An ongoing stand-off, increasing in intensity between the principal cast of South Africa's biggest TV show and biggest weekday soap, and its creator, could not just lead to the biggest reset for
Generations on SABC1 in a generation, but is surprisingly - in neither a "good" nor "bad" way - showing the ongoing maturation of South Africa's long-infantile, often amateur TV industry finally moving towards bigger professionalism in another aspect.
And where
Generations go as South Africa's biggest money-spinning show, so will most likely follow the rest of the TV industry.
And even if "nothing" happens, the warning shots fired from both sides due to the current massive impasse between producer and actors over contracts, will accelerate the need for changes in the way South African television treats talent - both on-screen and crew.
For too long the South African TV industry got away (and by saying this I'm not necessarily implicating nor accusing the
Generations production per se of this) with the ongoing "cattle call" of simply summoning talent - from actors, writers, cameramen, directors and large chunks of crew - who eagerly sign anything and willingly go to work; too grateful and pleased to have a job in the biz and the chance to be appearing on, or working in, television.
Talent sign the independent contractor's agreement and is then basically at the beck and call of the producer and broadcaster. Now it seems, maybe, possibly, finally, there might be changes for South Africa's TV biz.
What first started with
The Wild on M-Net where actors were working on a TV show without proper, signed contracts and not feeling that they're properly going to be sharing in the generated equity of a local South African production in whatever form it may take in future, is now a major focal point at South African television's biggest TV show and by implication for the entire South African TV industry.
Twelve
Generations cast members -
Sophie Ndaba (Queen),
Katlego Danke (Dineo),
Anga Makubalo (MJ),
Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso),
Zenande Mfenyana (Noluntu),
Mandla Gaduka (Choppa),
Winnie Modise (Khethiwe),
Maggie Benedict (Akhona),
Thato Molamu (Nicholas)
Zolisa Xaluva (Jason),
Thami Mngqolo (Senzo) and
Slindile Nodangala (Ruby) - are steadfastly refusing to sign new contracts which they believe are not fair and not fair to them for what they've put into the show.
The cast members are completely resolute and banding together, similar to the cast of
Friends in America, demanding better contractual compensation and terms for all.
It's a massive gamble which could see them getting axed and written out of
Generations very soon with the show
which has shut down production for 3 weeks now while major pressure is building since the remaining already filmed and produced episodes supplied to SABC1 is fast running out.
Besides the past 3 weeks
Generations have lost on actual day-to-day production time since 15 October in the tense stalemate, the soap has actually been shuttered for 5 weeks in which no filming has been happening.
That's due to the talent who've been on leave for a legitimate additional 2 weeks before they were due back on set on 15 October - but ended up being no-shows. And because both producer and the actors have different types of leverage - neither is budging as the pressure is building.
Adding even more pressure is that the annual Christmas season hiatus for local productions is fast approaching where the daily soaps in fact ramp up production to produce and finish and get episodes in the can well in a new year so cast and crew can take a few additional holiday days over the end of the year festive time.
Interestingly as well is that while
Generations and producer
Mfundi Vundla is supposed to not just produce new episodes as usual, the SABC1 soap is supposed to in fact film "more" episodes than usual, nothing is happening.
Mfundi Vundla from Morula Pictures who produces
Generations and which has been the country's number one TV show in viewership for over two decades, has harsh words from his side for what he sees as a belligerent and ungrateful cast who wants to "control" the show.
Mfundi Vundla doesn't want to feel beholden or held hostage by actors' demands or that a production company's creative freedom has to be curbed by pandering to actors who, he feels, should always be dispensable if a story demands it.
While the
Generations actors demand longer three year contracts because Morula Pictures were given a longer three year contract by the SABC instead of annual renewals, the cast members banded together and want contractual assurances that they will get three year's work and won't suddenly be written out or disposed of.
Neither side in the intensely bitter dispute which has disrupted
Generations behind-the-scenes are essentially "wrong". Both producer and actor have very valid concerns.
Why should actors demand and be granted longer, better and more stable contracts which may impede your storytelling, creative freedom, and right to do with your show what you want? Why should actors feel that they're "bigger" than the show which made them? Where is the gratefulness for the years of work they've gotten already and the resultant fame factor bequethed on them?
Why should the producer not look and reward the actor with a fair and just contract and extent the contract when the TV show's contract is extended by a broadcaster? Why should the talent not get the benefit of greater financial security when the production company is given greater financial security?
And when does the actor or talent eventually get a form of "back pay" dividend from helping to build and cement a signature TV show in South Africa in the way American TV shows does?
It's all difficult and valid questions.
What's incredibly insightful from what is happening with
Generations is that South Africa's TV industry is finally maturing in another aspect.
Actors for the first time ever in South African television history feel that they have the
choice - the
possibility - of "demanding" better compensation and better contracts, doing so upfront before starting new work, and doing so in a group with collective representation. Sure, every actor always has a choice, but it's never (been) a real choice. You don't pitch for work, you don't sign the contract, you're off the show. Very little cache and bargaining power.
Now the
Generations cast feel they have leverage and power. They also have an example. As one well-placed insider told me recently: "
Connie [
Ferguson] showed us. She opened the door."
Mega soap star
Connie Ferguson who've left
Generations (leaving
Sophie Ndaba as the soap's only remaining major soap thesp), jumped ship to M-Net's new soap
The Wild at the same time as her husband Shona jettisoned the e.tv soap
Scandal! for
The Wild as well.
And after
The Wild they've not only gone on to star in a new drama series
Rockville for M-Net's Mzansi Magic, the local TV biz power couple are co-producers.
"Connie is proof that there's definitely life - if not bigger life - after
Generations. Connie showed there can be life on TV after
Generations.
Generations is no longer the end all and be all of television or TV fame. Connie and people like Oprah have opened people's eyes that there's not just one big game in town. You can go out and you can create your own and new games in town," the insider said to me.
Every passing day of the
Generations shut-down build the pressure for a resolution. That the stalemate is happening is testament to the growing power ordinary TV talent in South Africa have to try and better and change their circumstances. For the first time talent in the TV biz feel that they have actual real contract negotiation power - something which never really existed before.
Producers are also waking up to the fact that the
Downton Abbey days of "summoning" writers and actors and crew from below the floor boards to do their thing and then disappear might be drawing to a close for the South African TV industry.
Talent in all spheres within the local television business are becoming more vocal and they are demanding change. They demand greater equity and they want a greater stake when they help to create successful TV content.
Whatever the outcome - and yes soap serial television requires, in fact
demands more new episodes which means that a resolution either way will be forced soon - one thing is becoming clear: the
Generations stand-off is galvanising the South African industry towards a greater inclusive dispensation for all TV talent.
