Survivor SA: Immunity Island: From fish eagles soaring overhead to river challenges – here’s how the Wild Coast will reshape the 8th season of the reality competition show on M-Net.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 8th season of Survivor South Africa on M-Net that switched filming from an exotic foreign locale to the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape promises a "truly unique look and feel" but will still have a tropical atmosphere with tribes living on desolate beaches although water challenges got moved from the sea to rivers while castaways compete as fish eagles circle overhead.

On Sunday night M-Net revealed that the new 8th season of Survivor South Africa, still entitled Survivor SA: Immunity Island but no longer set on a real island, will take place at the lush Wild Coast of South Africa's Eastern Cape after filming wrapped last week on the new localised season of the 39-day reality competition format licensed from Banijay Rights.

DStv subscribers will be able to watch Survivor SA: Immunity Island on M-Net (DStv 101) from Thursday 3 June 2021 after the production company Afrokaans and M-Net restrategised to switch filming of the new season with 20 castaways to a South African location following the immense restrictions, logistical impossibilities and travel challenges wrought by the global Covid-19 pandemic internationally and within the country.

Asked how difficult it was to find an alternative location during and because of Covid-19, Handrie Basson, Survivor SA executive producer at Afrokaans, told TVwithThinus that "While Survivor SA was always typically positioned in a far-flung tropical location, it has always been an incredibly agile format".

"With this, the show has continued to strive in the face of Covid, with production becoming more localised without quality being hindered."

"On M-Net's initiative, the production team started scouting for suitable locations within South Africa's borders only days before Level 5 lockdown at the end of March."

"With international travel compromised and the true impact of the global pandemic still widely uncertain, it was deemed best to look locally for a place where we could film Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island, without the risk of international travel bans being imposed," says Handrie Basson.

"In order to consider a location, there are a few factors to take into account: the weather conditions during the desired filming period; adequate isolation from modern development, but close enough to decent infrastructures such as accommodation for crew, and reliable supply lines for materials and equipment."

"Then the location should also provide beaches suitable for tribe camps, enough space for challenges to be built, and a Tribal Council spot that would stray true to the production values and standards of Survivor," he says.

Fish eagles soaring above challenge locations

"Once the Wild Coast was deemed the most suitable location, Afrokaans worked closely with local stakeholders and service providers, such as Sun International's Wild Coast Sun hotel management, local authorities, community leaders, - and with the support of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) - all the local permissions and filming protocols could be secured," says Handrie Basson.

"The Wild Coast is truly wild," he says. "South Africa's abundant wildlife will feature prominently in the season."

"We are talking fish eagles soaring above challenge locations, snakes - the reptilian sort! - slithering through tribe camps, vervet monkeys foraging for food ... Then there are the unpredictable weather phenomena where a sunny day can quickly change into a fierce thunderstorm in the afternoon or a deluge of rain will come out of nowhere to drench the earth."

"All of these elements contribute to a very real, very exposed environment where our castaways had to survive for 39 days," says Handrie.

Filming completed without any Covid-cases

And how were the medical team bigger or different this season to outwit and outlast Covid-19? "M-Net and Afrokaans collaborated on a strict Standards of Procedure protocol to create the safest working environment possible for crew and cast," he explains.

"We had a bigger medical team on-site at all times, with specialised Covid control officers dedicated to monitoring crew and cast, doing daily screenings, providing sanitising solutions and educating the crew on effective prevention measures such as social distancing, crew moving and operating in different zones to ensure social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing."

"All crew and cast had undergone the PCR testing for Covid-19 and spent the required time in isolation, prior to the commencement of this season's filming."

"These strict protocols added an additional layer of vigilance to our daily lives, but it was 100% worth it, as we started and completed filming without a single Covid-case.

Water challenges switching from the sea to rivers

So, will Survivor SA still look like Survivor - with  tropical or ever-summer feel? Handrie Basson assures that the show's DNA in its look and feel won't look different just because it's now set on Wild Coast beaches of South Africa.

"This season will have the tropical, lush jungle background the viewers have come to associate with Survivor," he says.

"The weather was unpredictable with swelteringly hot and humid days, torrential downpours and cold nights keeping the castaways and the crew on their toes at all times."

"The tribe camps are situated on beautiful, desolate stretches of coastline and definitely provides the backdrop of a deserted island location. The ocean waters of the Wild Coast are treacherous yet spectacular, adding atmospheric drama."

"Most of the water challenges of this season played out in rivers and estuaries, rather than in the ocean itself. All of these elements contribute to give Survivor SA: Immunity Island a truly unique look and feel, whilst still delivering on isolation, deprivation and extreme nature - important staples of the format."

ALSO READ: M-Net’s Survivor SA: Immunity Island switches to South Africa's Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape with 20 castaways, set for broadcast from 3 June 2021.

ALSO READ: Secret filming wraps on M-Net’s Survivor South Africa Immunity Island season as crew and castaways had to outwit and outlast Covid inside a bubble somewhere in desolate South Africa.

ALSO READ: As the coronavirus pandemic spreads M-Net is reassessing Survivor SA 8th season filming and the location as the American Survivor delays production.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: M-Net indefinitely postpones production of the 8th season of Survivor SA: Immunity Island because of the global Covid-19 lockdown. 

Beloved Bonteheuwel TV foodie and chef Koelsoem Kamalie dead at 72.

by Thinus Ferreira

The beloved cook and TV chef "Tannie" Koelsoem Kamalie has died. She was 72.

Bonteheuwel's TV chef who also published several recipe books, Koelsoem Kamalie died on Saturday 11 April from kidney failure.

"It's with great sadness that we say goodbye to Tannie Koelsoem Kamalie," says VIA (DStv 147) in a statement on Saturday evening where Tannie Koelsoem appeared in two shows.

"I was privileged enough to meet the dear Tannie Koelsoem twice. She was such a spirited and happy woman. It was more than a privilege for VIA to broadcast her and Tannie Flori's show," says Izelle Venter, VIA channel boss.

"The stories of their food, their friendship over faith boundaries and their positivity despite adversity was truly the rendezvous of everything that VIA wanted to be. We'll always be thankful for Japie Gouws, the former head of the ATKV who encouraged us to create the show. Our thoughts are with her family."

Together with Tannie Flori Schikker, Koelsoem Kamalie co-hosted their own cooking show, Flori en Koelsoem se Kosse on VIA and produced by Leroux Botha and Nina Swart from Afrokaans, over two seasons in 2016 and 2017.

They first rose to fame when the two shared their fascinating recipes and stories during the afternoon on Tjailatyd on the SABC's Afrikaans radio station RSG.

In 2017 their show won an ATKV Mediaveertjie-award for best magazine show and was based on their cookbook Kook Saam Kaaps that was released in April 2016 by LAPA Uitgewers.

Their second cookbook about desserts entitled Soettand was released in 2017.

"She had a specific place in her kitchen in Bonteheuwel where she would always sit," says Nina Swart.

"From there she could see everything and keep her hand firmly on everything. She and Gadija, her daughter gave that kitchen life. It was the heart of the home, of their community, and if you were lucky enough to visit there, the heart of your entire world for the time you were there."

Handrie Basson, Afrokaans executive producer, says "Tannie Koelsoem was an example to all of us of generous humanity. She was maybe small in stature but her hear was big and full of love for her people and her community".

"Our Afrokaans team was privileged to work with Tannie Koelsoem and Tannie Flori. Just like their food, every moment spent with them was wonderful, healthy and enjoyable. We will miss Tannie Koelsoem terribly and cherish the beautiful memories".

kykNET’s 9th Silwerskermfees kicks off in Cape Town giving a voice to Africa's Afrikaans film biz.

kykNET's 9th Silwerskermfees Afrikaans film festival kicked off last night with the blue carpet premiere screening of the 2019 of Fiela Se Kind with the cast and director in attendance as filmmakers underlined the growing festival’s importance in supporting Afrikaans filmmakers and making their voices heard.

 Once again taking place at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, the festival has lured Afrikaans and other filmmakers, including film and TV execs from across South Africa, Africa and the world to the 4-day festival screening an array of dramatic features and short films, including documentaries across a wide range of topics.

Workshops will be taking place in conjunction with Wesgro with subjects under discussion this year ranging from financing the making of a film, to getting a possible international release for a film. 

 The British producer Peter Cowley and German filmmaker Dorothee Wenner are both attending, with Arnold Vosloo, the South African born actor based in Los Angeles present for the première of Griekwastad, the film about a family murder that shocked the country.

“We need a feeling of celebration for South African films and Afrikaans films and that is what the Silwerskermfees provides for us as an industry,” Zenobia Kloppers told TVwithThinus on Wednesday night at the blue carpet première of director Brett Michael Innes’ Fiela Se Kind releasing on 13 September in which she plays the title character. 

 "South Africans make films with very little money and we’re telling our own stories and the Silwerskermfees takes the best of that and shows us what we can aspire to, saying: ‘Here is something, work towards this’. Which is why I think it’s incredibly important to have and to grow this festival.” 

 Karen Meiring, director of kykNET channels at M-Net, said the Silwerskermfees “is very important to do because we’re focusing on the local film industry".

 "We don’t call ourselves an international film festival. Our focus on Afrikaans is unique and it’s our unique drawcard because there’s no other film festival of its kind doing this and I think that it’s incredibly important that there’s at least one film festival doing this”. 

 Karen Meiring said the 9th edition of the Silwerskermfees “is the biggest that it’s ever been”. 



‘Silwerskermfees gives Afrikaans film a voice’ 
Director Corné van Rooyen and founder of Red Letter Day Productions, producer of the new Alles Malan drama series on kykNET and former Silwerskermfees winner, asked why the festival is important, said “that to be able to tell stories in your own language is for me the most important thing”.

“Then also to have a platform and to look forward to something – you know you have an idea and then think ‘One day I will be able to showcase my film at the Silwerskermfees’, it’s an achievement to reach and to work towards. For me that has always been a driving force behind what I did in making films”.

 “The Silwerskermfees gives Afrikaans film a voice. It gives filmmakers a voice. It’s very important for filmmakers to feel that they can tell their own stories and that they don’t always have to tell stories that are just suitable to a bigger mass market," he said.

 "You can come here and feel that people are supporting you, that they love and appreciate you, and want to help you to have your voice be heard in the wider world with audiences and in the industry.”

Handrie Basson, founding partner and executive producer at Afrokaans, said the Silwerskermfees “does incredible development work for our local TV and film industry”.

“It provides young people with the opportunity to work and to rub shoulders with big and heralded names in the entertainment industry. I also think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the public to attend an event of international standard and to celebrate South African and Afrikaans films.”

 JP Smith, Cape Town mayoral committee member representing the city’s film events team, said “the City of Cape Town is increasingly focusing on what we can do in film”.

"We have made film a core plan in our investment strategy. We think the Silwerskermfees is important enough to invest in which is why we’ve made a modest financial investment and will probably do better next year.”

“In the last 9 months Cape Town’s film office received 11 726 film bookings, compared to the 11 350 for the preceding time.”

 “Of those the film office issued 6 902 permits for a variety of locations around the city so this industry is steadily growing year on year. “What we do need now is more places for you to shoot and we’re hard at work at creating additional facilities for you.”

7th season of Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets on M-Net in 2019 promises even more game-changing twists, surprises as entries open.

The entry period has opened for the new 7th season of Survivor South Africa that will be produced and broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101) in 2019 with the season entitled "Island of Secrets" that will see 18 new castaways trying to outwit, outplay and outlast each other on a far-flung, exotic island locale.

M-Net renewed Survivor SA for a 7th season midway through the just-concluded 6th season that saw Tom Schwartz win, after the Philippines set season saw a 71% ratings spike for the competitive Thursday evening timeslot, and with the producers promising even more game-changing twists and surprises for next year.

Nico Panagio will once again be the host of Survivor SA: Island of Secrets that will again be produced by Afrokaans that took over production from the just-concluded 6th season that was set in the Philippines.

Survivor South Africa on M-Net is seen as such a must-watch property that the programme holds the distinction of being the only locally produced South African TV show that has its episodes being uploaded by fans to illegal torrent file-sharing sites after linear broadcast, with the latest season that was again downloaded thousands of times and watched globally far outside of the country's borders.

TVwithThinus asked Kay Ann Williams, the head of local content and independent films for M-Net channels, when during the 6th season the channel decided to renew Survivor SA for another season.

"When we saw our audience's response to it - and I don't just mean ratings, I also mean emotional engagement on social media and online, and obviously there's also the ratings - it was about halfway through when we saw that the combination of those things were extremely for Survivor South Africa and M-Net."

"This Survivor SA season proved to us that local content is really king for the audience. When they see themselves, and people like them - I think there's a part of South Africa that can identify with at one of the castaways. So the 6th season made a huge impact and it was a very easy decision to make."

"This tremendous season came about through Handrie Basson and Le Roux Botha, the series director's vision and I want to say thank you for their passion and absolute obsession with this game."

"Before Survivor SA: Philippines on Thursday evenings there were very strong international content on M-Net, and when Survivor SA came on it grew that timeslot's ratings by 71%," said Kay Ann Williams.

"So the ratings were phenomenal - it was more than what we expected, and as I've said it wasn't just the ratings, it was also the engagement of DStv subscribers and it was because of this local content on M-Net."

"Thank you for giving us excellent local content, thank you for being excellent visionaries," said Kay Ann Williams.

Handrie Basson, Survivor SA executive producer told TVwithThinus that Island of Secrets "is a secret, obviously".

"For the next season we are introducing some interesting, new, compelling elements to the show that will not only surprise the audience but moreover the castaways."

"We want to throw them curve balls - that's what this game is about, it's to keep them on their toes. And with the element of the island of secrets, the main reason behind it is to keep the game fresh - for the M-Net audience's entertainment, but also for the castaways and their game plan."

"With the firsts that unfolded on this Survivor SA: Philippines season on M-Net, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to have that as a first - not only for South Africa, but also for the world's audience," said Handrie Basson.

"Survivor is such a worldwide family, and there are so many countries that we don't even know about who are producing Survivor for their local audiences. We only sort of know of the English speaking franchises that we get to see sometimes."

About one of the castaways who decided to unexpectedly quit during this season, Handrie Basson said "when as castaway leaves unexpectedly, you need to be prepared for it. It can be a medical evacuation, it can be through their own free will, a lot of things can happen. So you build those eventualities into your planning and we plan for months ahead. So we have plan A, plan B, plan C's in place."

"Thank you to M-Net for giving us a platform to live out our passion. And for the faith in us and believing in us, and for seeing our vision and our crazy ideas through," said Handrie Basson.

Entries for Survivor SA: Island of Secrets close on 30 September at www.mnet.tv/survivorsa and no late entries will be accepted. In a change from previous seasons and moving with the times, contestants who have to be older than 18, must make and submit a video entry this time along with their photo.

A valid South African passport that expires after November 2019 is required.

Survivor South Africa's first-ever Cape Town finale for Survivor SA: Philippines on M-Net will be done from Silverline Studios with parts of the set shipped home - and new surprises.

The 6th season's 2-hour finale of Survivor South Africa: Philippines on M-Net (DStv 101) will end on Thursday 16 August with host Nico Panagio revealing the winner and final vote tally in a live broadcast that will take place in front of a live studio audience done for the first time from Cape Town and that promises some new surprises.

The previous 5 seasons of Survivor South Africa on M-Net, all had final episodes done from Johannesburg, South Africa but Afrokaans, the production company that took over from this season, decided to move the cast reunion and big winner reveal to the Mother City.

TVwithThinus can reveal that the Survivor South Africa: Phillipines season finale will take place at the Silverline Studios in De Waterkant, Cape Town.

Lani Lombard, head of M-Net publicity, told TVwithThinus that Cape Town's notorious and notoriously fickle and fast-changing weather won't be a problem.

"We considered several venues around the country for the final and the Silverline Studios met all our requirements."

"This season has also become known for its twists and turns and building on this trend, this is the first time that a Survivor South Africa final will be held in Cape Town."

The exclusive guest list to fill the Survivor South Africa live studio audience will include the clean-scrubbed Survivor SA castaways, the media and sponsors, as well as celebrities who are fans of the show.

Fans of Survivor South Africa: Philippines haven't been forgotten with viewers who want to get access to the event and attend the finale who can win tickets on the Cape Union Mart and Huawei social media platforms.

As to what part of the special 2-hour Survivor SA: Philippines broadcast will be a live broadcast, Lani Lombard says that during the first hour viewers will see how the last two days played out on the Survivor island in the Philippines that were filmed a few months ago earlier this year for 39 days around El Nido, Palawan.

Thereafter the action will move to the Silverline Studios in the V&A Waterfront precinct, used by several American TV shows and films shooting in South Africa, for the winner announcement and the reunion show.

"There will also be prize handovers and a couple of surprises. We're not saying exactly when the winner will be announced," says Lani Lombard.

And where has the votes been kept since the island voting? "The votes that were cast at the final Survivor SA: Phillipines tribal council have been in executive producer Handrie Basson's possession from the second that host Nico Panagio walked off the set with the urn," says Lani Lombard.

"He has kept them under lock-and-key at an undisclosed location and they will only surface again when Nico opens the urn and reads them out to the castaways on 16 August."


Showstopper set, new surprises
Asked what production wise might be different in and during this season finale, Afrokaans' Handrie Basson, executive producer, tells TVwithThinus that "we had some of our set elements shipped from the Philippines and it docked in Cape Town harbour, close to the studio".

"It allows us to use more elements from the island in the overall set build of the Survivor SA: Phillipines live finale broadcast."

"The outside broadcast (OB) set-up and technical specifications will be similar to M-Net's other live broadcasts. Our Cape Town studio allows for a big studio audience, plus the scope to create a showstopper set, playing homage to our Philippines set."

While previous Survivor SA finales literally shipped in sand to the soundstage, Afrokaans is promising some new surprises to close the latest season.

"We will be crossing back to the island for the final two days - day 38 and day 39 - during the live broadcast to watch these events unfold," says Handrie Basson. "These pre-recorded inserts will live side-by-side with live crossings from the Cape Town studio."

"Our art department is recreating some elements from our iconic set from the Philippines that will feel familiar to what viewers saw on the island, as well as some pieces from the actual set that was shipped back to South Africa."

"The studio set will look and feel familiar to viewers, but with tweaks to maximise the experience for both the studio audience and the viewers at home."

The 2-hour finale of Survivor SA: Philippines will start on M-Net (DStv 101) on Thursday, 16 August at 19:00 until 21:00.

BREAKING. M-Net's next new reality show is Power Couple South Africa, looking for 8 couples to compete in relationship challenges.

M-Net's next local new prime time reality show on South African television will be Power Couple South Africa.

It will be the first time that the reality show - which has been done in Israel, Portugal and currently in Brazil - is being done as an English language show anywhere in the world.

The show - a bit of a cross between elements of Fear Factor, Love in the Wild and Temptation Island will revolve around 8 couples competing in various challenges in and around a camera-filled villa in Cape Town, to win an ultimate cash prize - worth more than R1 million - premised on how well they know each other.

Auditions for Power Couple SA kick off on 14 February - Valentines Day - in Cape Town at The Bay Hotel, with auditions also taking place on 18 February at the Moses Mabida Stadium in Durban and on 28 February at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg.

People who want to enter need to be older than 21, irrespective of how long or short they've been a romantic couple.

Power Couple SA, produced by production company Afrokaans, is set to debut in August on M-Net for a total of 14 weekly episodes and will be filmed over the course of 5 weeks from the middle of March to mid-April.

Viewers will decide the eventual winner through public voting who will be announced during a live finale broadcast on M-Net in December.

M-Net executives, the show's executive producers and some South African power couples like Nico Panagio and his wife Christi announced the show to the media on Tuesday afternoon at the Table Bay Hotel in Camps Bay at a press conference, calling Power Couple SA "a revolutionary concept" which "combines all the elements needed for compelling television".

"No show we've ever tested that was brand-new to M-Net has ever tested this highly," Anne Davis, M-Net's senior commissioning editor told TV with Thinus.

The 8 couples will compete in some small yet difficult and intimate, and some spectacular high-adrenaline action adventure challenges, through which they will accumulate thousands of rands depending on what they've bet and how successful they think their partner is going to be in completing specific tasks.

If they win in Power Couple South Africa a couple adds money to their savings pot; if they fail the money they've bet is lost.

Power Couple SA producer Handrie Basson when asked, told TV with Thinus that the new show is specifically not looking for famous or established power couples - although the idea was discussed - but is looking for ordinary South Africans couples to enter.

"We are not looking for famous couples. We want ordinary South African couples. Any couple can enter and maybe be one of the 8 couples chosen to live in the villa. They can be straight or gay, but must be romantically involved. It's about sharing a bedroom," said Handrie Basson.

"The house where the 8 couples will live is a luxurious villa in Cape Town where they will stay for the duration of the production in the lap of luxury," said Handrie Basson.

Although divorced people and those who are not a romantic couple can't enter, he says "maybe there's a relationship we could save on this show. It's about how well people know each other - or how well people who realise they don't know each other, work and communicate to get to know each other".

Based on the outcome of the challenges, two couples will be up for elimination each week as the others will decide whom they would like to keep in the game.

"At the heart of Power Couple SA is that it is a feel-good show," said Handrie Basson. "Power Couple SA will be done in English but when a couple speak not in English but in their love language - like Afrikaans or other - you can speak it, there will be subtitles".

"The interesting thing for couples entering Power Couple SA and for viewers watching, will be whether they know each other well or learn to get to know each other very well when starting the game - or learn to communicate very well," said Handrie Basson.

"You're going to see very intimate and revealing challenges which will make you laugh out loud and which will be full of entertainment value - however we're not laughing at them, viewers will be laughing with them," said Handrie Basson.

"The challenges the 8 couples will face over the course of their stay in the house will be big in scale and also fun," said TV director and producer LeRoux Botha.

TV with Thinus asked Victor Eckard, M-Net director, whether the production and broadcast of Power Couple SA means no further seasons of some other as yet unannounced renewed or cancelled reality shows like MasterChef SA this year.

"Making Power Couple SA doesn't mean we're not doing any of the other big reality shows or that we will continue doing them. The idea with Power Couple SA is to bring something new to South African viewers that people haven't seen before and we're very excited about this show".

"We consistently evaluate all the M-Net reality shows and we're looking for brands to take us to even bigger ratings and to take M-Net on channel 101 on DStv to the next level - something which we're definitely evaluating every single day at M-Net and M-Net Edge," said Victor Eckard.