Season 2
Hillside is a South African medical drama television series created by Aubrey Sekhabi, Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom and Itumeleng Motsikoe which showcases the lives of young doctors and nurses full of passion for their profession and the hope of a successful new hospital.
They live for their work but also have an emotional need for friendship, support, love and intimacy from each other in this safe cocoon far from the demands of another world they call home but hardly ever see.
The show is filmed in a working public hospital and is fashioned on real life medical cases with stories that seamlessly blend reality and fiction.
In some ways the hospital is the hero, but the real heroes are the medical staff.
The storylines often focus on the contrasting 'family' bonds at the hospital and the different kinds of families that are seen in today's contemporary world.
Often the outside world rushes in uninvited bringing horror, wonder and sometimes disgust, all the while placing pressure on the relatively new staff with limited resources.
The central focus is the family and how we process the emotional events that affect us in sickness, in health and in death.
Season 2 Cast
Hillside 2 features veteran South African actor John Kani who reprises his role as Dr. Vincent Maloka, and Patrick Shai, who plays the role of Dr. Kagiso Monthsiwa.
The new female lead on Hillside is Phemelo Ngcobo, whose character, Dr. Lerato Thibela, replaces that of Dr. Bontle Modisane, played by Bonnie Henna in the first season.
Phemelo is well known as the face of 'Soft 'n Free' and for her roles in Generations and One Way. Phemelo's character on Hillside is an efficient and hard working cardio-thoracic surgeon but she's hiding something about herself.
She is a scientist and dedicated surgeon, but she has a creative side that is demonstrated in her paintings and by an apparent ability to predict the future.
Supporting leads include Mmabatho Mogomotsi, Lebohang Elephant, Jannes Eiselen, Warona Seane, Boitumelo 'Chuck' Shisana, Molefi Monaisa and Kedibone Tholo.
Supporting actors include Rika Sennett, Abigail Kubeka, Jolene Martin, Connie Mfuku and Wayne van Rooyen. Many of the new actors in the Hillside line-up were sourced from the State Theatre in Pretoria.
Production
The first season of Hillside was shot at the newly-built Pretoria Academic Hospital before it became operational, but since that hospital is now fully functional a new location had to be found for Season 2.
The Meulmed Medi-Clinic on Pretorius Street in Pretoria/Tshwane, part of the Medi-Clinic group of hospitals, came to the rescue. The old administration area in the hospital was moved into premises next door and the Hillside design team under the direction of Mmamitse Thibedi moved in to completely tear down the area and build up the set, which comprised an emergency reception and casualty treatment rooms.
The Meulmed Medi-Clinic also supplied offices and most importantly access to their intensive care ward, operating theatre and limited access to corridors and some other areas of the hospital.
Filming took place over 15 very intensive weeks from October 1st 2007 to the end of January 2008.
Hillside is filmed primarily in Tswana, Sesotho, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans (60-80%), with some use of languages such as English (20%), Venda and Tsonga.
Crew
Creators
Aubrey Sekhabi, Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom and Itumeleng Motsikoe
Executive Producers
Aubrey Sekhabi and David Max Brown
Producer
David Max Brown
Line Producers
Thandeka Zwana, Thandiwe Gaobepe
Commissioning Editor
Nirvana Singh
Head Writers
Paul Slabolepszy and Aubrey Sekhabi
Writers
Chisanga Kabinga, Julie Hall, Darryl Evans Fuchs, Frank Lamour and Bongi Ndaba
Script Editor
Julie Hall
Lead Directors
Tony Kgoroge and Vincent Moloi
Director of Photography
Merlin van Staden
Production Design
Mmamitse Thibedi
Camera Team
Vincent de Jaager, Donne Rundle and Wongama Sibeko
Assistant Director
Emile Smith
Editors
Greg Catell, Khethiwe Ncgobo and Kofi Zwana
Chief Medical Advisor
Dr. Martin Mpe
Set Medical Advisor
Sister Magda Swart
Broadcast Notes
Season 2 contains 26 episodes. The first 13 aired on SABC2 from 4 March to 27 May, 2008, before the season went on hiatus. It resumed with Episode 14 on 7 October, 2008.