Accused of 'corporate thuggery and theft' Viacom Africa abruptly pulls new Amapiano docu-series from MTV Base just before broadcast after producer alleges MTV stole his concept and cut him out of the production.

Viacom Africa, after being accused of "corporate thuggery and theft" of a young producer's show concept, has abruptly pulled its new Amapiano documentary series that was supposed to start on Tuesday night from MTV Base (DStv 322) just before broadcast.

It follows after a lawyer's letter alleging that Viacom and MTV stole the producer's idea, concept and creation, and then proceeded to cut him out of the production, demanding that MTV Networks Africa not go ahead with broadcasting the documentary series.

Behind the Amapiano Movement was supposed to start on Tuesday night, 24 September at 21:00 but Viacom yanked it from the schedule without notification or providing a new planned broadcasting date.

The alleged content theft bombshell comes just a day after Viacom Africa did a screening party of the first episode of the documentary for some Johannesburg media on Monday, and just hours before it was set to air on the MTV Base channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

The Behind the Amapiano Movement documentary series takes a look at this new and fast-growing music genre, following the popular KwaZulu-Natal originated Gqom of a few years ago.

The new documentary series about the music genre that has jazzy keys and a strong kwaito influence, features commentary and insights from artists like De Mthuda and Njelic, the Amapiano DJ and producer Kabza De Small, the DJ duo Major League, singer Lady Zamar, DJ Zinhle and DJ Viny Da Vinci.

Galananzhele Sebela Attorneys, representing the New Slate Media production company that is a small, upcoming black-youth owned production company and funded by the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC), has sent a letter demanding that Viacom Africa don't go ahead with the broadcast of Behind the Amapiano Movement.

It cites the alleged "unlawful and grossly unethical acts of MTV and Don't Look Down (DLD)" which is another production company responsible for the docu-series.

New Slate Media alleges that "through its funder, the Gauteng Film Commission, it approached MTV Networks Africa for the production of a documentary on the township music culture "amapiano" and made a presentation and pitch in August 2018, followed by several other meetings "during the course of 2019" where the little production company "provided MTV with the concept and full details for the production and execution of the documentary".

"MTV was very excited about our client's concept for the production of the amapiano documentary and agreed that the production of the documentary based on our client's concept was to commence."

"Furthermore MTV suggested that our client partner with another production company, called Don't Look Down (DLD) which was a production company that MTV has previously worked with, to co-produce the documentary."

Galananzhele Sebela Attorneys in the letter to VIMN Africa alleges that "since the introduction of Don't Look Down, our client has been sidelined from the production of the documentary and that MTV and DLD have proceeded to produce the documentary without our client, even though our client was the creator and brain behind the documentary".

"These unlawful and grossly unethical acts of MTV and DLD amounts to corporate thuggery and theft of our client's concept and creation."

"Our client tried in vain many times through emails and telephone calls to Monde Twala, Solly Moeng of MTV and Desmond Mthembu of the Gauteng Film Commission to register his concerns relating to the production of the documentary but no feedback has been forthcoming whilst MTV and DLD were busy producing our client's concept behind his back."

Viacom, in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus on Tuesday asking about the abrupt removal of the scheduled Behind the Amapiano Movement documentary from MTV Base, confirmed on Tuesday night that the show was pulled because of the producer's alleged intellectual property theft complaint.

"We confirm that MTV Base has received a complaint in relation to its upcoming Amapiano docu-series format," said Monde Twala, vice president for youth, music and BET at VIMN Africa.

"Our legal team are currently responding to the parties concerned. The broadcasting date of the docu-series will be communicated in due course."


ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. With a screening event of MTV Base's new docu-series Behind the Amapiano Movement for only certain people, Viacom Africa and MTV that can't bother to tell or include the press, but ironically wants to 'stimulate conversation'.

Gauteng Film Commission, WGSA and SAGE at the 3rd Ekurhuleni International Film Festival, with M-Net, SABC and e.tv doing commissioning and content licensing sessions.

The Gauteng Film Commission (GFC), the Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) and the South African Guild of Editors (SAGE) will be at the 3rd Ekurhuleni International Film Festival (EIFF) taking place from today, 20 June until 23 June at the Springs Theatre.

Broadcasters, including the SABC, e.tv and M-Net will all have a presence and do sessions regarding the licensing of TV content, and the commissioning of TV content.

The Ekurhuleni Film Festival is focused on empowering local filmmakers in South Africa by providing them with film-making skills and creating networking opportunities with local and international broadcasters.

"The film industry is part of the development of creative industries," says Themba Gabede, Ekurhuleni spokesperson.

Several screenings and workshop sessions will be taking place, with a selection of films that will also be screened. The award ceremony is on 23 June at 18:00.

The 3rd EIFF schedule is as follows:

20 June: Film screenings from 10:00 to 21:00.
21 June: Film and TV business workshop from 10:00 to 11:00.
21 June: Scriptwriting workshop (WGSA) from 13:00 to 14:00.
21 June: Licensing workshop (e.tv) from 14:00 to 15:00.
21 June: GFC (Gauteng Film Commission) funding seminar from 15:00 to 16:00.
21 June: Film screenings from 17:00 to 19:00.
22 June: Film and Publication Board (FPB) film and TV classification master class 10:00 to 11:00.
22 June: Editing workshop (SAGE) from 13:00 to 14:00.
22 June: Content licensing workshop (M-Net) from 14:00 to 15:00.
22 June: TV content commissioning seminar from 15:00 to 16:00. (SABC, e.tv).
22 June: Film screenings from 17:00 to 19:00.

TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK. A KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission 'Beach Party' at Sun City, a Gauteng Film Commission brunch: The bizarre sideshows at the NFVF's 13th Saftas that look like a waste, with money that could actually directly support film making in their provinces.

You won't think that there are a serious shortage of funds to support struggling and emerging South African filmmakers, or that producers are struggling to get paid by the SABC, if you witnessed the bizarre money-wasting sideshows at the NFVF's 13th South African Film and Television Awards that took place this weekend at Sun City.

It ranged from a "Beach Party" sponsored by the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission to a brunch courtesy of the Gauteng Film Commission.

Instead of actually directly investing in and helping filmmakers, actors, writers and other talent in their own provinces, some of South Africa's film commissions literally splurged on dubious-looking sideshow events at the National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 13 South African Film and Television Awards that was held on Saturday at Sun City in the North West province.

Why? What exactly is the positive return on investment for film commissions, constantly pleading poverty, yet spending and apparently wasting a lot of money on unnecessary things like a "beach party" in the middle of the North West?

Does it generate reams of positive articles in the press, glossy pictorial pages, and fawning coverage from the media?

Do the guests who attend the NFVF's awards show shindig at the shiny Sun City feel better, or better about themselves, afterwards? Does McDonalds SA end up selling more McCafe brew?

First up, there was the "by invitation only" so-called 13th Saftas "Beach Party" at Sun City's Valley of the Waves on Friday evening - courtesy of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and McDonalds South Africa where DJs and artists performed and guests indulged in a feeding frenzy of food and drink.

How exactly does this advance the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission's mission to support "film", and presumably in KwaZulu-Natal?

Does a "beach party" in the North West buy goodwill from the film fraternity elsewhere and help with nice exposure, or what does it actually accomplish?

(Co-incidentally Jacqueline Motsepe, COO of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission got an award on Saturday night at the 13th Saftas, the Outstanding provincial contributor award, whatever that means.)

Where are the press releases and information about the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission in the press pack and Google drive for media that could have been issued, added and sent out by the NFVF? It doesn't exist.

Where was a panel discussion or roundtable with media if the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission actual had a presence at Sun City? It just looks like a colossal waste.

Cue Saturday morning at Sun City for the 13th Saftas and the Gauteng Film Commission doing a "networking session" breakfast in the North West province where those who bothered to show up were "addressed".

Of course sponsor McDonalds South Africa was here as well.

It looked far from jam-packed.

Again, where are the transcripts of the speech or speeches of whoever from the Gauteng Film Commission spoke? A basic press release?

Where is whatever was issued to the media, if even anything?

Here too, the NFVF communication people couldn't be bothered to issue something to the media and neither did the Gauteng Film Commission.

And again the questions: What exactly is the return on the investment from this empty-looking breakfast session and how is the value from that investment measured?

Where is the media coverage? Were there even media there?

And a bonus point if anyone can answer what happens to all of the wasted food.

South Africa and the South African economy entered into a technical recession in 2018. People and the South African film and TV industry are struggling. There's been a huge number of job losses in the industry in 2018 and more were planned in 2019 at the SABC until it was halted last month.

In this critic's opinion, it's unseemingly, crass and totally out-of-touch for the National Video and Film Foundation and places like the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission to splash the cash on trivial-trash like a "Beach Party", or something like a "networking session" at something like the problematic and constantly badly produced Saftas when money and available resources are scarce.

The optics of these things - call them marketing "activations" if you really like - are terrible.

It comes across as if the National Film and Video Foundation and places like the KwaZulu Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission are having a luxury, cheese-platter and McFlurry-filled weekend away living it up at Sun City with time for the "beach" while South Africa's TV and film industry suffers.

The NFVF's Saftas is already at risk of becoming even more out-of-touch and irrelevant with viewers. Yet its "elitist" and detached image is being helped along with things like a "Beach Party" and Sun City visitors nibbling on cheese for breakfast.

As I've said before, the NFVF under acting CEO Shadrack Bokaba, needs to do a radical overhaul of the troubled, struggling and badly done South African Film and Television Awards.

The Saftas at Sun City - replete with beach party -  looks like the elitist Capitol in The Hunger Games films while South Africa's struggling TV and film industry who it is actually meant for, are standing on the outside, looking in at the champagne crowd.

Do film commission "districts" gleefully dispatching their reps and money there have any idea of how they're perceived?

What next? A Showmax sponsored binge-lunch all-you-cat eat buffet? A MultiChoice sponsored content discovery game set in the as-difficult Sun City maze?

A Netflix South Africa Shadow puppet show (oh wait, Netflix reached its targets with anything to do with shadows)? Or a SABC activation at the top of the water slides with people flicking coins down and watching money being thrown into the water?

It's high-time to re-envision the Safta awards at Sun City and what exactly happens there - and not.

DISGUSTING. Suspended Gauteng Film Commission CEO, Andile Mbeki, is still paid over R1 million to sit at home more than a year after his suspension over serious allegations of insubordination and ill-treatment of staffers.

Andile Mbeki, the suspended CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) is still paid more than R1 million per year to sit at home - more than a year after his suspension in February 2017 over serious allegations of insubordination and ill-treatment of staffers.

The Gauteng Film Commission that is supposed to use its resources to help and support South Africa's film and TV industry, especially in the Gauteng province, has failed to have any disciplinary hearing in more than a year for Andile Mbeki.

The revelation that Andile Mbeki is still pocketing a massive salary while doing absolutely nothing at the Gauteng Film Commission was made by the sports MEC Faith Mazibuko, who in the provincial legislature revealed that he is still being paid after being on suspension for over a year.

Andile Mbeki was appointed in September 2014 and got suspended in February 2017 following serious allegations of insubordination and ill-treatment of staffers, as well as allegedly illegally recording Faith Mazibuko's conversation during a meeting and distributing the conversation on social media without seeking her permission.

Now there's reportedly plans underway to seek "an amicable resolution to part ways" and for Andile Mbeki to exit the Gauteng Film Commission without any disciplinary hearing.

BREAKING. CNBC Africa responds to having received massive amount of money from the Gauteng Film Commission. Finally.

You're reading it here first.

I was first with the news about CNBC Africa (DStv 410) no longer getting money from the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) and now I can be first with CNBC Africa who finally has a response DAYS after I was the first journalist to ask.

When I broke the news RIGHT HERE days ago about the huge amount of money that CNBC Africa (DStv 410) used to get from the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) I also asked CNBC Africa for a response. I was informed that CNBC Africa had no comment. Then of course the story went everywhere and pressure built.

Now CNBC Africa, a TV channel that works with the world of money and finances and asking questions to those who have it and really should know better, finally have a (terse) reponse. (Remember when you read CNBC Africa's response, that according to my original story CNBC Africa was ''accused'' of getting a massive amount of moola from the GFC and not doing anything to stimulate local TV production in South Africa.)

''CNBC Africa produced a series of programmes called Business Spotlight with sponsorship and associated advertising via the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC). This agreement has now ended. The editorial control of all programmes rested with CNBC Africa at all times.''