eKasi: Our Stories, e.tv's local drama strand which has grown successfully to become one of the free-to-air TV channel's highest rated viewership franchises will kick off on Monday 15 July at 21:00 for a 5th season as production is expanding to 52 episodes, produced by seven different production companies filming episodes across four of South Africa's provinces.
"We have great ambition for the eKasi: Our Stories brand," says Monde Twala. "e.tv is proud to provide a platform that encourages South Africans to tell these gritty, interesting yet enlightening stories."
"The level of participation from South Africans is getting better, we receive more interesting stories each year. The series has been well received and is also broadcast across the continent on our pan-African channel. Storytelling is an Africa wide ability; Nollywood has done it and nothing stops eKasi: Our Stories from growing worldwide appeal," he says.
Mentors are provided for scriptwriters while new actors are cast in roles to gain experience.
eKasi: Our Stories has now added three further production companies, three more provinces and is being filmed in high definition (HD). Diprente Productions (also responsible for the excellent satirical show Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola on the eNCA) is now also onboard, as is Asi-B, a Limpopo based production company, as well as Bubblegum, a Western Cape based production company which will be contributing dramatic stories from in and around Cape Town.
"This is part of an ongoing initiative to train and develop talent in the various disciplines of the South African television industry," says Monde Twala. "The aim is to encourage ordinary South Africans to tell their stories in the most authentic way while ensuring ongoing skills development in different parts of South Africa."
"e.tv continues to provide training and workshops to the writers, producers and crew in order to ensure that the eKasi: Our Stories concept remains a sustainable development initiative."
