Season 1
Class Act is a South African reality competition television series produced by Curious Pictures and OwenKessel in which contestants from around the country attempt to win a contract with a top actor's agent, an eight-week course at the New York Film Academy School of Film and Acting and a role in a television commercial.
Class Act premiered on SABC1 on Saturday 13 March 2010, at 18h30. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 1 aired on SABC1 from 13 March to 5 June, 2010, on Saturdays at 18h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the first season.
The final two in the competition were Muzi Ngwenya and Sdumo Mtshali. The first season was won by Sdumo.
Season 1
Every aspiring actor dreams of his big break, his chance to shine, to find that perfect role. Imagine this paves the way to becoming South Africa's next leading man.
Class Act offers South African acting hopefuls the opportunity to attain their dream of becoming the country's hottest new acting talent.
On the casting couch for Class Act, the high-profile judges include South Africa's leading actors' agent, Moonyeenn Lee of MLA; Rapulana Seiphemo – well-known film and television actor seen in Jerusalema and Generations – and Tendeka Matatu, well-known producer and director.
Sitting in the directors' chair is Tim Greene, an accomplished South African film director. In addition, each week sees a celebrity judge joining the casting coach.
Kenneth Nkosi, who has acted in high profile movies such as Jerusalema, Tsotsi, and more recently, White Wedding, hosts the show.
Ten aspiring actors - the best of the auditionees - come to Johannesburg for the Class Act Workshop. They attend, among other things, acting, gym, comedy and fight classes, including appearing in the weekly show.
Every week they act their hearts out in mini-movies. Their talent is assessed by a panel of respected film professionals and a local big-name director who has a movie script that needs a leading man.
They receive honest and ruthless feedback from the three judges and a guest judge on the casting couch and then the viewers at home vote for their favourite actors every week.
The actor with the lowest votes every week "hits the cutting room floor" and is eliminated from the show. South Africa votes for their favourite contestant via SMS.
In each episode the judges choose their Class Act of the Week. This award gives the actor immunity from being eliminated for that round.
Then South Africa votes by SMS for their favourite actor every week until only one remains. He is The Class Act and the film world opens up to him, an ad campaign and an agent to give his career a jump-start.
The series is filmed at Sasani Studios in Kew, Johannesburg.
Prizes
The winner gets the following:
First Place
1. An agency contract with Moonyeen Lee of MLA.
2. Eight weeks at the New York Film Academy. The academy is represented by the who's who of Hollywood. The winner will be coached by top directors, producers, scriptwriters and actors.
3. The lead role in a new Amstel commercial.
Second Place
1. Agency representation by MLA for 6 months.
2. Four weeks in Los Angeles at The Acting Corps - Actors Boot Camp.
Third Place
1. Agency representation by MLA for 6 months.
2. A six-week intensive acting course by Dorothy Gould, South African acting coach.
The top 3 get the prizes mentioned above - the remaining seven are remunerated as follows:
7 weeks = R50,000
6 weeks = R35,000
5 weeks = R30,000
4 weeks = R25,000
3 weeks = R20,000
2 weeks = R15,000
1 week = R10,000
Auditions
Auditions were at the following venues:
30 Jan: Durban – Manor House
06 Feb: Cape Town - Cape Island Studios, Panalux
13 Feb: Pretoria - National Cultural History Museum
20 Feb: Johannesburg - Atlas Studios
Hopefuls had to be male, over 18 years old and a citizen of South Africa. If they had a leading role in a film or TV production they were not allowed to audition.
Participants had to perform a prepared piece of their own choosing that demonstrated their acting ability, provided that the duration did not exceed one minute.
Winners
Season 1: Sdumo Mtshali
Season 2: Tumie Ngumla and Abdul Khoza
Links
Season 1
Coming Soon: Class Act
Class Act Auditions: Goss & Vid
Snaparazzi Gallery
Meet The Top 10 Class Actors
Denzil Ditched From Class Act
Class Act: The Cool Episode
Class Act: The Comedy Episode
A Chat With Tim Greene
A Chat With Moonyeenn Lee
Class Act: The Heist Flick Episode
Class Act: A Bit Of A Disappointment
At Home With The Class Act Guys
Class Act: The Film Noir Episode
A Chat With Terry Pheto
Class Act: And Then There Were FIVE ...
Class Act: The Villain Episode
A Chat With Fana Mokoena
Class Act: The Action Episode
Class Act: The Most Interesting Elimination
Class Act: Episode 11
A Chat With Barry Ronge
Class Act: The Final 2
Class Act Leading Man: Sdumo Mtshali
Season 2
TVSA Blogger Is A Class Act!
Class Act 2: How To Win The Show
Class Act 2: all the audition details
On location with Class Act's Donovan Marsh
Class Act Valentines Surprise
Class Act Fancam Invades The SAFTAs
FanCam: The Exclusive Club For TV Fans
Tumie and Abdul are Class Acts
Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC1
Season 1
Premiere: 13 March 2010 | Finale: 5 June 2010 | Saturdays, 18h30
Season 2
Premiere: 23 April 2011 | Finale: 16 July 2011 | Saturdays, 18h30 / Mondays, 18h30