Showmax renews Julia Anastasopoulos comedy for a second season entitled Tali's Baby Diary, rolls out Kelly Khumalo reality show and commissions two new drama series.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's Showmax has renewed Julia Anastasopoulos' Tali's Wedding Diary for a second season entitled Tali's Baby Diary, will launch a new reality series with Kelly Khumalo and has commissioned two new local drama series to be released in 2021 as the video streaming service ramps up local productions to add to its content carousel. 

"We’ve deliberately ramped up emphasis on local content," says Candice Fangueiro, Showmax’s head of content.

"If you look at something like the first view metric, which asks what’s the first show someone watches after signing up for Showmax under the assumption this is probably what convinced them to join, three out of the top 5 first view pieces of content are now local."

As expected, the award-winning Tali's Wedding Diary has been renewed for a second season, Tali's Baby Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios.

The second season of this first-ever Showmax Original when it launched in December 2017, will be released in 2021.

In Tali’s Baby Diary an unexpected pregnancy forces Tali into a desperate pivot from Insta-influencer to "momfluencer", as Darren (Anton Taylor) and Rael (Glen Biderman-Pam) navigate the choppy waters of the Cape Town property game. 

As the 9-month clock ticks down, Tali and the boys are forced to face the bigger questions about life, love and parenthood.

Showmax will release the reality series Life With Kelly Khumalo, on 6 August that will revolve around the South Africa singer. It's produced by BarLeader.

Showmax says Life with Kelly Khumalo will offer viewers "an intimate glimpse at the woman behind the headlines: a single mother of two who is juggling parenting with the build-up to the release of not just her new album, Undithatha Kancinci, but also her first gin".

Showmax also commissioned two new drama series that will be released in 2021.

Skemerdans, from Nagvlug Films is described as "a Cape Flats neo-noir set at The Oasis, a jazz club and after-dark entertainment venue that becomes the centre of a power struggle between two brothers, a scorned widow and an organised crime syndicate".

"As opposing forces fight to gain control of Glenn Fortune’s legacy, an ongoing murder investigation gets closer to the inconvenient truth." Amy Jephta serves as executive producer and showrunner on the 13-episode Skemerdans, co-directing alongside Ephraim Gordon.

In Dam, a prodigal daughter returns home to the Eastern Cape to bury her father, only to be tormented by spirits in the house as she wonders whether they are real or imaginary. 

Dam is being written and directed by Alex Yazbek, with Picture Tree producing.

MultiChoice's Showmax releases first concrete viewership number, says Tali's Wedding Diary just topped 1 million views as a possible second season is hinted at.

MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service, Showmax, has released its first concrete viewership number and says Tali's Wedding Diary just topped 1 million views hinting at a second season for the South African mockumentary series.

Showmax has previously made several viewership claims without citing numbers and without willing to provide ratings information and viewership numbers when asked after making those claims.

This leaves the South African and wider TV industry, as with rival Netflix South Africa who Showmax is copying in not providing viewing statistics, unable to gauge what is popular under South African viewers, what they're watching, and how many.

At Saturday's 13th South African Film and Television Awards of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) at Sun City Tali's Wedding Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios won 5 Golden Horn trophies, the first for Showmax and the first for any streaming service at the Saftas.

Tali’s Wedding Diary won Best comedy, Best actress (Julia Anastasopoulos as Tali Shapiro), Best directing (Ari Kruger), Best cinematography (James Adey) and for Best editing (Richard Starkey) and got the most awards in the 13th Saftas' comedy category.

The mockumentary follows Tali, a self-obsessed Johannesburg princess who's moved to Cape Town and is planning her wedding to property-agent fiance Darren (Anton Taylor). The series was inspired by Julia's own wedding to Ari, her SuzelleDIY and Tali's Wedding Diary co-creator.

Showmax says that the week before the 13th Saftas Talis’ Wedding Diary reached the milestone of passing 1 million views on Showmax.

Showmax released Tali's Wedding Diary in December 2017, which means it took a year and two months for the show to reach 1 million views.

It's not yet clear whether or if Tali's Wedding Diary has or will be renewed for a second season (Tali's Baby Diary?) but Ari Kruger, after the 13th Saftas win, said: "Let's hope this recognition allows us to make the next chapter."

Showmax makes South African TV history as it wins 5 awards at the NFVF's 13th Saftas and the first for a video streaming service.

From left: Ari Kruger, Julia Anastasopoulos, Daniel Zimbler, Keren Setton, and Candice Fangueiro 

Showmax has made South African TV history winning 5 awards at 2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) that took place on Saturday, becoming the first video streaming service to win at the awards show for an original production that was also its first.

Tali's Wedding Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios and created by the husband and wife team of Ari Kruger and Julia Anastasopoulos and with her starring, saw big wins for both.

Tali's Wedding Diary won Golden Horn trophies on Saturday at Sun City for Best achievement in directing (Ari Kruger), Best achievement in cinematography (James Adey), Best achievement in editing (Richard Starkey), Best actress (Julia Anastasopoulos), and for Best TV comedy.

Tali's Wedding Diary was the show with the most wins out of the 13 comedy categories at the Saftas.

Julia Anastasopoulos in her acceptance speech thanked Showmax, Sketchbook Studios and her director husband for bringing Tali's Wedding Diary to life.

Candice Fangueiro, the head of content for MultiChoice Connected Video division, on Sunday told TVwithThinus that "When we were making Tali’s Wedding Diary we joked about winning a Safta - it seemed totally crazy given it was our first fully-fledged Showmax Original and all of us were learning as we went".

"Fast-forward and we're on stage not just winning one Safta award but taking home five. I'm still pinching myself."

"Julia and Ari have been amazing partners in bringing to life a character who South Africa has come to love."

"Tali's Wedding Diary has become bigger than we ever could have expected and this gives us the confidence and appetite to get out there and tell more stories. I’m really grateful to everyone involved - what an incredible outcome," said Candice Fangueiro.

REVIEW. Tali's Wedding Diary on Showmax a funny, cringe-filled mock-doc series for our self-obsessed age.

Successfully managing to channel a vain yet unsecure, a bossy yet socially powerless, and a self-obsessed yet with low EQ self-awareness type persona worlds removed from her "Suzelle DIY" character, comedian Julia Anastasopoulos delights in her cringe-filled new Showmax mock-doc series Tali's Wedding Diary.

Produced by Sketchbook Studios, created and executive produced by Julia Anastasopoulos and Ari Kruger, and also executive produced by Akash Bhatia, Candice Fangueiro and Shaamila Fataar, the 8-episode mockumentary series was filmed in Cape Town during this past winter (although you won't be able to tell).

While Julia Anastasopoulos is the bona fide star of the show, the real comedic success of and in Tali's Wedding Diary derives from something not related to any of the actors or their varying acting abilities.

The bulk of the comedy in Tali's Wedding Diary derives from incredibly successful editing and directing.

The camera is (allowed to) sway and veer off to the sides from the mainframed characters, with the end of scenes often masterfully edited to linger for just a split second longer to a secondary character or object, creating wonderful "sight-gags".

This directing and filming technique, coupled with supremely clever editing are the true stars of the show.

As scenes are allowed to breathe, viewers are able to not just grasp, but to laugh at the sharp irony and often cringey, socially awkward, non-verbal, visual humour cleverly locked into the scenes of this satirical series.

The visual gags - purposefully and cleverly "lifted" out through micro silent moments - and the meticulous editing to allow the camera to "linger" for just the right few seconds more, is what unlocks the "punchlines" throughout the delightful series.

Credit should go to the director of photography, James Adey, and Richard Starkey for the clever editing.

Tali's Wedding Diary with an omniscient cameraman and Julia Anastasopoulos as the constantly socially-striving Julia - appearing in a first-person role narrating directly to camera - is a first-of-its-kind for a South African production, taking what kykNET (DStv 144) has done with its mockumentary Hotel one step further.

Surrounded by a coterie of long-suffering passive (but not aggressive) "subjects" all revolving around (and unable to escape) Tali's histrionic orbit, Julia Anastasopoulos deftly amps up the egotistical and out-of-control vagaries of a woman not just obsessed with "selfies" but also wanting to create the appearance of a "perfect" wedding.

Viewers who are possibly familiar with Chris Lilley's superb Australian mockumentary Summer Heights High and Angry Boys, Netflix's new American Vandal, or even The Office and Parks and Recreation will instantly get, like, and understand Tali's Wedding Diary on Showmax.

There's somewhat of an unevenness between some of the episodes of Tali's Wedding Diary, although fortunately the first episode that sets the scene and introduces most of the characters, is the best of the first bunch and fulfills its purpose to get a viewer into binge-watching the whole season.

Some episodes, like the second episode in which Tali chooses bridesmaids, comes across as just a tad too rough; a bit too bluntly on-the-nose.

While rooting for the main character, by the second and third episode, viewers will get an inkling that the show that starts out on a bright Cape Town beach, is going to veer into darker and more negative territory.

The fact is that several aspects of Tali's personality actually isn't likeable or laudable but it's a given that once you start watching, you will likely continue to find out if a wedding will ever really happen.

The language in Tali's Wedding Diary also deserves a mention.

It's perplexing as to why Showmax and the show did it - since it makes it less suitable for a mainstream audience and means less viewers will be able to watch it - but a warning that the producers and scripts include explicit language including "shit" and "fuck".

The salty language makes Tali's Wedding Diary not suitable as family viewing with a higher age restriction that what the show should have. Not having these four letter words in scenes wouldn't have made scenes weaker and their inclusion doesn't make scenes feel more authentic.

Anton Taylor is a treat as the "dynamic sensitive" and energy-absorbing husband-to-be Darren with the actor exhibiting smart "underplay" restraint to remain the straight foil to Tali's over-the-top antics.

An earnest and funny Glen Biederman-Pam as the real estate agent up-and-comer Rael displays excellent comedic timing as the run-along sidekick.

Tali's Wedding Diary could easily do a spin-off series following the hapless Darren and Rael's real estate ventures, with their pitiful and hilarious side-show adventures that could honestly be a show of its own.

Tali's Wedding Diary is available on Showmax from 14 December 2017.


ALSO READ: Showmax on its first real original production, Tali's Wedding Diary: "Part of a fundamental shift in our content strategy where we knew we needed to be different".

Showmax on its first real original production, Tali's Wedding Diary: 'Part of a fundamental shift in our content strategy where we knew we needed to be different'.

Showmax's first real own, original local South African production, Tali's Wedding Diary, available from 14 December, is the result of a content strategy shift at the video streaming service that realised that it had to be different from competitors like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and had to start making its own local South African stories.

Tali's Wedding Diary, filmed in Cape Town, is rolling out from 14 December 2017 on Naspers' subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service as a quirky, 8-episode mockumentary show starring comedian Julia Anastasopoulos, produced by Sketchbook Studios.

Besides being Showmax's first real local and original South African production not co-produced and cross-financed with one of MultiChoice's DStv TV channels, Tali's Wedding Diary is also the very first local South African mockumentary-style show with a main character acting as a first person, straight-to-camera narrator.

While Netflix already has several of these American-made mockumentary styled shows with a few that have also been made for linear broadcast channels in recent years in countries like Australia, the genre is very new and still largely unfamiliar to South African viewing audiences, with Tali's Wedding Diary breaking new ground for South Africa's TV industry.

Tali's Wedding Diary is created by Julia Anastasopoulos and Ari Kruger, and executive produced by Akash Bhatia, Candice Fangueiro and Shaamila Fataar.

"Tali's Wedding Diary is our first, first real Showmax Original production, says Candice Fangueiro, Showmax's head of content for Africa.

"We launched Showmax two years ago and this year we saw a fundamental shift in our content strategy where we knew we needed to be different."

"We needed to be different. We had to start creating content; producing local stories that South Africans would come to fall in love with and the passion and dedication of Julia Anastasopoulos is testament to that."

"Just by her Instagram following you can see that South Africans love her. So I think we're heading in the right direction."

Candice Fangueiro says Showmax is starting to give "writers and directors a canvass for their visions, and an opportunity to showcase all of the amazing South African talent we have in the country".

"We have to start acquiring new and different shows that have never been seen before and we had to start pushing the boundaries of putting our customers first."

About possible further seasons for Tali's Wedding Diary, Candice Fangueiro says "there's no looking back and there's only looking forward now. We're looking forward to possibly a Tali's Baby Diary. And a Tali's Travel Diary."

About the commissioning and production process Candice Fangueiro says "we've had our ups and our downs; we've learnt lessons, but we've come out on the other side with something really cool, really unique, something different and something that we've seen that South Africans really connect with at this point in time."

Showmax is looking at possibly dubbing Tali's Wedding Diary and also making it available in Poland where the streaming service also has a presence.

"We're so proud of Tali's Wedding Diary," says Chris Savides, Showmax head of Africa.

ALSO READ: REVIEW: Tali's Wedding Diary on Showmax a funny, cringe-filled mock-doc series for our self-obsessed age.

ShowMax greenlit first ShowMax Original series, Tali's Wedding Diary from Sketchbook Studios, with Julia Anastasopoulos.

The video streamer service ShowMax has added a new local production, Tali's Wedding Diary, that's currently filming 8 episodes in Cape Town that will be released in December.

ShowMax picked up Tali's Wedding Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios, as a mockumentary with Julia Anastasopoulos who who is known for her SuzelleDIY persona and who will be channeling one of her other alter-egos for the new show.

ShowMax says Tali's Wedding Diary is the first ShowMax Original series the Naspers-owned subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service is producing, with production that's also underway on iNumber Number as a TV series - a co-production between ShowMax and M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on turning the 2013 film of the same name into a series.

In Tali's Wedding Diary, Julia Anastasopoulos will portray Tali, a self- and selfie-obsessed princess who has moved to Cape Town and who has hired a documentary film crew to film the build-up to her wedding with her property-agent fiance Darren.

"ShowMax instantly bought into what Ari Kruger, co-creator and director, and I, were trying to do," says Julia Anastasopoulos in a statement. "We've got world-class acting and production talent so it's a huge boost to see a local company fund local productions".

Chris Savides in the statement says "supporting African productions is absolutely part of our strategy".

The 8 episodes of Tali's Wedding Diary will be approximately 20 minutes in duration each.