoice has fully paid the production company. 

Earlier this year MultiChoice was also initially not aware of the struggle of the crew and cast of Paramount Africa's Pound 4 Pound trying to get paid by Kagiso Modupe who has still not done so. 

He is now facing legal action from the workers who have had to sell gear to survive and have lost accommodation over their failure to pay rent.

MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic in response to a media query over the Umkhokha: The Curse crew and cast waiting to get paid, told TVwithThinus "We at MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic take the welfare of everyone who brings our stories to life very seriously, including the cast and crew on all our productions".

"It is troubling to hear about any delays or difficulties in receiving payments, as we are committed to supporting the livelihoods of all involved."

"We understand that the timely payment of cast and crew members is essential, and we are actively addressing any payment delays through close collaboration with our production partners."

"We require all production companies we work with to meet industry standards, including fair treatment and timely payments for their teams."

"While we are aware of recent instances where cast and crew members have experienced hardship, please know that we are closely monitoring these situations and working to implement stronger checks and accountability mechanisms with our production partners to prevent these issues from happening in the future."

ALSO READ: Legal action starts against producer Kagiso Modupe after he fails to pay crew and cast of BET Africa's Pound 4 Pound: 'Poor show of morals'

ALSO READ: Cast and crew of Paramount Africa's Queendom telenovela on BET once again shuts down production after going unpaid again with 'milestone not met'

ALSO READ: SABC2's Muvhango forced to stop production again after writers, cast and crew again go unpaid by Word of Mouth Pictures

Cast and crew of Paramount Africa's Queendom telenovela on BET once again shuts down production after going unpaid again with 'milestone not met'

by Thinus Ferreira

Production has shut down yet again and filming abruptly stopped on Paramount Africa's embattled Queendom telenovela produced by Clive Morris Productions (CMP) for BET Africa (DStv 129) after the show's crew and cast decided to stop working a second time, after they were once again not paid as promised.

There's been no public statement to the industry or MultiChoice's DStv subscribers from Clive Morris Productions or from Monde Twala, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager and BET International lead, about the latest Queendom production shutdown that started two weeks ago already.

Paramount Africa has remained silent in previous months over the reasons behind why the scandal-plagued show's crew and cast have not been paid and what exactly Paramount Africa and the production company have been doing about it.

The cast and crew on Queendom again stopped working on 2 October after they were again not paid by Clive Morris Productions at the end of September despite promises of payment.

The past two weeks' worth in lost episode production due to filming downtime and work stoppage over non-payment will likely once again force Queendom off the air soon and Paramount Africa to once again schedule repeats when it again runs out of completed episodes to air.

New episodes of Queendom just started again on BET on 23 September, two months after Paramount Africa was forced to switch to padded filler with rebroadcasts of episodes already completed since 22 July, after Clive Morris Productions ran out of money to film and even to pay cast and crew.

Paramount Africa didn't respond to earlier media queries about the rebroadcasts or how it would work, or what was going on.

Paramount Africa was forced to switch to repeats of Queendom just four months after its debut on BET Africa due to financial problems and not being able to finance and pay for production.

There been no explanation, and no response to earlier media queries made to Paramount Africa, on where Clive Morris Productions found the money to restart the embattled production which already saw cast and crew forced to sell possessions to buy food, while a crew member couldn't pay for a parent's funeral after a funeral policy lapsed due to non-payment.

On 25 September, just days before the Queendom crew and cast were supposed to be paid at the end of the month, Paramount Africa held what it called a "Paramount Summer Showcase" event for some Johannesburg media at Rockets in Bryanston and where some Queendom actors appeared and talked up the returning, yet floundering show's prospects.

About the latest Queendom work-stoppage which has been going for two weeks, a crew member told City Press newspaper "We are not going to work, we are still not paid".

According to the person, Clive Morris Productions told cast and crew they would be paid by Friday.

The person told City Press "If we get paid, we will resume work on Monday if the actors are available. This is the second week of not going to work. It's not looking good. People are not happy in the group because they said funds would be released but there is still nothing."

According to insiders they were duped by Clive Morris Productions and lured back to work with promises of getting paid again - which then didn't happen. 

Meanwhile, several crew and cast didn't return last month when filming restarted after the show shutdown and have since been lost to the show after they opted to take other work.

Clive Morris sent a message to the Queendom crew and cast about not being paid yet again, noting "I acknowledge this is difficult to understand. The funder is still there but requires various milestones to be met to release funds. A milestone was not met but we are attempting to get that closed so that funds can be released".

Unfulfilled payment promises

As I've reported earlier, Queendom started out as a co-production, with BET responsible for half of the investment, which was fulfilled by BET Africa and Clive Morris Productions responsible for the other 50%.

According to CMP, a backer pulled out that would have paid its 50% towards the production costs, but it's unclear why pre-production and filming started before the funding was fully paid over.

Insiders told TVwithThinus earlier that MultiChoice, Paramount Africa and Clive Morris Productions (CMP) are all equal parts responsible for the financial scandal of letting a show go into production without having secured the total money upfront to make it.

According to insiders Queendom had to shut down since MultiChoice placed massive pressure on Paramount Africa to maintain a contractual local content quota for BET Africa whereby Paramount must produce and air a number of local hours per year on the channel.

Paramount Africa, under pressure to adhere to its local content contract with MultiChoice or face stiff penalities, went ahead to programme Queendom on BET, with CMP which started filming even though the show's complete budget wasn't covered by production money in the bank.

Further complicating matters: Clive Morris Productions wanted to retain a stake in the show in order to benefit over the long run from back-end licensing - which is why the production company was and is responsible for putting up the financing of its "part" in the show's production equity.

When the available Queendom money ran out, angry and upset crew and cast continued working unpaid for a while based on payment promises, but eventually decided to down tools collectively.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa's Queendom on BET shut down with cast and crew unpaid by Clive Morris Productions as MultiChoice's Showmax also gives Empini to another producer.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa silent over unpaid Queendom crew and cast and why BET signed off for filming to start on Clive Morris Production show that didn't have production money fully in the bank.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa refuses to explain anything as BET Africa's cash-crashed Queendom from Clive Morris Productions restarts filming after shutdown and payment failure scandal.

Paramount Africa refuses to explain anything as BET Africa's cash-crashed Queendom from Clive Morris Productions restarts filming after shutdown and payment failure scandal.

by Thinus Ferreira

Paramount Africa's cash-crashed telenovela Queendom on BET Africa which was forced to shutter at the end of May has lurched back into filming while Paramount executives and producers refuse to come clean about the behind-the-scenes upheaval that left the telenovela's cast and crew unpaid for months.

Paramount Africa was forced to switch to repeats of Queendom from 22 July, just four months after its debut on BET Africa (DStv 129)  after Clive Morris Productions ran out of money to film and even to pay cast and crew.

New episodes of Queendom will now start on 23 September with no explanation from Paramount Africa or Clive Morris Productions where the money came from to restart the embattled production that saw cast and crew forced to sell possessions to buy food while a crew member couldn't pay for a parent's funeral after a funeral policy lapsed due to non-payment.

Paramount Africa and BET Africa boss Monde Twala are remaining silent on the unpaid crew and cast production scandal of Clive Morris Productions' Queendom.

Monde Twala, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager and BET International lead, didn't respond to an interview request made a week ago through Paramount's South African PR firm Total Exposure. 

A media query with questions to Paramount Africa, also made last Wednesday through Total Exposure has also been ignored.

Clarity was sought from Paramount Africa on when filming for Queendom restarted and until when filming will continue, where the bridge financing now came from, who sourced the financing, how many more episodes will be produced, as well as how many of the former and original cast and crew have been able to return and who are no longer available.

Natalie Mdladla, Paramount senior director of communications, likewise ignored a media query in August seeking answers on why Paramount Africa allowed filming to start on a production before the money to make a show for BET Africa was 100% secured. 

She was also asked who at Paramount authorised pre-production and principal photography to start, and why Paramount again worked with CMP after the same cash issue caused a shutdown of ISONO.

According to Paramount Africa "Queendom makes a regal return on 23 September at 18:30 with a royal showdown as Prince Andile finally confronts his brother King Banzi about the throne". 

The show that has been airing reruns in the timeslot will resume with four new episodes weekly from 23 September from Mondays to Thursdays.

Linda Mtoba in the role of Ntando is one of the cast returning to the show, noting in a press statement that she is "thrilled that Queendom is returning to screens this September, taking the drama and intrigue to a whole new level, and I can't wait for fans to see how these powerful storylines unfold."

Other crew and actors have quit and left like Sindi Dlathu and Themba Ndaba who signed up for e.tv's Isipetho produced by Black Brain Pictures, while Queendom cast and crew have still not been paid in full the overdue money they're owed. 

In the statement, Monde Twala, who was seen hosting a cocktail party for producers last week at the MIP Africa 2024 TV market in Cape Town, only notes that "Local content is an important pillar for our audiences and we are committed to meeting this demand with impactful storytelling that resonates on a global scale".

Cascade failure explained

After the Queendom implosion, MultiChoice has also taken away Empini – done for its Showmax video streaming service by Clive Morris Productions – where crew members also went unpaid and reassigned it to Crystal Pics and Nomusa Mzima to complete the 52-episode series.

Queendom started out as a co-production, with BET responsible for half of the investment, which was fulfilled by BET Africa and Clive Morris Productions responsible for the other 50%.

According to CMP, a backer pulled out that would have paid its 50% towards the production costs, but it's unclear why pre-production and filming started before the funding was fully paid over.

Insiders told TVwithThinus that the trifecta of MultiChoice, Paramount Africa and Clive Morris Productions (CMP) should all share the blame for what happened to Queendom and the dire and shocking financial situation it plunged the show's committed cast and crew into.

According to them, the Queendom cascade implosion happened like this: MultiChoice placed tremendous pressure on Paramount Africa to maintain a contractual local content quota for BET Africa whereby Paramount must produce and air a number of local hours per year on the channel.

Paramount Africa, under pressure to adhere to its local content contract with MultiChoice or face stiff penalities, went ahead to strip local hours of Queendom which it allowed CMP to start producing, even though CMP didn't have all the money for the production in the bank.

Clive Morris Productions, which wanted to retain a stake in the ownership of Queendom, started filming the series despite not having its share of co-funding in the bank account, after which a funder suddenly decided to no longer invest in the show.

This derailed and collapsed production of Queendom when Clive Morris Productions, after filming had already started, failed to get the money required when the investor no longer wanted to pay.

In mid-April – by which time Paramount Africa was well aware that CMP had funding issues, that Queendom was struggling and that the cast and crew were not getting the paid – Paramount Africa and BET went ahead to launch Queendom with a splashy media event at Kings Kraal in Bryanston, Johannesburg for some media. 

Behind-the-scenes however, the Queendom cast and crew who were putting up a brave face, were already angry and distraught over the impossible production conditions, delayed payments, as well as Clive Morris Productions' ongoing promises that they would get paid.

"Typically shows like telenovelas and soaps are commissioned by TV channels and financed 100% by the channel. Queendom wasn't," a producer on the show explained.

"Clive Morris Productions entered into a deal where an onus was on them to raise a significant portion of the production costs, which are far too onerous for most producers. Very few production companies, if any, would be able to raise that capital for a show of this size like Queendom."

"I had never heard of such an arrangement in the context of a telenovela. They exist for films or a very short miniseries. Prior to any minute of any footage being filmed all the money should have been in the bank. That wasn't the case, hence we find ourselves in the position we're in."

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa's Queendom on BET shut down with cast and crew unpaid by Clive Morris Productions as MultiChoice's Showmax also gives Empini to another producer.

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa silent over unpaid Queendom crew and cast and why BET signed off for filming to start on Clive Morris Production show that didn't have production money fully in the bank.

Paramount Africa silent over unpaid Queendom crew and cast and why BET signed off for filming to start on Clive Morris Production show that didn't have production money fully in the bank.

by Thinus Ferreira

Paramount Africa and BET Africa boss Monde Twala are remaining silent on the unpaid crew and cast production scandal of Clive Morris Productions' Queendom without any answer on why Paramount Africa and BET for a second time signed off on filming to start on a South African series before all the funding was 100% secured.

A high-ranking crew member who worked on Queendom says it is unheard of and extremely unusual for a show to start filming, noting that "Prior to any minute of any footage being filmed all the money should have been in the bank".

Clive Morris Productions (CMP) entered into a deal where the production company had to come up with a very large part of the overall production cost to make Queendom - money it didn't have from the outset. 

This derailed and collapsed production of Queendom when Clive Morris Productions, after filming had already started, failed to get the money required when an investor no longer wanted to pay.

Neither Natalie Mdladla, Paramount senior director of communications, nor Kgaogelo Mohlala at the Total Exposure PR company responded to or acknowledged multiple emails, phone calls and messages after TVwithThinus made a media query on Queendom a week ago with questions for Paramount Africa and BET.  

The Queendom cast and crew are owed months of salaries after Clive Morris Productions abruptly stopped filming of the local telenovela at the beginning of June because it failed to pay the workers.

In mid-April, Paramount Africa and BET threw a splashy media launch bash at Kings Kraal in Bryanston for some media, while the cast and crew were already rumbling and angry behind-the-scenes among themselves about the challenging production conditions, delayed payments and Clive Morris Productions' ongoing promises that they would get paid.

On 26 April, just a week after Paramount Africa's Queendom media launch event, the show's crew and cast got paid the last time after they had already complained bitterly about not getting paid and delayed payments by Clive Morris Productions, with Paramount Africa that was aware of the issue.

The show's production crew and cast continued to work during May but when they were again not paid at the end of May, they decided in unison not to return for any further work from 3 June.

People within South Africa's TV and film industry now want to know why Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager of Paramount Africa and BET International lead, signed off on Clive Morris Productions to start filming for Queendom when the production didn't have all of the money secured upfront.

Paramount Africa was asked on what date the last episode of Queendom will be shown on BET (DStv 129) and how many episodes there were supposed to be, but there's been no answer.

Paramount Africa and BET were also asked why Paramount Africa apparently allowed filming to start on a production before the money to make it, was 100% secured, and who at Paramount Africa and BET authorised pre-production and principal photography to start even though Clive Morris later admitted, after Queendom's shut down, that CMP didn't have their side of the money in the bank. 

So far this has also gone unanswered. 

This is the second time a production of Paramount Africa and BET suddenly shuttered - from the same production company - since Clive Morris Productions was also forced to suddenly shut down ISONO that it produced for BET, over exactly the same reasons when it didn't have the funding in place for it's side of the budget contract.

This also raises the question of why did Paramount Africa and BET for a second time enter into a similar type of contract with Clive Morris Productions after it saw what happened with ISONO. 

It's another one of the questions that were put to Paramount Africa last Thursday a week ago and not being answered.

"Typically shows like telenovelas and soaps are commissioned by TV channels and financed 100% by the channel. Queendom wasn't," the insider who worked on the show, explained.

"Clive Morris Productions entered into a deal where an onus was on them to raise a significant portion of the production costs, which are far too onerous for most producers."

"The fact that we haven't been paid is a testament to exactly how overly onerous those conditions were. Very few production companies, if any, would be able to raise that capital for a show of this size like Queendom."

"I had never heard of such an arrangement in the context of a telenovela. They exist for films or a very short miniseries. Prior to any minute of any footage being filmed all the money should have been in the bank. That wasn't the case, hence we find ourselves in the position we're in."

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa's Queendom on BET shut down with cast and crew unpaid by Clive Morris Productions as MultiChoice's Showmax also gives Empini to another producer.

History channel set for 2nd season of Great African Mysteries with John Robbie and once-off show Great African Crimes with Mandy Wiener.

by Thinus Ferreira

From the Thulamela kingdom to the quagga, the History channel will debut a second season of Great African Mysteries from 3 August with presenter John Robbie, while journalist Mandy Wiener is set to front Great African Crimes that will start in October for the channel's first-ever "Crime Month".

A second season of Great African Mysteries will start on History (DStv 186) on Saturday 3 August at 19:25 with John Robbie continuing as the presenter with three episodes looking at geology and mineralogy, zoology, as well as archaeology.

The second season of Great Africa Mysteries and Great African Crimes were both produced by Clive Morris Productions (CMP) which is facing financial problems which led to the abrupt abrupt shuttering since June of Paramount Africa's Queendom telenovela and CMP also losing the production contract of Showmax's Empini telenovela that MultiChoice decided to take away and move to another company. 

The first episode of the second season of Great African Mysteries looks at the earth's oldest and largest meteor crater created over 2 billion years ago when an asteroid hit the planet near the present-day town of Vredefort and how this led to the discovery of gold billions of years later.  

The second episode looks at the quagga, extinct for over 140 years but which scientists are working to revive. John Robbie explores how, through selective breeding, an attempt is being made to retrieve the genes responsible for the quagga’s characteristic striping pattern.

The third episode explores the secrets behind the ancient walled kingdom of Thulamela inside the Kruger National Park. Dating back to the 15th century, its ruins unveil a rich history of trade and culture, offering a unique glimpse into Africa's past.

"As in the first season these stories will educate, thrill and challenge people's perceptions about aspects of the past in Africa," says John Robbie.

"South Africa, and indeed Africa, have such incredible history and prehistory and so much of it has either been forgotten or not widely taught. I'm hoping that this project will inspire people to look into this with newly opened minds."

Great African Crimes is a once-off show on 22 October with three stories, uncovering the details behind some of the most riveting crimes from South Africa's past and will explore three dramatic crimes which left South Africa stunned. 

It will screen in October during History channel's first-ever "Crime Month" programming block.

"Great African Crimes has all the ingredients of a compelling TV show – really interesting crimes, complex characters, intriguing narratives, the backdrop of the African context," says Mandy Wiener.

"I'm looking forward to telling these stories and working with a great team of producers and creators. I hope to bring my two decades of experience in the news environment, telling crime stories, to this project."

In September, History will have a second instalment of its My History Moments - a short-form series where well-known South Africans share pivotal moments from their lives.

 Also in September, Laurence Fishburne will unpack the puzzles of the world's most enigmatic unsolved mysteries in the 5th season of History's Greatest Mysteries with Laurence Fishburne.

Actor Morgan Freeman executive produces and features in the documentary 761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers which will be on History from October. 

It will tell the true story of the first black tank unit to serve in combat during WWII and explore in-depth the major battles they faced both overseas while in combat and back home in the United States.

Paramount Africa's Queendom on BET shut down with cast and crew unpaid by Clive Morris Productions as MultiChoice's Showmax also gives Empini to another producer.

by Thinus Ferreira

With the casts and crews who went unpaid for months, filming has abruptly ended on Paramount Africa's Queendom produced by Clive Morris Productions which is out of money for it, with MultiChoice that has now also taken away Empini done for its Showmax streamer from the same production company over the same issues.

In recent years Clive Morris Productions struggled to pay the cast and crew of the now-cancelled The Estate on SABC3 which led to production shutdowns, as well as the cast and crew of the now-cancelled Isono telenovela for Paramount Africa's BET (DStv 129) channel.

Earlier this year the cast and crew of the new Empini telenovela for MultiChoice's Showmax streamer, as well as the cast and crew of Paramount Africa's Queendom telenovela, also for the BET channel, first went unpaid, and then got paid late by executive producers Khayelihle Dominique and Clive Morris.

In April, Natalie Mdladla, Paramount senior director of communications, said that the Queendom cast and crew were eventually paid but confirmed that the payments were late.

April was however the last time Clive Morris Productions paid the cast and crew, with TVwithThinus that established that the non-payment eventually led to an entire production shutdown of Queendom a month ago.

With no money available to continue the film the show, or to pay the cast and crew what they're owed, the future of Queendom is now in complete limbo.

While BET Africa is broadcasting new episodes on weekdays of Queendom, the last time the show's cast and crew got paid was 26 April. 

According to insiders "sitting cold" at home, production and filming of Queendom stopped over a month ago. Neither Paramount Africa nor Clive Morris Productions decided to make any announcement in order to try and keep the production shutdown and the reason for it under wraps to limit reputational damage.

Natalie Mdladla on Tuesday, in response to a media query, admitted that "BET is aware of payment delays by Clive Morris Productions to cast and crew of Queendom".

"Queendom is a co-production, with BET responsible for half of the investment, which has been fulfilled by BET Africa."

"However, Clive Morris Productions (CMP) has encountered difficulties in securing their share of the co-funding, resulting in the delayed payments to our valued cast and crew. We are engaging with CMP, including cast and crew, to urgently resolve the matter," she said.

The last time Clive Morris Productions paid the Queendom cast was 26 April. 

According to insiders who worked on the show, they then continued to work during May, expecting payment at the end of May. When that didn't happen, early in June, the cast and crew collectively decided not to report for work from Monday 3 June, which led to the complete production shutdown of Queendom.

The cast and crew are all however all still under contract, have not been released and while they're not getting paid and waiting for months of unpaid salaries to be deposited into their bank accounts to settle their own debts they had to make to buy food and pay bills, they can't accept other work.

BET and Clive Morris Productions owe the Queendom cast and crew at least a May salary and a June salary, with this month's July salary which is also contractually due since Paramount Africa and CMP have signed agreements with the workers.

Clive Morris Productions sent the cast and crew three letters promising payments which never materialised.

"It's been a long time [since we were paid]," a producer said. 

"1 June was a Saturday. Collectively the decision was made that nobody will be reporting for work from 3 June. The status quo at the moment is that we are expecting that the May salary and June salary and how every many days in July that we work until termination of the contract, are still due to be paid," he said.

"It's a precarious situation that we find ourselves in. The heartbreaking part of this is that there are real people at the end of this crisis. One of our crew members has lost a parent and is now unable to participate meaningfully in the burial of the parent because funeral policies have lapsed through no fault of their own."

'Little breathing room' not accepted as rent

Earlier this month Clive Morris sent a message to the Queendom cast and crew, saying "I understand everyone is angry, and deservedly so".

"We have let you down and whatever the reason, doesn't help to put things right or make you feel better. I am happy to take it on the chin and accept the rocks thrown at me."

"What I can tell you is that we're not sitting on the money and deciding not to pay people, we are actively working non-stop to get the funding to pay everyone."

"We may have paid late in the past for various reasons out of our control, but we have never not paid anyone. Everyone will be paid and we are asking for a little breathing room so we can focus on finding the funds as soon as possible."

A Queendom cast member said "unfortunately a little breathing room isn't accepted as rent or as car payments".

Another insider said: "In all my years it's something I've never encountered".

"Typically shows like telenovelas and soaps are commissioned by TV channels and financed 100% by the channel. Queendom wasn't."

"Clive Morris Productions entered into a deal where an onus was on them to raise a significant portion of the production costs, which are far too onerous for most producers."

"The fact that we haven't been paid is a testament to exactly how overly onerous those conditions were. Very few production companies, if any, would be able to raise that capital for a show of this size like Queendom."

"I had never heard of such an arrangement in the context of a telenovela. They exist for films or a very short miniseries. Prior to any minute of any footage being filmed all the money should have been in the bank. That wasn't the case, hence we find ourselves in the position we're in."

Empini that Clive Morris Productions produced for MultiChoice's Showmax has now also been ripped away and reallocated to another production company. 

Showmax confirmed to me on Tuesday that all Empini staff have been paid and that Clive Morris Productions is no longer producing Empini for the streaming service.

"Empini is one of Showmax's most-watched series at the moment," the video streaming service told TVwithThinus on Tuesday in response to a media query.

"We place a high value on the welfare of cast and crew in all our productions. MultiChoice has been in ongoing communication with Clive Morris Productions following production challenges being raised with us."

"To ensure the continuation of Empini, especially given its huge popularity with our subscribers, a new production house is in the process of being appointed. We can confirm that all cast and crew have been paid."

Besides the Queendom cast waiting for payment from BET and Clive Morris Productions, the cast and crew of e.tv's cancelled Nikiwe are also still waiting for payment from the producers of Parental Advisory Productions who have gone to ground. 

Production for the cast and crew of SABC2's Muvhango also abruptly ended on 15 June after the SABC failed to renew the Word of Mouth Productions contract for a 26th season.

ALSO READ: BET Africa's Queendom crew and cast paid late by Clive Morris Productions.

ALSO READ: SABC says it has fully paid and has 'great concern' about the non-payment of crew and cast of Clive Morris Productions' struggling The Estate on SABC3.

BET Africa's Queendom crew and cast paid late by Clive Morris Productions.

by Thinus Ferreira

The crew and cast of Paramount Africa's upcoming Queendom series were forced to stay home due to non-payment even before the first episode of the upcoming new telenovela starts airing next week, once again due to non-payment by Clive Morris Productions.

Queendom is set to start on BET Africa (DStv 129) on 22 April.

Natalie Mdladla, Paramount senior director of communications, told IOL that the Queendom cast and crew were eventually paid but confirmed that the payments were late. 

According to the Zimoja online publication, work on Queendom recently came to a standstill over non-payment of the show's cast and crew.

The publication quotes insiders who said that executive producers Khayelihle Dominique and Clive Morris visited the Queendom set and that "Clive was crying there. But we don't understand the story. We last got paid before Easter and we are relying on the weekly salaries for our families".

The cast and crew on another show, Empini for MultiChoice and M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel, reportedly similarly went unpaid by Clive Morris Productions. 

It's also Clive Morris that in the past failed to pay the cast and crew of shows like SABC3's The Estate and Paramount Africa and BET Africa's Isono on time.

Khayelihle Dominique told Zimoja that payment delays were being sorted out and that "MultiChoice is in very good standing, they paid us. Empini specifically had nothing to do with the broadcaster".

The Queendom cast includes Linda Mtoba, Sindi Dlathu, Hamilton Dlamini, Mduduzi Mabaso, Pallance Dladla, Dawn Thandeka King, as well as Jabulani Hadebe known as Sjava.

Queendom revolves around the character of Nthandokayise Mthombeni, portrayed by Linda Mtoba, who is a community leader in Tsakane who discovers that she is the rightful heir to the throne of the Khahlamba kingdom.

Paramount Africa and BET Africa have an in-person media launch event on Tuesday for Queendom for Johannesburg media. No virtual roundtable interviews with the cast and crew have been organised for media by Paramount Africa and its PR company with no digital screeners issued.

ALSO READ: SABC says it has fully paid and has 'great concern' about the non-payment of crew and cast of Clive Morris Productions' struggling The Estate on SABC3.

Mzansi Magic adds father-son drama series Ha Molefi from June.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net has commissioned a new drama series Ha Molefi for Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) as a father-and-son story which will debut on the channel on Monday 17 June at 20:00 as the two grapple with grief after the loss of a wife and mother.

Ha Molefe is produced by Clive Morris Productions and will have 13 episodes.

Ha Molefi is headlined by TJ Mokhuane, portraying the gay teenager Thabang Molefi from Pimville, Soweto who has lost his mother Mam' Linda.

He lives with his father Ntate Molefi, portrayed by Dingaan Khumalo/DSK who is grieving the loss of his wife. According to Mzansi Magic "Together they set off on a journey of discovery that lays bare their fears and hopes while honoring Mam'Linda's memory".

Within the series, Thabang dreams of winning the all-round category at the annual Ballroom/Vogue Nights and he draws inspiration from his late mother, who was a musical sensation in the 90s and who always encouraged Thabang to live his truth and follow his dreams. 

Ntate Molefi, on the other hand, loves his son and has accepted him as he is. "However, the recently widowed father has to learn that he must go beyond just loving his son but also make the effort to open up to him," Mzansi Magic says.

Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, says "Ha Molefi is an emotional story about a relationship between a grieving father and son, focusing on the raw and honest emotional turmoil that both face, especially concerning the son's identity".

"As the home of local, Mzansi Magic is proud to bring this inspirational story to our audiences and we hope that it will inspire. We hope viewers will recognise and appreciate how a parent's love can manifest in fear and how that can either grow or destroy a relationship."

History channel ventures inside South Africa's Oceanos and Helderberg mysteries, Homo Naledi discovery in new Great African Mysteries and Great African Escapes series.

by Thinus Ferreira

History (DStv 186) has made two new local documentaries, Great African Mysteries and Great African Escapes, both with host John Robbie, which will look at three remarkable South African mysteries, as well as three daring escapes over the upcoming two Friday nights including the sinking of the Oceanos, the disappearance of the Helderberg, and the discovery of Homo Naledi.

Great African Mysteries and Great African Escapes were both produced by Clive Morris Productions, with the two episodes that will air on Friday 21 July at 21:05 and on Friday 28 July at 21:05.

Great African Mysteries on 21 July explores three of the biggest mysteries in South Africa, including the discovery of Homo Naledi at the Cradle of Humankind, the hoard of gold which Paul Kruger supposedly hid from the British during the Second Boer War, as well as the events surrounding the crash of a South African passenger aircraft, known as the Helderberg in 1987 in which all 159 people on board were killed.

Great African Escapes on 28 July investigates three daring local escapes.

The three stories in this episode includes a look at the death-defying passenger rescue from the sinking MTS Oceanos cruise liner in 1991 on the South African coast and also reveals in detail the sensational prison break from Marshall Square by four anti-apartheid activists: Mosie Moolla, Harold Wolpe, Arthur Goldreich and Abdulhay Jassat.

Also included in this episode is the story of Albie Sachs' miraculous escape from a car bomb explosion in 1988.

Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Clive Morris Productions chief operating officer, says that "Unearthing just a few of South Africa's historical mysteries and great escapes has been an incredible journey of fact-finding and storytelling for CMP".

"Along the way, to meet inspiring people like Justice Albie Sachs and Professor Lee Berger who've had such an impact on our world and our country has had a profound influence on our production team. To be part of the channel known as the premier destination for historical features is an enormous privilege."

John Robbie says "I've always been a fan of the History channel, so I was delighted when the team reached out to me to be involved," John Robbie says. 

"It is such an important project because so many South Africans don't necessarily know about these stories which are key moments in our country's history, shedding light on significant events and remarkable individuals. Both shows go beyond surface level and tell the stories behind the actual events."

Anita Gardini, marketing manager of the History channel in Africa, says "We're a premiere channel for historical storytelling, so we are incredibly proud to uncover six local stories through these two shows".

"It was great to work with John whose effortless narration and additions of little-known facts bring each of these moments in time to life. History Africa believes it's important to uncover and share our history in order to safeguard our shared heritage."

"We hope that viewers find these stories gripping and engaging and walk away wanting to know even more about our country's history."

SABC3 abruptly halts further production of low-rated The Estate as part of 'forced review' of channel's content strategy, Clive Morris Productions show very likely cancelled.

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC has abruptly halted further production of SABC3's early prime-time soap The Estate beyond the third season, with the local show which has struggled in the ratings and which is likely cancelled after the South African public broadcaster has been "forced" to review SABC3's content strategy.

According to the SABC, production of The Estate has been "put on hold" although insiders say it's unlikely that the Clive Morris Productions show will be back. 

Production stopped and started between the first and second, and second and third seasons and now The Estate will take another indeterminate break after its third season.

The SABC in a statement says The Estate's third season "regrettably comes to a wrap" and will "take a hiatus at the end of its third season at the end of July 2023". 

SABC3 channel head Pat van Heerden is gone since the end of April 2023. She shepherded the development of The Estate and was instrumental in finally getting it on the air to plug the hole left by the cancellation of the long-running Isidingo when the SABC had no plan or replacement.

Pat van Heerden struggled in the recommissioning process of The Estate due to internal politics within the SABC, which cause long breaks between the first and second, and second and third seasons of the show for what was supposed to be a seamless series. 

With every break which caused a disruption in viewer behaviour, viewers went away and had to be coaxed back into the pattern of watching the show, causing additional damage to The Estate's ratings.

In late 2021 the cast and crew of The Estate went unpaid for months with the SABC that said in January 2023 that it was concerned about the non-payment of the cast and crew since the broadcaster had made its payment to the production company.

In halting further episode orders of The Estate, the SABC now says that "Key market changes such as the impact of the analogue switch-off and load-shedding has forced a review on the channel's strategy".

The Estate will produce the last of its third season episodes during May and June.

"S3 extends its gratitude to the producer, cast and crew of The Estate for a world-class and award-winning production and thanks the viewers for their support," the SABC says in a statement.

Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Clive Morris Productions chief operating officer (COO) in a statement says "It has been an immense privilege to work with the SABC in producing The Estate over the last three seasons".

"We are extremely grateful to our national broadcaster for the bravery and courage they have demonstrated in affording us the opportunity to tell authentic, hard-hitting, and groundbreaking stories, which reflect the South Africa we live in today."

"Thank you to our incredible crew and cast for their unparalleled talent and commitment and most of all thank you to you the viewers who have walked the journey with us over the last two years. We look forward to sharing the next chapter of The Estate with the nation after our production hiatus."

The Estate has struggled in the ratings since its debut with 418 028 viewers at most during April 2023.

ALSO READ: SABC3 fills its 2-month prime time The Estate telenovela gap with a repackaged rebroadcast titled The Estate Rewind.

ALSO READ: SABC3's troubled The Estate going off-air for over 2 months.

ALSO READ: SABC1 tries to save S3's The Estate with a bizarre primetime rerun from 6 September at 7pm with the local telenovela that will now be shown back-to-back on two SABC channels nightly.

ALSO READ: SABC removes the SABC1 rebroadcast of SABC3's struggling The Estate telenovela that will vanish a month before the end of its first season. 

ALSO READ: SABC1 returns the remaining first season episodes of SABC3's struggling telenovela The Estate to its schedule in March with a double bill conclusion on 8 April.