Showing posts with label Pumla Hopa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pumla Hopa. Show all posts

Friday, March 13, 2020

Who shot Lincoln? Viewers react after SABC3's Isidingo ends with an unresolved Dallas cliffhanger series finale.


by Thinus Ferreira

Isidingo did Dallas as mysterious gunshots rang out in the final scene of the series finale on SABC3 on Thursday evening as Lincoln got shot - leaving viewers shocked, in disbelief and ending the local weekday soap on a blunt cliffhanger that will never be resolved.

For the series finale the writers' room of the Pomegranate Media production company and showrunner Pumla Hopa borrowed a page from the iconic "Who shot J.R.?" third season finale of the American prime time drama series Dallas to end Isidingo with a cliffhanger ending that will never get an answer.

Similar to how evil patriarch J.R. Ewing got shot by a mysterious character seemingly leaving him for dead, a woman with only her eyes framed in shots, was seen first taking off a blond wig - indicating that she has possibly been around for a while and masquerading as someone else,after which she shot Lincoln Sibeko (Lindani Nkosi) in his penthouse apartment at point-blank range.

He at least opened his eyes as he was laying in the ground before the end-credits rolled for the last time to indicate that while he wasn't dead.

Who was she? The evil, scheming Cherel de Villiers-Haines who returned for a last unexplained act of revenge? Was it Charlie Holmes, the daughter of Eddie Holmes originally played by Jay Anstey, returning to avenge the death of her father who died when the police station got bombed as a result of Lincoln and Nina?

The secret shooter's identity is a mystery South African television will never reveal, after the SABC that is no longer able to afford large emsemble cast drama series for SABC3, abruptly cancelled the show.

SABC3 will now air Isidingo repeats in the same timeslot for the next few months with no new replacement programming in primetime.

Isidingo faded out with an end-credits tribute card in gold capital letters at the end of its final episode, saying: "We are forever grateful to our loyal viewers who have been with us throughout the 21 years of Isidingo. Maz'Enethole!"


Earlier in the final episode a gun-filled blood-spattered scene saw Mayekiso (Dumisane Mbebe) killed off when Lincoln shot him in a merciless killing scene in a hospital room.

Viewers largely reacted negatively to the final episode and Isidingo's end as fans from across South Africa as well as Canada, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania and several other countries who have followed the series weighed in and said goodbye.

"SABC3 has left an entire country crying today, to each and every actor and actress thank you all for keeping us entertained we love you all," said Fatima Vankar.

"I'm at a loss for words. The ending was crap! Who the hell was that woman? I can't believe it ended this way," remarked Tracy Dugdale.

"I've been following this show since I was in primary school and it's sad that this is the end. Despite the suspense I would like to know who was the hot assassin. This show has been one of the famous in my country Tanzania," remarked Yu. "So they're leaving us on such a massive cliffhanger. Wow," said Tihan-Nico Paxton.

"Now for the rest of my life I'll have to wonder who shot Lincoln," said Samuiel Herigo, while Ntombi Langa said: "SABC3 and I no longer have a relationship". "Such a disappointing end to such a phenomenal show," said Thabang Matona.

Angel Skikwambana asked: "What's left for us to watch on SABC3? I mean first it was Top Billing now it's Isidingo". Matshidiso Kabelo suggested: "Isidingo, please negotiate with Showmax like Lockdown did or consider e.tv. They don't have alot of soapies."

"Can someone wake me from my dream? Because I don't believe Isidingo has come to the end. SABC3 why? Why? I screamed after I watched tonight's episode and my son was like: 'Mummy are you okay?' Seriously why do you have to end Isidingo?" asked Olajumoke Ajibesin.


ALSO READ: Inside tonight’s SABC3 Isidingo finale: How the cast will watch together as gunshots ring out.
ALSO READ: The SABC is replacing its cancelled local weekday soap Isidingo with repeats of Isidingo in primetime, for months.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Inside tonight’s SABC3 Isidingo finale: How the cast will watch together as gunshots ring out.


by Thinus Ferreira

When the liquid gold opening theme of Isidingo starts for the last time after 21 years on SABC3 tonight, the entire cast will be huddled together in a secret Johannesburg location to watch the cancelled soap's series finale together.

The South African public broadcaster abruptly axed the long-running soap in November 2019 because the SABC's struggling and ratings-challenged sole commercial TV channel can no longer afford to make expensive local shows like Top Billing or ones that support a large ensemble cast like Isidingo.

When the cancellation decision was made by SABC top brass with little notice to the production company the last Isidingo episode was already written by that time and in production with little that could be changed. The cast had to hear on Twitter that their show was cancelled by the SABC.

Just before the final Isidingo episode filmed last scenes on 24 January 2020, the Pomegranate Media production, helmed by executive producer and director Pumla Hopa, however rushed to rewrite some scenes.

The last Isidingo episode is largely however exactly how it would have been originally since the SABC's cancellation axe came down with too little advance warning for the show to do anything properly to wrap up the show or any of the major storylines since the writing team already wrapped for the season.

After thousands of episodes since the Gray Hofmeyr created soap launched on 7 July 1998 - giving South African viewers some iconic characters like Cherel de Villiers Haines, Barker Haines and Hlubi Mboya who portrayed the HIV-positive Nandipha Sithole - the series finale tonight will include some shockers and surprises ... including gunshots as "one man avenges himself".

The show is however staying tight-lipped as to whether any characters might get killed off or whether the final Isidingo scene will leave longtime viewers with a satisfying conclusion or on a shocking and never-to-be-resolved cliffhanger ending.

Filming on the day of the last Isidingo episode the cast and crew knew it was the end but kept up appearances, choosing to focus on getting the work done and getting the last scenes in the can, instead of what it all meant as the fictional mining community of The Deep and real-life TV-making community saw their tight-knit group being dismantled after two decades on the air.

"They have always been a very positive cast and crew to be around and they're all just crazy and laughing all the time usually. On the last day emotions were there but we didn't really dwell on the situation," Isidingo publicist Catherine Sidyiyo tells TVwithThinus.

"People were happy and good and fine on set. On the last day - it wasn't everybody who was there - but it concluded with a jovial spirit and a spirit of togetherness really."

After Thursday SABC3 will broadcast themed Isidingo repeat episodes for the next few months during its primetime timeslot until the channel figures out what it can or wants to do during the 19:00 half hour where the soap's viewership has plunged to between 900 000 and a million viewers per month at most.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Once buzzy, a muted 19th anniversary for SABC3's troubled Endemol Shine Africa produced soap, Isidingo.


It's a muted 19th anniversary for the SABC's once-buzzy weekday soap Isidingo on SABC3 that turns 19 years old today without any fanfare.

The weekday soap that once had its finger on the pulse of actuality-driven ripped-from-the-headline stories and progressive characters got stale as the Horizon Deep fortunes faded in sync with the troubles at the South African public broadcaster, with Isidingo, struggling not just for relevance but also suffering from super low viewership, a shadow of its former past.

Since Isidingo started on 7 July 1998 it's seen big cast changes, ugly cast, crew and scriptwriter firings and several attempts to rejuice the story by introducing new families and locations as it moved away from its aspirational and original mining workers setting.

A real life a few years ago that engulfed the SABC and destroyed the sets and studios that housed Isidingo didn't help.

In late 2016 the SABC and Endemol Shine Africa again launched another new attempt to galvanise the soap creatively, but viewership has of Isidingo has remained depressed and under pressure given the myriad of problems besetting SABC3 as the public broadcaster's only commercial TV channel.

2017 saw several Isidingo run-ins with the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) for idiotic production mistakes like using a real person's cellphone number on air - indicative in a sense of the lack of attention to the basics that should be going into something like a weekday soap.

"An amazing team of writers, new faces together with the recognisable and reputable talent have all contributed to the Isidingo success of the last nineteen years," says Pumla Hopa, Isidingo executive producer. "Hopefully the series will be around for many years to come."

"The writers, cast, crew and producers of Isidingo have, in the last six months, committed wholeheartedly to a turnaround of the show," says Jacqueline Achilleas, SABC3 commissioning editor for drama.

"South African audiences are showing their appreciation of stories that are authentic, resonant and relevant and that truly reflect their reality, their aspirations, their hopes and dreams".

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Isidingo on SABC3 introduces a new opening title sequence and updated music that seems to troll e.tv's soaps Rhythm City and Scandal!.


Isidingo, SABC3's sole local weekday soap, will be introducing yet another new title sequence, starting this evening at 19:00 on the public broadcaster's commercial TV channel.

The Endemol Shine Africa produced soap last changed its on-air title sequence almost 6 years ago in June 2011 but so many cast members shown in that one have since left that despite edits to focus on only the main cast of the soap, it had become cumbersome for SABC3 to show it.

SABC3 says the Isidingo title sequence has "become outdated and need to be renewed to strongly echo the new vision of the show".

From tonight Isidingo viewers will hear an updated version of the theme music.

The Isidingo title card lettering will switch from silver on black to a gold-plated effect to distinguish it from the title card of SABC2's Venda language soap Muvhango of which the morning repeats have been returned to SABC3's programming schedule from April after an absence of a year.

The new Isidingo opening title also seems to somewhat troll rival soaps Scandal! and Rhythm City on e.tv creatively, with a golden ribbon urban effect similar to Rhythm City's effort of a blue energy bolt racing through urban streets, and Scandal!'s interspliced slow-mo luxury brands shots.


The updated title sequence is the start of more changes to the 18 year old Isidingo over the next few month that Endemol Shine Africa calls "a re-vitalisation process", likely similar to the SABC2 soap 7de Laan that was ordered to not just make changes on camera in terms of cast and sets but also production wise behind the scenes.

Isidingo, with a revolving door of writers and producers the past few years, has been struggling in the ratings race and lures around a million viewers to SABC3 that pales in comparison with the public broadcaster and rival e.tv's local soaps and telenovelas.

Endemol Shine Africa says Isidingo is "reverting, with drive and determination, to the essence of Isidingo".

"The show needs to represent the new SABC3 brand while still maintaining its thrilling and captivating story lines all of which should be evidenced from the first minutes of the show," says Pumla Hopa, Isidingo executive producer.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Shake-up at SABC3's Isidingo in front of and behind the scenes as Kgomotso Christopher exits; head writer Rohan Dickson now the new show runner.


There's yet another shake-up in front of, and behind, the scenes at SABC3's ratings challenged local soap Isidingo with Kgomotso Christopher who've exited the soap and head writer Rohan Dickson taking over as new show runner.

Viewers will see Kgomotso Christopher as Katlego Sibeko for the last time on 13 April, a role she's portrayed for half a decade that's abruptly coming to an end. 

Production company Endemol Shine who've kept the actress' departure under wraps isn't saying why Kgomotso Christopher is leaving. The actress says she wants to explore new acting roles.

"We will miss and thank her for the pivotal and positive part she's played," says Sivan Pillay, Endemol Shine CEO. "Kgomotso's talent, grace, charm and absolute professionalism will be missed by cast, crew and fans alike".

The soap that will turn 18 in August struggles in the ratings race, overshadowed by the American soap The Bold and the Beautiful that lures more viewers than the expensive local production on SABC3, and paling in viewership comparison and buzz to other soaps of the public broadcaster like Uzalo, Muvhango, 7de Laan and Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) isiBaya.

Behind the scenes Rohan Dickson who has been Isidingo's head writer for two years and had to rebuild the gutted writing team is now taking over from Pumla Hopa as executive producer of Isidingo, while Leo Phiri has been promoted to the producer on the soap. 

Pumla Hopa who had steered the soap for many years will now help with new scripted programming projects at Endemol Shine in the production company's scripted entertainment division headed up by Sam Shale.

"The combined strengths of Rohan Dickson and Leo Phiri will lead Isidingo into a new era," says Sivan Pillay. "It's an exciting time for cast and crew alike".

Rohan Dickson says "our talented team at Isidingo is passionately committed to this new adventure. Horizon Deep has many twists and turns, shocks and scandals in the pipeline".

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Isidingo on SABC3 going for more 'real drama'; soap adds Richard Lukunku from e.tv's Ashes to Ashes to the cast as a new doctor.

Desperate to claw its way back to relevancy, the weekday soap Isidingo on SABC3 is promising viewers more "real drama" and added e.tv's Richard Lukunku from Ashes to Ashes to the SABC soap's cast.

The ratings challenged weekday soap on SABC3, once a critical and viewer darling, slipped the past few years, eclipsed by e.tv soaps Rhythm City and Scandal!, and lately by SABC1 telenovela Uzalo and e.tv's Ashes to Ashes as buzz-watch local South African fare.

With stale stories the Endemol South Africa produced weekday soap slipped in buzz and viewership since the devastating fire in 2012.

The past few years Isidingo didn't make headlines so much for what it's been putting on screen as the behind-the-scenes drama of cast defections, firings, writers' room tumult and turn-over, bad story directions and angry actors leaving saying as recently as last month that they will "never return to Isidingo ever again".

Several jarring timeslot changes the past two years on SABC3 hasn't made it easier for viewers to find, or stay with the lethargic soap which recently celebrated its 17th birthday in a low-key fashion.

In a somewhat tacit admission that what Isidingo has been giving viewers the past while wasn't real drama, executive producer Pumla Hopa is now promising viewers a return to "real drama" in terms of storylines.

Richard Lukunku who had a role on rival e.tv's popular Ashes to Ashes has been added to Isidingo's roster of new cast members as a French speaking doctor.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Endemol SA warns young girls about fake casting for Isidingo on SABC3; 'we will never ask individuals for nude pictures'.


Production company Endemol South Africa is warning young women against fake casting calls from a sham modelling agency luring young women under the pretense of "acting on Isidingo".

"Want to be an actor in Isidingo!!! Females 14 to 21 year old White Indian or Colored required for leading role in the series. Ping me if interested!" reads a badly spelled message making the rounds on BlackBerry Messenger which Endemol South Africa says neither it nor Isidingo is involved with.

"It has come to our attention that the agency in question is being misrepresented," says Endemol South Africa.

"When a character is developed for the soap and an actor for that part is needed; there is an audition process that takes place. We work with reputable agencies with standard processes that are followed," says the production house responsible for the long running weekday soap on SABC3.

"We only deal with reputable casting agencies that have been in the industry for years, we never deal with individuals," says Khanyisa Jali, Isidingo's casting coordinator.

"We would like to advise people; especially young girls; to take note and be cautious when responding to casting advertisements. Isidingo is a family show and will never ask individuals for nude pictures. We advise you to please contact reputable casting agencies in future."

"We condemn this act in the strongest terms," says Pumla Hopa, Isidingo's executive producer.

"We advise young women to scrutinise information carefully before falling prey to vicious opportunists."

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

A terrific Three Talk with Noeleen on SABC3 allows the Isidingo cast and crew to reflect in an amazing way on the soap turning 15 years old.


Three Talk with Noeleen on SABC3 on Friday with the cast and crew of Isidingo, SABC3's weekday soap which is turning 15 years old, was hugely revealing.

The arresting, extremely revealing and insightful Three Talk with Noeleen hour on SABC3 was thanks in a huge part to talk show host Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu's very frank, very straight-forward, very engaging, intelligent, open-ended and very real questions.

Where Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu sometimes comes across as over-rehearsed with too scripted questions or looking like she is parroting control room questions through her earpiece, the Isidingo episode on Friday came across as "true Noeleen".

Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu asked real questions which real viewers wanted to know, and which opened the studio guests from Isidingo up to really give insightful and interesting answers in an amazing way.

Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu lived herself in to such a degree with Friday's topic and guests that she even called Robert Whitehead "Barker" - his character's name - before apologising later.

It was a clear clue that Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu subconsciously - just like millions of viewers - has come to equate his image with the name Barker. It's something which only happens when you actually really watch a TV show in which the characters make a very strong impression.

It was clear that Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu herself watches Isidingo.

Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu asked several real and want-to-know but "difficult" questions which made the Isidingo cast and crew on the beige couches squirm and didn't yield definitive answers - from whether Isidingo is going to have a 15th birthday party, to where is Cherel (Michelle Botes)?

Noeleen Maholwana even asked about the difficult subject - still a deeply emotional issue for the Isidingo cast - about Ashley Callie, the actress who shockingly died in a car-crash in February 2008. ("I miss her dreadfully. It's never ever been quite the same for me," said Robert Whitehead.)

It allowed the Isidingo guests to share extremely heartfelt stories and moments and to give a real glimpse behind-the-scenes of not the show - but the tightly-knitted "family" the Isidingo cast and crew really is.

"How do you deal behind the scenes and creatively with an actor who's been on the show and says I don't want to be here anymore?" asked Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu. It was an amazing question - and one of the many surprising, real and 'wow journalism' questions from the talk show host who was on a roll and didn't hold back.

"Oh gosh, we've had a couple of those," exclaimed Pumla Hopa, the executive producer of Isidingo. "You know we've written the story already, it's ready to shoot, and the person comes and says, 'look I have other plans.' "

"And you beg and beg and beg. But when they've made their decision they've made their decision. There's nothing else you can do. Now you have to go back and rewrite the story," said Pumla Hopa.

"It's very challenging. It can be fun," said Liam Stratton, Isidingo's head writer, "creating solutions for problems. It's fun and it's part of what makes the job cool and really worth doing. But when you've got three month's of story and you have to go back and unpick ... Because if you write the story correctly, it's all interconnected."

"So as soon as you start to pick at one bit, the whole things pulls apart. So you have to set it all up again," said Liam Stratton. "It can work really well - but it's just a pain."

Later Arno Marais who plays Benjamin le Roux said he's been with Isidingo for three and a half years and not been bored one day.

Thema Sebopedi who portrays Lerato Tsotetsi on Isidingo said she doesn't mind her fans thinking and expecting her to be Lerato when they run into her. "I don't blame them. It's who they meet in their living rooms every day. I have to meet them half way and tolerate it irrespective of how I'm feeling on any given day."

Isidingo director Stembiso Mathenjwa revealed how Isidingo is able to work in additional scenes (called "transmission scenes" to make an episode the exact duration required for playout) on a particular day to bring in current-to-the-day news events such as cricket scores and the exact petrol price hike into the show.

Isidingo delivers new scenes to the SABC for playout on the same day on those days where they knew beforehand news events will be taking place.