Netflix announces its 2021 film slate with 71 movies with the video streamer that will release a new film weekly.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has announced its 2021 film slate together with a short film preview sizzle reel and will be releasing 71 movies over the course of the year - basically a new film weekly - although not all of them will be available in all territories.

Netflix's film slate announcement comes just after, and in response to, The Walt Disney Company that announced its sprawling content slate for 2021 and beyond for its Disney+ video streaming, that was followed by Discovery Inc. that announced its massive content line-up for 2021 for the launch of its Discovery+ subscription video-on-demand service.

In the fast-growing global Plus video wars, Netflix, Disney, Discovery, Amazon Prime Video, WarnerMedia with its HBO Max, Apple with Apple TV+, as well as ViacomCBS with its to-launch Paramount+, are all dramatically ramping up production and spending millions to try and lure customers in the race to try and secure a profitable spot as one of the top global players in the over-the-top (OTT) race.   

"This year's line-up will surprise and delight cinephiles across the globe with films from award-winning filmmakers, including Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Paolo Sorrentino (The Hand of God) and Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up)," says Netflix in a statement.

"We’re bringing you a year of films filled with more of the things we know our members love - zombies (Army of the Dead), cowboys (The Harder They Fall, Concrete Cowboy), and high school romance (including the culmination of the To All the Boys and The Kissing Booth trilogies)."

"We’re re-introducing you to teen screams (Fear Street trilogy, There’s Someone Inside Your House), turning your favourite books into films (The Woman in the Window, Munich, The Last Letter from Your Lover), bringing you more adrenaline-pumping blockbusters (Red Notice, Sweet Girl, Kate) and giving your family a reason to say yes to watching films together (YES DAY,  Back to the Outback, Finding ‘Ohana).

Netflix films will include stars ranging from Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johson, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Gal Gadot, Dave Bautista, Naomi Watts and Jake Gyllenhaal to John David Washington and Octavia Spencer.

Some of the biggest upcoming releases include the heist film Red Notice with Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gardot, the Zach Snyder-directed zombie film Army of the Dead, the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical tick, tick ... BOOM! and the South African-filmed conclusion of The Kissing Booth completing the trilogy.

Scott Stuber, Netflix's head of original films, in an interview said that he's "excited by what we've done, but we've still got a lot more to do, but I feel good about the progress we're making".

Here is the complete list of films Netflix plans to release in 2021:

Action
Awake
Kate
Outside the Wire
Red Notice
Sweet Girl

Comedy

8 Rue de l’Humanité
Afterlife of the Party
Bad Trip
Don’t Look Up
Double Dad
I Care A Lot
Moxie
The Last Mercenary
Thunder Force

Drama

Alexandre Moratto film (as-yet-untitled)

Beauty

Blonde
Bombay Rose
Bruised
Concrete Cowboy
Fever Dream

Graham King film (as-yet-untitled)
Malcolm & Marie
Monster
Penguin Bloom
Pieces of Woman
The Dig
The Guilty
The Hand of God
The Power of the Dog
The Starling
The White Tiger

Family viewing

A Boy Called Christmas

A Winter’s Tale from Shaun the Sheep
Back to the Outback
Finding ‘Ohana
Loud House
Nightbooks
Robin Robin
Skater Girl
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Wish Dragon
YES DAY

Horror
Fear Street Trilogy
No One Gets Out Alive
There’s Someone Inside Your House
Things Heard and Seen

Musical

A Week Away

tick, tick… BOOM!

Romance

A Castle For Christmas

Alicia Keys comedy(as-yet-untitled)

Fuimos Canciones
Love Hard

The Kissing Booth 3
The Last Letter from Your Lover
The Princess Switch 3
To All The Boys: Always and Forever

Science fiction

Stowaway

Thriller

Blood Red Sky
Beckett
Escape from Spiderhead
Intrusion
Munich
O2
Night Teeth
The Swarm
The Woman in the Window

Western

The Harder They Fall

M-Net Movies' 007 James Bond DStv pop-up channel to run for 10 days from 22 January 2021 showing every Bond film.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net's 007 James Bond pop-up channel will start on MultiChoice's DStv on channel 111 on 22 January and run until 31 January with the 10-day Bond-marathon that will show every 007 film ever made.

The "shaken not stirred" spy film channel will be the first of DStv's special pop-up channels for 2021 and the third time that M-Net Movies is doing a Bond pop-up channel.

The 007 James Bond DStv pop-up channel will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact and DStv Family subscribers. 

The channel will run from 06:00 until 22:00 for 10 days, bringing viewers tuxedos, Bond girls in bikinis, fast cars with hidden technology, exotic locations including the moon, mind-blowing spy gadgets, deadly villains and henchmen including a Goldfinger, as well as martinis - which are served shaken, not stirred of course.

M-Net says that the Bond film marathon will feature all 7 charming actors who have played the iconic 007 role, from Pierce Brosnan to Sean Connery, Roger Moore and current Bond Daniel Craig.

The various Bond films will be screened chronologically, starting with the first film in the series released 59 years ago, Dr. No (1962), to the latest Bond film and box office hit, Spectre (2015).

All of the films will also be available on DStv Catch Up until Tuesday, 28 February 2021.

SABC2’s Afrikaans soap 7de Laan reaches milestone 5 000th episode and celebrates with cake-cutting event, Fokus going behind-the-scenes for an on-set retrospective.

by Thinus Ferreira

The longrunning Afrikaans soap 7de Laan has reached 5 000 episodes with SABC2's current affairs show Fokus that will give viewers a behind-the-scenes at the production and its milestone this evening, Wednesday 13 January, at 19:00.

The fictional Hillside set soap, currently in its 22nd season, broadcast its 5 000th episode last week Thursday that was recorded on 26 October 2020 at Sasani Studios in Highlands North, Johannesburg.

The episode that was directed by Francois Lensley who also plays the role of Marko Greyling, was scripted to be the unveiling of the remodelled Oppiekoffie set with the fictional coffee shop that was blown up and destroyed in an explosion late last year.

The Danie Odendaal Productions cast officially celebrated the 5 000th episode with a cake ceremony a month ago in early-December 2020 with the event that was done under strict Covid-19 screening and when South Africa was still under Level 1 lockdown restrictions.

While no longer the massive ratings grabber it once was, the 2-decades old soap still pulls a sizeable weekday audience to SABC2, and lured 1.44 million (3.72 ARs) viewers in December 2020 for its most-watched episode, making it the 6th most-watched show on SABC2 last month.

Overall, 7de Laan was the 46th most-watched show on South African television across all TV channels in December 2020. 

The revamped Oppiekoffie now has a new look with new lighting, colour and decor for a more modern feel. 

"The cast and crew of 7de Laan are humbled by the unyielding support of its viewers," says Thandi Ramathesele, 7de Laan executive producer.

"Nothing but the best is good enough in this competitive television market and if viewers weren’t crying with laughter, we know they were weeping with nostalgia. We dedicate the 5 000th episode to the viewers of 7de Laan and South Africa, our beautiful diverse country."

In Wednesday evening's episode of Fokus the current affairs show goes behind-the-scenes of 7de Laan for interviews with the show's cast and crew to give a retrospective view of 7de Laan over the years.

Actress Lindiwe Ndlovu has died at 45, honoured as 'an unsung incredible actress who will leave a huge space in the creative world of acting'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African actress Lindiwe Ndlovu known for multiple roles on South African television and stage has died. She was 45.

The exact cause of death is unknown but Lindiwe Ndlovu who just celebrated her 45th birthday this past Friday had been suffering from medical issues according to her agent and passed away in her sleep on Monday morning, 11 January 2020.

"It is with heavy hearts and unimaginable sadness that we bring you the news of Lindiwe Thembekani Ndlovu passing in her home this morning 11 January," her longtime agent long-time agent Lynne Higgins at Gaenore Artiste Management says in a statement.

"To us Lindiwe was family but to many she was so much more - an unsung, incredible actress who will leave a huge space in the creative world of acting. Her incredible passion, deep respect for her craft and unrivalled commitment to her career evident in every project she took on."

"Lindiwe’s love for the stage is reflected in the many productions she gave her heart and soul to.  A large number of them being performed at the Market Theatre, to which she had strong ties with her entire career, even spending her younger days completing two years of studies there."

"From a TV and film production aspect, there are too many of her roles to mention, each of them giving herself into the character and process heart and soul."

"What we will remember most is her love and unwavering dedication to her friends and family. She had a larger than life presence that was undeniably infectious to those who loved her."

Lindiwe Ndlovu appeared in Isono, the first locally produced telenovela for ViacomCBS's BET (DStv 129) produced by Clive Morris Productions.

Clive Morris Productions in a statement says "We are so saddened by the news that multi-award winning actress Lindiwe Ndlovu has passed away. We will always remember the great contribution she made to our industry. It was an honour to have her part of our cast on Isono as her last role".

Lindiwe Ndlovu won a SAFTA award in 2013 for her role in the 2013-film Little One. She also appeared in films like Safari in 2013 and 2011's Winnie Mandela. 

On television she portrayed the role of Sponono in Zabalaza on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel, and had roles in Agent (SABC1/Netflix SA), Backstage (e.tv), Egoli (M-Net), eHostela (Mzansi Magic), Erfsondes (SABC2), Generations (SABC1), Ga Re Dumele (SABC2) and Greed & Desire (Mzansi Magic).

She also appeared in Home Affairs (SABC1), Ifalakhe (Mzansi Magic), Isidingo (SABC3), Lockdown (Mzansi Magic), Mazinyo Dot Q (SABC2), Ses' Top La (SABC1), Soul City (SABC1), Scandal! (e.tv), Stokvel (SABC2), Umlilo (e.tv) and Uzalo (SABC1).

Applications open for 2021 MultiChoice study bursaries for any students working towards a qualification in a range of relevant fields from scriptwriting, TV studies and sports broadcasting to economics, law, IT and engineering.

by Thinus Ferreira

Students can now apply for MultiChoice's bursary scheme that is giving bursaries in 2021 for higher learning who will be, or are, studying in focus areas aligned to the pay-TV operator's business.

Students can apply who are studying in selected degrees or fields with successful bursary recipients who will be fully funded in terms of their registration and tuition fees, accommodation and annual living allowance. 

The closing date to apply for a MultiChoice bursary for 2021 is 31 January 2021 by completing the 3-page application form and sending all relevant documents to talentmanagement@multichoice.co.za by the closing date.

The 2021 MultiChoice bursary programme is for South African students registered at a South African higher learning institution, is offered to students of all years of study inclusive of 1st post-graduate degrees, must be within or for a degree or qualification aligned to a MultiChoice focus areas, and is a 12-month bursary covering the 2021 academic year.

MultiChoice will award study bursaries to students doing a specialist degree or working on attaining a qualification in the fields of Engineering (computer, electrical & digital), computer or data science, applied/computational mathematics, information systems or technology, customer insights technologies, media, film or TV studies, scriptwriting, sports broadcasting, or UX or UI or CX design.

People studying in creative or corporate brand communication, digital marketing, economics or law, human resources or finance (internal audit or financial accounting) are also welcome to apply for a possible MultiChoice bursary.

'Are you the "before"?' Anyone can become the world's first black Betty in the open casting call for South Africa's uBettina Wethu series adaptation of Ugly Betty.

by Thinus Ferreira

uBettina Wethu, South Africa's localised Ugly Betty adaptation, is looking for a black Betty and it could literally be any young black woman with the show that is doing an open casting call. 

A funny scene in the first episode of Ugly Betty is when Betty arrives on her first day at work at a magazine and the receptionist mistakenly assumes that she's the "before" - meaning the person who was specifically cast to look as bad as possible when makeover photoshoots are done to show the "before" and "after" transformation.

Now that "before" could be any young black woman in South Africa between the age of 22 and 26 who will get the role as Bettina Sikhakane.

uBettina Wethu, a co-production between the SABC that will broadcast it on SABC1 and the video streaming VIU.

The series is produced by the South African production company Known Associates Entertainment, with Tshepiso Sello as producer with the company that has been responsible for series like Keeping Score, Hustle and Emoyeni as Fireworx Media.

The uBettina Wethu project is also supported by South Africa's department of trade and industry and is a South African adaptation of Colombia's Yo Soy Bety La Fea, known as Ugly Betty.

The popular series holds the Guinness World Record for the most successful telenovela after it has been adapted in 19 territories, broadcast in 180 countries and dubbed into 15 languages with uBettina Wethu as the South African adaptation that will be the first in the world to feature a black Betty along with a majority-black cast.

In South Africa's version of uBettina Wethu the main premise follows the journey of a wholesome, intelligent, but gawky, people-pleaser with a dated, unsophisticated sense of style, who finds her self-worth and image challenged when she is employed at Nubia, a brand management company, a place where at times people value image over substance. 

Bettina Sikhakane is a kind-hearted, smart, career-focused woman, with a dream of running her own company but when she lands a job as the personal assistant to Nubia’s new boss, she has to contend with her colleagues' assumption that because of her quirky style and kindness, she must be stupid.

As part of an open casting call, people who want to enter can access the script at www.ubettinawethu.co.za, take a video of themselves doing an audition performing parts of the script and send it to the Whatsapp number of 087 240 5150. Entry is free and the closing date to submit an "audition tape" is 15 January 2021.

Besides auditioning for Bettina, the producers are also looking for Dingaan, a main character and a love interest of Bettina who must be a black actor between the age of 27 and 30 and who is the Nubia boss, as well Dingaan's black mother with the show looking for an actress between the ages of 52 and 56. 

After the initial selection process during which people will be able to get to vote as well to narrow down the search to the top 3 choices for each role, a closed audition process will take place to choose Bettina as well as Dingaan and his mother.

"These public auditions are an exciting and appropriate way for us to welcome uBettina Wethu into our lives and on our screens," says Ryan Solovei, VIU Africa country manager.

"This production is already capped with many firsts and for VIU, it echoes our commitment to developing local productions and unearthing local talent in South Africa."

"We’re excited to see the entries and the final outcome for the three main characters of the story, and we look forward to the public’s participation as they have their say into who gets to be the next big stars of Mzansi."

Producer Tshepiso Sello says "the social climate in which we find ourselves necessitates a coming-of-age story with a twist. It is meant to allow the audience the chance to see themselves in the characters of the story - to not only root for their success or downfall but see the characters as an extension of themselves."

"The road to achieving this starts with finding the right talent, by engaging the public we want our audiences to feel part and parcel of the show from the onset of our production process before it even hits their screens, after all its uBettina Wethu."

And just like that, Sex and the City returns to TV with Sarah Jessica Parker for 10-episode limited series on HBO Max.

by Thinus Ferreira

Sarah Jessica Parker on Sunday night confirmed on Instagram on social media that a limited series of 10-episodes of Sex and the City has been ordered by the HBO Max video streaming service, reviving the iconic series.

And Just Like That ... will see Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon revive their iconic characters and will "follow Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s" in 10, half-hour episodes that will start production in New York around May.

Kristin Davis who played Charlotte York and Cynthia Nixon who played Miranda Hobbes joined SJP on social media with posts.

Notably absent was Kim Cattrall who over the past few years has distanced herself from Sex and the City where she played Samantha Jones and who have been openly fighting with Sarah Jessica Parker for a few years.

Sex and the City was created by Darren Star, based on Candace Bushnell’s book. 

The Sex and the City executive producer Michael Patrick King will again be showrunner and executive producer of And Just Like That... with the three women who will all also get an executive producer credit.

"I couldn’t help but wonder… where are they now?," Sarah Jessica Parker wrote on Instagram, noting that And Just Like That... will follow "the next chapter" in the women's lives.

"I grew up with these characters, and I can’t wait to see how their story has evolved in this new chapter, with the honesty, poignancy, humour and the beloved city that has always defined them," says Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max's head of original content.

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MultiChoice's Showmax and Canal+ teams up for first Kenyan Showmax Original with gritty crime drama Crime & Justice set in modern-day Nairobi starring Alfred Munyua and Sarah Hassan.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's Showmax and France's pay-TV service CANAL+ are doing the video streaming service's first Kenyan-set Showmax Original series, with production that has started on the gritty crime drama series Crime & Justice.

The co-produced Crime & Justice is set in modern-day Nairobi and will be released later in 2021 on Showmax while CANAL+ will distribute Crime & Justice to its French-speaking base.

The Crime & Justice includes Alfred Munyua as Silas and Sarah Hassan as Makena, two detectives working for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who try and solve "ripped-from-the-headlines" case per episode that are tracked all the way through to the courtroom verdict. 

The rest of the Crime & Justice cast includes Maqbul Mohammed as DCI Boss Kebo, Paul Ogola as Prosecutor Sokoro Brian Ogola as Caleb, the resident pathologist; as well as John Sibi-Okumu, Muhugu Theuri, Brian Abajah, Martin Githinji and Justin Mirichii in guest roles.

Crime & Justice is produced by Live Eye TV, with Adam Neutzsky-Wulff as director and producer.

Other production crew includes Maureen Wanjiku as co-producer, lighting technician Walter Odhiambo, cinematographer Sammy Maina who will take over from Helge Gerull after the second episode, art director Eugene Oyoo, and casting director Lorella Jowi.

In a prepared casting quote, Alfred Munyua says "When I first read the script, I loved the delivery and realness of Silas as a character. It’s not exaggerated and he’s no Rambo hero; he just tackles his cases the normal way. I found a very real edge with this script, and I hope I’ll do justice to the role".

Sarah Hassan says "This is a very different character; I’ve never played anything like Makena before. It’s very exciting to get a character that makes me grow as an actor."

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of MultiChoice Connected Video, says "We are fundamentally an African business and are invested in telling African stories that reflect the lives, languages and cultures of the continent".

"We believe in African talent and look forward to shining the international spotlight on not only Kenyan stars, but the Kenyan technical industry’s capabilities. We believe that streaming video is a powerful way to deliver these shared stories. This is one of many more Showmax Originals we have in the pipeline across Africa."

The Crime & Justice production follows the announcement of the first CANAL+ and MultiChoice co-production Blood Psalms that was filmed in South Africa in 2020 and that will be released on Showmax in 2021.

Fabrice Faux, CANAL+ International chief content officer, says "As part of our strategy of providing our subscribers with the best original content from the continent, we are proud to partner with Showmax and enrich myCanal as well as CANAL+ channels with such premium series".

BREAKING. South Africa's public broadcaster says it has completed its retrenchment plan that will now see 303 SABC staffers lose their jobs.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's public broadcaster will get rid of 303 staffers with the SABC that says it has completed its long and drawn-out Section 189 retrenchment process although more workers could be let go and lose their jobs if some staffers don't accept voluntary retrenchment packages or early retirement offers.

The bloated and over-staffed SABC that is mired in massive financial problems has to let workers go although the struggling broadcaster had been criticised for the non-transparent and seemingly chaotic way it has gone about it.

The SABC initially planned to get rid of over 600 permanent staffers as well as hundreds of freelance workers but on Wednesday in a statement said that the SABC "has concluded its section 189 process after an extensive 6-month consultation process" and that 303 workers will lose their jobs.

On 23 November 2020 the SABC board - after facing criticism from some political parties like the ANC and EFF, trade unions like Bemawu and the Communications Workers Union (CWU) and shocking scenes unfolding from within the SABC News newsroom - suspended the retrenchment process for 30 days until 2021.

"After considering all options to minimise the total number of affected employees, the SABC has further reduced the number of affected redundant employees to 303 - just under half of the originally projected 600 redundancies," the SABC says in a statement.

"However, the final number of redundancies are dependent on the acceptance of the proposed alternatives and the number of employees who will opt for Voluntary Severance Packages (VSPs) and early retirement," the SABC says.

"The SABC acknowledges that the retrenchment process was difficult for all stakeholders and emotionally-charged at times. The extended process also created prolonged uncertainty."

"However, it was a necessary part of the SABC’s turnaround plan to reposition the public broadcaster, ensure its stability and financial sustainability and allow the SABC to execute its public mandate to serve all the people of South Africa in all our languages and across all platforms."

ALSO READ: 'Wholesale burndown': Concerns growing over the South African public broadcaster's 'quite short-sighted' and 'arrogantly clueless' plan to get rid of all SABC TV channels' publicists in its retrenchment plan.

ALSO READ: SABC retrenchment plan to eliminate the broadcaster's corps of TV channel publicists who communicate about its content, job to be centralised under a marketing manager and few brand managers.

ALSO READ: Black Friday: SABC News anchors all wear black to protest against broadcaster's retrenchment plan as concerns over a possible on-air blackout grows.

ALSO READ: SABC COO claims SABC News newsroom has been ‘unlawfully captured’, says use of eNCA during blackout was just a joke while shocked staffers are speaking out about chillingly cold retrenchment letters telling them they're terminated.