Netflix commissions Quizzical Pictures for South African adaptation of Brazilian film with Cape Winelands set Love & Wine film set for 5 December release

Thinus Ferreira

Netflix Africa has commissioned Quizzical Pictures to make a South African adaptation of the Brazilian film Ricos de Amor, with Love & Wine produced in Cape Town and the Western Cape Winelands region, which will be released on the streaming service on 5 December.

Love & Wine was executive produced by Odirile Mekwa, JP Potgieter and Harriet Gavshon and directed by Amanda Lane, 

The film that has Amanda Lane, Darryl Bristow-Bovey and Zelipa Zulu as writers, has Ntobeko Sishi, Thandolwethu Zondi, Masali Baduza, Thando Thabethe, Bongile Mantsai, Desmond Dube, N'kone Mametja, Simone Neethling, Rorisang Mohapi and Bohang Moeko as part of the cast.

The logline for Love & Wine as issued by Netflix's new PR company in South Africa, Burson, reads: "A privileged young man working at his wealthy father's business traps himself in a lie when he falls in love with a hard-working medical student and tries to convince her that he comes from more humble beginnings like hers. What follows is a comedic whirlwind of chaos and heartfelt revelations". 

Love & Wine follows the wealthy Ovee (Ntobeko Sishi) who wants to prove he is more than "money".

He asks his friend and driver Nathi (Thandolwethu Zondi) to help him with a plan to find out if love can conquer all.

Wanting to get an internship at his father Sityebi's (Bongile Mantsai) winery, Ovee falls in love with a doctor Amahle (Masali Baduza).

Meanwhile, Nathi starts to enjoy his nouveau riche life, and while chasing the same internship, falls in love with the winery's manager Lena (Thando Thabethe).

MultiChoice's global co-productions for M-Net are in English, crime stories and in beautiful South African settings.

by Thinus Ferreira

When four upcoming drama series on DStv, all done as co-productions with international partners, unspool in the coming months on M-Net, they'll have three things in common: They're crime stories, they're in English and they're in beautiful South Africa settings.

These three factors are what's in vogue right now for South African co-productions, what works, what viewers in South Africa and worldwide want to see when they watch a South African series, and what MultiChoice and international partners are looking for when doing South African co-prods together.

Devil's Peak, launching on 29 October on M-Net (DStv 101), is a 5-episode crime thriller set in Cape Town - an international co-production from Lookout Point and Expanded Media Productions together with MultiChoice Studios and BBC Studios Distribution distributing it internationally.

Spinners - launching on 8 November on MultiChoice's streamer Showmax and 13 November on Canal+ in Africa - is an 8-episode drama set in the crime-infested Cape Flats resembling Paris' banlieue and Brazil's favelas where a 17-year-old gang getaway-driver dreams of escape through an eclectic motorsport subculture called spinning.

Spinners is a co-production between Showmax and Canal+ with SutdioCanal handling international sales.

Meanwhile filming is underway in KwaZulu-Natal on the second season of the crime drama series Reyka for M-Net - a co-production between Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle - and the two companies are also working together and are filming the crime thriller White Lies also done in scenic Cape Town.

Popular South African co-productions on M-Net and for DStv premium subscribers generally now have three things in common, Nicola van Niekerk, MultiChoice's head of content for premium channels and co-productions, says: "It's crime, it's English and it's in a beautiful setting. We can tell that those work the best".

Nicola van Niekerk was a panellist this week at a MIP Africa session in Cape Town about how TV and film producers in Africa can work with MultiChoice to unlock co-production opportunities with international companies interested in telling and showcasing South African and African stories.

Waldimar Pelser, channel director for premium channels at MultiChoice, was also a panellist and said "The most productive conversations we have are with producers that consume our content and on a visceral level know who our audience is. Our partners have to understand who they're making content for."

He mentioned that content that can only be made locally in South Africa - and that viewers would not be able to find elsewhere - reap the most success.

Tebogo Matlawa, head of scripted content for the middle and mass market for South Africa at MultiChoice, said "producers should also look outside the bubble of their own existence" when working on content but cautioned that while action and dramas have seen success "there isn't much of an appetite for violence".

"Always think, would you watch this with your grandmother?" he advised when considering pitches for scripted content for middle and mass markets.

Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, head of production for MultiChoice West Africa, said "Compelling characters in compelling situations that anybody can relate to – that's what we're looking for. Anything inauthentic will immediately be sniffed out by our younger audience".

Nicola van Niekerk's advice to production companies are for producers to have an in-depth understanding of both the local and the international audience before pitching a project.

"As a producer, you need to assess your story and say, 'Where will this story work?' Will it work in a very specific demographic hyper-locally in South Africa, but where else will it work? Which other broadcaster will like that? And to know that you need to understand all of the broadcaster's strategies on a global level."

Lerato Moruti, senior manager for reality and entertainment for the middle and mass market at M-Net, said that successful reality TV shows provide a sense of "tabloid voyeurism, with family-based reality shows that rate high with viewers".

"South Africans look for meaning in content, and respond well to 'help TV', like the Mzansi Magic reality show Abandoned about orphaned children that seek out family members later in life."

Netflix SA says streamer remains committed to 'create a diverse range of stories across genres' from South Africa, commissioned Soweto Love Story rom-com film and Heart of the Hunter for 2024.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix South Africa today again said that the global streaming service remains committed to "create a diverse range of stories across genres" from South Africa for subscribers and announced new film commissions for 2024 including a romantic comedy Soweto Love Story and a spy thriller Heart of the Hunter that will be directed by Mandla Dube.

Netflix Africa held a panel session today in Cape Town at the Fame Week 2023 and MIP Africa conference where the streamer did a preview of its upcoming programming for the remainder of 2023 and 2024.

Most titles were already announced previously but Netflix SA reiterated its "commitment to variety and authenticity" with a South African slate of local films and series.

Although it was a South African panel and public engagement about South African content, Netflix notably gave the information and press release to American publications including Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety who all published before 16:00, before its PR company Eclipse Communications sent out an email blast with the press release at 16:00 on Monday afternoon to South African media.

The already-known new and returning series from Netflix SA showcased at the event were Miseducation, the new series from Burnt Onion Productions making its debut on 15 September following Mbali Hadebe (Buntu Petse) as a university student.

There's also YOH' Christmas as a new holiday series which will be released in late 2023, produced by Johnny Barbuzano, Tiffany Barbuzano and Morishe Matlejoane for BBZEE Productions.

The teen drama series Blood and Water set in Cape Town from Gambit Films will launch its fourth season in the first quarter of 2024, and the second season of Savage Beauty produced by Quizzical Pictures will be on Netflix in 2024.

Meanwhile production will start soon on the third season of the reality series Young, Famous & African.

Feature film wise the next film in the Kandasamy film series, Kandasamys: The Baby will premiere on Netflix on 20 October from writer and director Jayan Moodley.

Director Mandla Dube is behind the camera for the spy thriller Heart of the Hunter which is based on the novel by Deon Meyer. Heart of the Hunter is the first film that forms part of a 3-film deal between Netflix and Mandla Dube. The film will launch on Netflix in the first quarter of 2024. 

Soweto Love Story is a romantic comedy feature set in the heart of Johannesburg's famous township which will also be released on Netflix in the first quarter of 2024.

In terms of local partnerships with filmmakers and production companies Netflix said that it's working with Akin Omotoso and Ochre Media for a multiple-title books adaptation partnership, as well as with director Donovan Marsh on a 3-film partnership.

Netflix continues to work with Gambit Films on a multi-title partnership across various genres and formats which include series and films.

With Jayan Moodley Netflix has signed a new 3-film partnership as well which starts with Kandasamys: The Baby which is currently in production.

Stained Glass Productions with Gugu Zuma-Ncube and Pepsi Pokane also has a multi-title book adaptation partnership with Netflix Africa across a variety of genres. 

Meanwhile producers Mandla Ngcongwane and Mpumelelo Nhlapo and their Black Brain Pictures production company also have a Netflix partnership for films and series.

In a supplied quote, Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s vice president of content for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, says "We are incredibly excited to continue with our investment in South African storytelling and to expand our relationships with these amazing storytellers".

"These long-term partnerships with local filmmakers have enabled us to uncover unique perspectives and diverse stories from South Africa to entertain our more than 238 million members around the world. This is why we’re committed to investing in South Africa’s creative industry and showcasing the incredible talent the country has to offer."

NASTY. A press release about M-Net, Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle was given to The Hollywood Reporter 'exclusively' before South Africa's media about the casting for its new drama series White Lies.

by Thinus Ferreira

In a very nasty and extremely insulting move, a press release about South Africa's M-Net (DStv 101), Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle with a general announcement (that it will only be send to South Africa's media on Wednesday morning) has been given to America's The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday evening about the new 8-episode local South African series White Lies which will soon start filming in Cape Town with British actor Natalie Dormer.

Utterly dissing South Africa's publications, journalists and media who are good enough to constantly report on M-Net's news and convey its information to the local TV and film industry, the general press release about M-Net was sent to The Hollywood Reporter to appear as an "exclusive".

In this general press release published as an "exclusive" - although the exact same information will be sent to other media - M-Net "announces" that the Game of Thrones starlet Natalie Dormer is in Cape Town for White Lies which will start principal photography on 6 March together with South African actor Brendon Daniels as detective Forty Bell.

In a big middle finger to South Africa's own media - although MultiChoice and M-Net continue to do lip service about how it supports local - M-Net will send the same general press release out to South Africa's media but only on Wednesday morning. 

Meanwhile an American media outlet had already published it - with South African media getting it half a day after giving it was already given to foreign media first.

It appears as if M-Net and Quizzical Pictures have a lack of understanding about why South African journalists and publications won't bother covering White Lies later, why they find this type of behaviours offensive within a media environment, and why local South African media will be resistant to give the show any actual exposure in print and otherwise, later.

What is really happening and being communicated, is that PR people are actively and directly angering and disrespecting local South African media, editors and journalists - upfront showing them that they presumably matter "less" than American media when it comes to M-Net getting a press release "exclusives" in overseas media.

Besides Natalie Dormer, The White Lies cast of the M-Net series will also star Langley Kirkwood, Morgan Santo, Daniel Schultz, Jane de Wet, Katlego Lebogang, Robert Hobbs and Athenkosi Mfamela.

M-Net in the press release describes White Lies as a "murder mystery series" which was created by Sean Steinberg and written by Darrel Bristow-Bovey. The series will purportedly "explore race, privilege, and inequality".

According to the M-Net general press release which M-Net will only send to South African media on Wednesday, "White Lies is set in the wealthy neighbourhood of Bishopscourt, Cape Town and sees Dormer taking on the role of an investigative journalist Edie Hansen, who gets caught up in the ugly underbelly that lies beneath the picturesque beauty of the city".

"Following her estranged brother's murder in his luxury home, Edie's world plunges deeper into chaos when her brother's teenage children become prime suspects for the crime."

"As Edie investigates, she finds herself at loggerheads with veteran detective Forty Bell, and grapples with the crumbling local police force, a corrupt political system, and the secretive world of extreme Cape wealth," M-Net says.

In a prepared quote in M-Net's press release, Natalie Dormer says she is apparently "thrilled to be in Cape Town and begin this beautiful, gripping show. South Africa has so much to offer an international audience in its storytelling".

"I'm truly excited to bring Darrel''s 8-episode page-turner to life with such a group of talented directors, led by John, and a superb ensemble cast," Natalie Dormer says in the general press release that M-Net didn't want to send to South African media on Tuesday.

There is also a prepared quote from Harriet Gavshon, Quizzical Pictures creative director and White Lies producer, in the press release.

She says "We are very happy to be working again with our partners at M-Net and Fremantle, and especially delighted to have Natalie Dormer join our South African cast. Once again, we are happy to showcase the wealth of South African talent both behind and in front of the camera".

M-Net also has a prepared quote in the general press release from Waldimar Pelser, M-Net's director of premium channels.

"White Lies brings together an exceptional creative team and stellar cast in a riveting story set in Cape Town, an iconic city with great natural beauty but also hidden undercurrents."

"We believe White Lies will resonate with series lovers locally and globally. Partnerships such as this one with Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle give shows the best shot at reaching their full potential, and cements M-Net's reputation as the home of world-class entertainment."

Unfortunately, and ironically, what is actively getting damaged here is M-Net's reputation with local media through very disingenuous PR general press release distribution decisions.

Quizzical Pictures COO Odirile Mekwa upped as new managing director after acquiring a stake in the production company, Harriet Gavshon shifting to creative director role.

by Thinus Ferreira

The chartered accountant Odirile Mekwa who has been chief operating officer (COO) of Quizzical Pictures is becoming its new managing director after acquiring a stake in the South African production company, replacing producer Harriet Gavshon who is becoming creative director.

Quizzical Pictures is now 71% black-owned. Andile Khumalo is the majority shareholder in Quizzical Pictures, with the balance owned by founders Harriet Gavshon and David Jimmy. Harriet Gavshon who has been running Quizzical Pictures for the past 28 years is moving to the creative director role.

The rest of the Quizzical Pictures management team consists of JP Potgieter as senior producer and Nimrod Geva as head of development, with Kwena Ngoasheng as financial manager.

Quizzical Pictures has produced numerous TV series for various South African TV channels over the past almost three decades, including a number of international co-productions. 

Established in 1993 as Weekly Mail Television, then Mail and Guardian Television, the production company was spun out in 1999 as Curious Pictures and rebranded as Quizzical Pictures in 2012.

The production company produced shows like the first Showmax Original drama series, The Girl from St. Agnes for MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax, and the last few years the drama series Reyka and Desert Rose for M-Net (DStv 101), Swartwater for SABC2, the long-running Rhythm City weekday soap for e.tv, and Savage Beauty for Netflix Africa as one of the first original series for Netflix South Africa.

Other series include Lithapo for SABC2, MTV Shuga Down South for Viacom Africa now Paramount Africa, MasterChef SA for M-Net, Hard Copy for SABC3, Umlilo for e.tv, Intersexions for SABC1, and several others.

Recently Quizzical Pictures has strategically been eyeing more and more international co-productions and international sales for series filmed in South Africa,

Odirile Mekwa says "These are most exciting times for African content producers. There is a growing appetite for our stories. The last few years have seen Quizzical Pictures, and our peers integrate into an increasingly global television and film marketplace. This development is transforming our industry and business practices at a fast pace".

"This growth makes us very excited for the future as it affords us the opportunity to share our ever-improving expertise and storytelling with our traditional customer base, and now also with business partners from across borders and continents."

Harriet Gavshon says "I am excited about our upcoming slate of co-productions and projects and delighted to have the space to give them the attention they deserve".

New 8-episode Desert Rose drama series from Quizzical Pictures with ensemble cast led by Neil Sandilands to debut on M-Net on 2 June with a new South African small-town story.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net's latest local drama series, Desert Rose, produced by Quizzical Pictures, will premiere on Thursday 2 June at 20:30 with another small-town story, similar to its current Recipes for Love and Murder.

MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax initially announced Desert Rose as a Showmax Original but hasn't said anything about its development or production since. 

There's been no explanation for the switch of Desert Rose from Showmax to M-Net, and neither Showmax nor M-Net made any announcement when the series pickup changed platforms.

 

M-Net describes the 8-episode Desert Rose, set on a remote farm in the Northern Cape province, as "an evocative, emotional, quirky and cinematic new family-centred drama" that "mixes black comedy, suspense, crime, romance, sexiness and music while focusing on the unlikely reconnecting of a father and his children".

Desert Rose is directed by Cindy Lee and was written by screenwriter and showrunner Rohan Dickson.

Desert Rose stars Neil Sandilands as an erstwhile musician, who also wrote and performed much of the music in the drama series, accompanied by Theo Crous and Georgio Frazer Barry.

The rest of the Desert Rose ensemble cast includes Amalia Uys, Kai Luke Brümmer, Christia Visser, Tinarie van Wyk (also seen in Recipes for Love and Murder), Daniah de Villiers, Brandon Daniels, comedian Ben Voss, Tracy Lee Oliver, Danny Ross, Roeline Daneel, Craig Urbani, Melt Sieberhagen and David Viviers.

Desert Rose tells the story of the disenfranchised and the forgotten in a desert town through the Greyling family.

According to M-Net (DStv 101), Desert Rose "emotional and rooted in character, is a love letter to the misfit; to loss, loneliness and eccentricity; to broken relationships – and to South Africa itself".

"Inspired by Americana – highways, diners and gas stations – and thorny family drama with a quirky heart, prepare to explore the crossroads where the ordinary meets the extraordinary."

In Desert Rose, Eben Greyling, the young son of an absent father refuses a request from the family's benefactor Van As to go fishing. This breaks the shackles of a long-time agreement – but the debt will not disappear and someone has to pay. 

The consequences of the broken agreement set off a series of escalating events as the family is forced to confront the mayhem that is sent their way.

Besides linear broadcast on M-Net, Desert Rose will also be available on MultiChoice's DStv Catch Up.

Netflix to invest R900 million in South Africa's film and TV industry after R2 billion spent on local productions the past 5 years.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix says the video streaming service will invest R900 million in South Africa over the next two years in the country's film and TV industry, in three local and one international production.

Netflix says it is working with production companies like Film Afrika, Gambit Films, Quizzical Pictures and Burt Onion and has spent R2 billion over the last 5 years on South African productions that funded 1 900 jobs.

Film Afrika is producing "Project Panda" in Cape Town at the Cape Town Film Studios - the working title of a live-action drama series, One Piece, that Netflix says is its biggest production in Africa to date in scale and budget and using some of the ships on set that were built and used for A+E Networks' Black Sails series.

It's the first time Netflix made any mention of the apparently noteworthy One Piece which already started filming in Cape Town a while ago, with South African media that were not told when the show was commissioned, that South Africa had been chosen as the production destination, or when filming and production started.  

Netflix says over 50 cast members of "Project Panda" or One Piece are South Africans with over 1 000 crew working on the show.

"Netflix is committed to South Africa for the long term and we're investing in talent both in front of and behind the camera," says Shola Sanni, Netflix's director of public policy in sub-Saharan Africa, in a  prepared statement that was provided after a media query.

"Since our launch in 2016, we've been working with South African creators and distributors to bring high-quality stories that showcase the best of South Africa's creativity and talent to a global audience - and this is only just the beginning."

Netflix says it is trying to create content that can find a global audience that would generate "even more demand for South African content".

"When a Netflix Original is commissioned, there is opportunity for writers, directors, actors, stylists and make-up artists, as well as a long list of industries and trades that make the production of a complex series or film possible."

"There's also a multiplier effect with any investment: the economic impact of each of the projects in South Africa is several times greater than the actual money invested."

Shola Sanni says "Netflix will continue to create new opportunities and help to build up the talent required to support local productions and grow the diversity and variety of stories".

"Netflix will also develop and work with the industry on more industry development and skills transfer and training initiatives to contribute meaningfully to the South African creative industry's growth."

According to Netflix around 80 South African films and TV series have been available on its video streaming service by December 2020, with 26 views of South African content by Netflix households outside of South Africa, for every South African watching something on Netflix.

While multiple South African producers and the local film industry continue to criticise and slam South Africa's department of trade, industry and competition (DTIC) for its lack of support for South Africa's filmmakers and the implosion of its film rebate scheme - for instance Yellowbone Entertainment producing Blood Psalms for MultiChoice's Showmax streamer, Netflix is praising the DTIC.

"We are keen to see the government of South Africa continue to maintain the favourable investment environment that has allowed for such investments thus far - including remarkable initiatives like the foreign film and production incentive scheme that DTIC has operated, which is in part responsible for putting SA at the front of the line as an attractive investment destination for production companies," says Shola Sanni.

"It would be great for our long-term investment plans to see even more transparency and predictability in that area, because the presence of a reliable incentive scheme is crucial for our financial decisions."

CORONAVIRUS. Talented scriptwriter Christian Blomkamp (44) has died from Covid-19: 'He may be gone from this world, but his stories will live on'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The talented South African scriptwriter Christian Blomkamp has died from Covid-19 complications. He was 44.

Christian Blomkamp who was born on 25 November 1976 has been hospitalised after contracting Covid-19 and died on Friday 30 July with friends and colleagues who said that although he’s gone his stories will live on.

"Our beautiful son and brother to Cath died this afternoon," his father, Paul wrote on Facebook. "Tonight we travel a different road. A scary and utterly lonely road. Our love for him is the one light we have to show the way. We love you dear Christian. For always."

As a TV writer Christian Blomkamp scripted numerous episodes for several of the country's most-watched shows.

Christian Blomkamp was a former head writer for the Morula Pictures-produced Generations on SABC1. 

He also wrote for The Wild on M-Net (DStv 101), as well as series on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel like Isibaya produced by The Bomb Shelter, Gomora produced by Seriti Films, and The Omen produced by Magic Drum Films.

Christian Blomkamp was also a scriptwriter on SABC3's Isidingo, as well as a storyliner and senior writer on e.tv's weekday soap Rhythm City produced by Quizzical Pictures until that show's conclusion in mid-July.

Zeli Zulu, Rhythm City head writer, in a tribute, told TVwithThinus that "Christian Blomkamp was, like the, characters he created and the stories he wrote, a special human being".

"He was kind, gentle and generous. Everything he did, he gave of himself completely - a talented writer who, in his own words, 'just wanted to tell a good story'. And he gave us great stories, the greatest one being the story of his life. To know Chris was to love him. He had a cheeky sense of humour, a natural ability to bring light, even in the darkest of times."

"His loyalty to those he loved was steadfast and unwavering. His commitment to the industry, unmatched."

"This is an incredible loss, but we take heart in knowing that right up until the very end, he was doing what he loved the most - telling stories. He may be gone from this world, but his stories will live on. Until we meet again, friend, brother, son and scribe".

The producer, writer and actress Tiffany Barbuzano told TVwithThinus about Christian Blomkamp in a tribute that "We met when we were bright-eyed and ready to take on the world. We shared so many incredible moments at university together. Broken hearts, beautiful dreams, secret crushes".

"You loved to tease me with your 'soft hands'. Your beautiful piano player hands. You wanted nothing more than to be loved and deserved nothing but the best kind of love. You understood story and character on a level most only wish they could."

"Nothing made me laugh more than your astute commentary on our industry and the people who work in it. Dearest friend, we never got to write that script together ... I never got to taste one of your incredible patisserie creations. But I will always hold our friendship deep in my heart. Rest gently beautiful friend. You'll always have a place at our table."

The radio presenter Bailey Georgiades (Schneider) who does The Bailey Boost podcast host, and who now lives Athens, Greece and blogs at vanillablonde.co.za described her friend to TVwithThinus as "an incredibly special man, with some of the best storytelling skills I've ever come across".

"I am absolutely devastated to lose Christian Blomkamp - one of the most talented, kindest, funniest and most thoughtful! I was one of the lucky ones to have him as one of my best friends and I adored him."

"Christian was one of the best storytellers I've ever met! He created the best stories and characters for TV viewers all over SA, scriptwriting for The Wild, former headwriter of Generations, Isidingo, Isibaya, Rhythm City and more."

"His talent didn’t end with writing, he was doing an impressive pastry chef course, which just showed how he could do anything he put his mind to. Proud is an understatement!"

"I'm going to miss him more than I know how to put into words - he has left a massive void in my life and I am heartbroken! Rest in peace my incredible friend ... until we meet again."

TV REVIEW. Put the light on bright for M-Net’s shaky Reyka local crime drama series.

by Thinus Ferreira

 6 TVs

With perhaps too many shaky-cam close-up shots, Reyka as M-Net's latest broody, hunt-the-killer local drama series tells a greyish-and-blue tinted story within a sugarcane field setting that's fine enough, although not excellent, for 8 weeks of Sunday night whodunnit?-entertainment.

In short, Reyka is like Prodigal Son and Silence of the Lambs (if done as a TV series), set among the lush yet ominous sugarcane plantations of KwaZulu-Natal where a woman with issues of her own, works to catch a serial killer by mining the mind of the man who abducted her as a child.

Done with a muted palette and a sombering grey-blue tint, Kim Engelbrecht is the current-time, older Reyka, a crime profiler hunting a serial killer. Gabrielle de Gama nimbly portrays the young Reyka.

Reyka strongly reminds of Kate Winslet in the recent Mare of Easttown, tracking down an elusive murderer (that will surely come with the obligatory surprise twist-reveal) whilst battling her own demons, trauma and internal insecurities.

The script, from screenwriter and creator Rohan Dickson also responsible for e.tv's Scandal! and SABC3's High Rollers, is likely inspired by the gruesome real-life story of Thozamile Taki, known as the Sugarcane Killer who was convicted in 2011 of the murder of 13 young women he buried in the sugarcane fields around Umzinto in 2007.

Produced by Quizzical Pictures and Serena Cullen Productions together with Fremantle UK as an M-Net Original crime drama, Reyka is perhaps peppered with too many shaky-cam close-up shots to help craft a claustrophobic, character-in-uncertainty-and-stress atmosphere that never lets up.

Especially Ian Roberts, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Kenneth Nkosi are disciplined in their understated portrayals of respectively John Tyrone, mom Elsa and Msomi.

The Scottish Iain Glen, cast thanks to Fremantle, is an absolute star as banana farmer Angus Speelman now in an orange jumper who abducted girls with the help of his wife Portia (Nokuthula Mavuso).

Kim Engelbrecht's progression from former Isidingo starlet to meatier roles and gaining valuable experience in international series like the SA-filmed Dominion and recently in The Flash, is very convincing as the emotionally overwrought, obsessive, and filled-with-secrets, Reyka.  

Thando Thabethe imbues her role as Constable Nandi Cele with a resolute earnestness and Gerald Steyn pops up after Trackers, Lioness and his recent doctor-turn in kykNET's Binnelanders. 

Desmond Dube is also back in another dramatic role as if he has to again prove that he can do so much more than Clientele infomercials in his latest role of Zik, the community's spiritual leader.

Broken relationships, difficulty communicating, uncovering hidden secrets under the surface (in sugar cane fields), light and darkness, as well as a "new South Africa" that moved but that never truly did and that remains scared, terrorised, collectively wondering and captured, are all thematic elements and metaphors woven into the story of Reyka.

Be forewarned: Some on-screen gruesomeness are par for the cause in a catch-the-killer crime drama, with Reyka that is possibly best watched with the lights on, and on bright, on a Sunday night.

Reyka is on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sundays at 20:00, and starts on Sunday 25 July

M-Net unveils the first character teaser for its new serial killer crime drama series Reyka starting 25 July in the Sunday night 8pm timeslot.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Sunday night M-Net (DStv 101) released the first character teaser for its upcoming new locally-filmed crime drama series Reyka that will start on Sunday 25 July at 20:00 on the channel.

For the second time, M-Net is once again delaying and pushing its Sunday night 20:00 movie timeslot for a locally-produced drama series - something it did first for Trackers in October 2019 that was a co-production with WarnerMedia's HBO.

The 8-episode Reyka, produced by Quizzical Pictures and Serena Cullen Productions as a co-production between M-Net and Fremantle and that is set in the KwaZulu-Natal sugarfields, stars Kim Engelbrecht in the title role as the brilliant-but-flawed criminal profiler Reyka.

In the drama series, Reyka investigates a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer but viewers will first meet Reyka on voting day in South Africa in 1994 - the day of her abduction.

The Reyka cast is rounded out by the British actor Iain Glen as farmer Speelman, as well as Thando Thabethe as the by-the-book detective Nandi Cele.

Leeanda Reddy plays the forensic detective Alia Sewsunker, Hamilton Dhlamini is the policeman Hector Zwane, with Mavuso Simelane as his son Samuel Zwane.

Anna-Mart van der Merwe is seen as Reyka's mother Elsa Meyer, Nokuthula Mavuso is Portia, and Rashaan Stackling as Thuli Gama plays Reyka's daughter.

Gabrielle De Gama portrays the young version of Reyka in flashbacks who was abducted as a child by Speelman who, 20 years later, still has a mysteriously manipulative and charming hold on her as part of the backbone of the story - as does Reyka's relationship wth her mother Elsa.

Reyka is traumatised by her abduction experience but this also helps her to enter the minds of Africa's most notorious criminals.

ALSO READ: M-Net and Fremantle partner up with new 8-episode KZN sugarfields set crime drama thriller, Reyka, produced by Quizzical Pictures and Serena Cullen Productions.

The cast and crew of e.tv's canned Rhythm City thought they were called together to be congratulated for their hard work and ratings during Covid-19 - then they were told they're fired during a cold speech.

by Thinus Ferreira

Just before the axe came down on e.tv's canned Rhythm City soap, the cast and crew thought that they were being called together to be congratulated for their hard work and ratings during the Covid-19 pandemic - but then they got fired during a "cold and clinical" speech.

On Friday e.tv shocked South Africa's TV industry when it suddenly announced that after 13 years it's over for its Rhythm City weekday prime time soap produced by Quizzical Pictures. 

On Sunday the City Press newspaper reported that the Rhythm City cast and crew were called together for an e.tv meeting, allegedly under the guise of it being a "meet-and-greet" session, only to be "let down" by the terrible cancellation news.

"The speech was cold and clinical. Everyone just had a look on their faces like: What am I going to do?" Rhythm City insiders at Sasani Studios said.

They thought that the e.tv team was coming to congratulate and to praise them for their perseverance and hard work through the Covid-19 pandemic crisis that even saw the production shut down more than once this year.

"It was a surprise as the show has been doing well. You don't can a successful show," a source said.

e.tv declined to say why it decided to cancel Rhythm City other than to say that it's been axed as "part of a business strategy". Marlon Davids, e.tv managing director, in a statement said that "e.tv continues to look forward to fulfilling its mandate of producing exceptional and relevant local content".

After 13 years Rhythm City, executive produced by Harriet Gavshon, will end with its final episode on 16 July 2021 with e.tv that plans to replace it with another daily drama series.

According to e.tv, Rhythm City's "on-air life cycle" is apparently not good enough for the channel anymore, with e.tv that took the decision to can Rhythm City after having reviewed the show's "on-air life cycle".

e.tv doesn't specifically mention any financial reasons for Rhythm City's cancellation in its surprising press statement, yet it stands to reason that Rhythm City's axing is because the soap is likely no longer profitable for e.tv, or is loss-making, or is no longer making enough money for the commercial free-to-air broadcaster.

A combination of ratings and profitability are the main drivers behind the fate of series and programming on commercial TV channels and Rhythm City is clearly no longer making sense as a "keeper" for e.tv within this matrix.

e.tv that doesn't want to give any specific reasons for Rhythm City's cancellation in its press release for something that is a long-running show, will fuel speculation within South Africa's TV industry and under viewers and fans as to what exactly led to its demise.

Rhythm City, created by Rolie Nikiwe and Neil McCarthy, made its broadcast debut on e.tv on 9 July 2007 and was the replacement for the struggling youth-focused Backstage - it was instantly much more popular and gave e.tv a foot in the door in the production of scripted, local South African prime time content that could pull significant ratings.

Rhythm City peaked at almost 5.2 million viewers in 2020 and has consistently ranked amongst the Top 10 most-watched prime time soap operas in South Africa, with its cancellation catching South Africa's TV industry by surprise.

In October Rhythm City pulled 4.04 million viewers at its monthly highwater mark in its 19:00 timeslot, making it the second most-watched show on the e.tv schedule behind Scandal! with 5.1 million viewers. 

In May this year, Rhythm City won the Best TV Soap award at 2020's 14th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas).

 

ALSO READ: e.tv cancels Rhythm City after 13 years, Quizzical Pictures produced daily soap opera to end in July 2021 as part of unexplained 'business strategy' and will be replaced by another daily drama series.

e.tv cancels Rhythm City after 13 years, Quizzical Pictures produced daily soap opera to end in July 2021 as part of unexplained 'business strategy' and will be replaced by another daily drama series.

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv has cancelled its long-running local weekday soap Rhythm City produced by Quizzical Pictures despite it being one of the red letter broadcaster's most-popular and most-watched shows, giving no explanation for it other than to say it has been done as "part of a business strategy".

After 13 years Rhythm City, executive produced by Harriet Gavshon, will end with its final episode on 16 July 2021 with e.tv that plans to replace it with another daily drama series.

According to e.tv, Rhythm City's "on-air life cycle" isn't good enough for the channel anymore, with e.tv that took the decision to can Rhythm City after having reviewed the show's "on-air life cycle".

e.tv doesn't specifically mention any financial reasons for Rhythm City's cancellation in its surprising press statement, yet it stands to reason that Rhythm City's axing is because the soap is likely no longer profitable for e.tv, or is loss-making, or is no longer making enough money for the commercial free-to-air broadcaster.

A combination of ratings and profitability are the main drivers behind the fate of series and programming on commercial TV channels and Rhythm City is clearly no longer making sense as a "keeper" for e.tv within this matrix.

e.tv that doesn't want to give any specific reasons for Rhythm City's cancellation in its press release, for something that is a long-running show, will fuel speculation within the industry and under viewers and fans as to what exactly led to its demise.

Rhythm City, created by Rolie Nikiwe and Neil McCarthy, made its broadcast debut on e.tv on 9 July 2007 and was the replacement for the struggling youth-focused Backstage - it was instantly much more popular and gave e.tv a foot in the door in the production of scripted, local South African prime time content that could pull significant ratings.

Rhythm City peaked at almost 5.2 million viewers in 2020 and has consistently ranked amongst the Top 10 most-watched prime time soap operas in South Africa, with its cancellation catching South Africa's TV industry by surprise.

e.tv's Rhythm City cancellation will push multiple on-screen talent and crew working behind the scenes at Sasani Studios back into the jobless market looking for their next work opportunity in the maelstrom of the gig economy of South Africa's struggling film and TV industry.

Marlon Davids, e.tv managing director, says that "e.tv continues to look forward to fulfilling its mandate of producing exceptional and relevant local content, and the production has successfully achieved its part of the obligation throughout the past 13 years".

"Rhythm City has secured its place in e.tv's history books, and a legacy mark has been made. We want to extend our gratitude to the entire production staff, crew, and cast for their incomparable craft."

e.tv says that the channel "would like to unequivocally thank the show's production team Quizzical Pictures, for their unwavering dedication and passion that has gone into the hard work of producing the multi-award-winning drama".

e.tv says the final few months of Rhythm City will "have a strong focus on finalising prominent plot lines, some of which, like the introduction of Suffocates long lost adoptive son Pule, will take fan favourites back into time, to when it all started".

ALSO READ: The cast and crew of e.tv's canned Rhythm City though they were called together to be congratulated for their hard work and ratings during Covid-19 - then they were told they're fired during a cold speech.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 27 July 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:


■ Political interference increasing at the South African public broadcaster.
The SABC doesn't have enough money but politicians want to prevent the struggling and bloated SABC from firing staffers. The SABC says "this is a political issue and this is a repeat of what happened in 2018".
- 45% of the SABC's expenditure is on salaries and only 21% on content, compared to eMedia Holdings spending 11% on staff and MultiChoice spending 15% on staffers and 43% on content.


■ Nigeria's minister of information, Lai Mohammed who doesn't like MultiChoice allegedly plots to get the latest season of Big Brother Naija on DStv cancelled and shut down.
Told the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to take Big Brother Nigeria off the air so that it doesn't look as if it's his plan, and using Covid-19 as the excuse.
- Lai Mohammed says he didn't ask the NBC in a memo to suspend Big Brother Naija.

■ The former Disney actress Maitland Ward claims pornography saved her from Hollywood.

■ With almost no other live sports on TV, the start of baseball in America with MLB lifts the ratings of ESPN in the United States by 232%.

■ O, is it Over? After Associated Magazines ended O, The Oprah Magazine in South Africa, is it over for Oprah'sprint magazine in the United States after 20 years as well?
 - Ebony magazine is also forced into bankruptcy.

■ Mangaliso Ngema names himself as the actor who was fired from Quizzical Pictures' set of Lithapo after sexual harassment allegations at the SABC2 drama.
The actor claims he was adjusting himself in front of the actress and touched himself inappropriately because his costume was too tight.

■ Tarek El Moussa of Flip and Flop on HGTV (DStv 177) and Heather Rae Young are engaged.

■ Why so many WWE wrestling stars have lost their last names.

■ Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, MultChoice Ghana managing director, says cinemas in the country must open despite the shutdown of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I know there’s Covid-19, but I think we need to bring cinemas back; with some hand sanitisers and so on. Cinemas provide the first revenue for filmmakers."

■ How the world turned on celebrities.

■ Trolls, tweets and famous friends: The vicious PR war between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

■ A curious Broadcasting Code.
Nigeria is changing that country's broadcasting code with new amendments after having changed it in 2019. Lai Mohammed (who else?) plans to take broadcaster's and pay-TV operator's exclusive content away.

■ Zambia's government has demanded that the private commercial broadcaster in that country, Prime TV, broadcast Covid-19 TV commercials for free.

■ No, Paw Patrol on Nickelodeon (DStv 305) with a police dog isn't cancelled despite the White House publicst Kayleigh McEanany claiming it is.