New on SABC2 in January 2008:
Truth About Food
Premiere date: Friday 4 January, 2008 at 21h00
The Truth About Food is a science series that attempts to answer the questions and bust the myths we hear about the food we eat every day. Witness convincing proof of the incredible and sometimes shocking effect of food on the inner workings of your body.
Each episode covers a specific area of everyday life and contains a number of individual films testing out one food or food type and what it does to you, such as the effect of soy on balding, and blueberries on memory. A group of characters are also followed over several months as they make major diet changes, with headline grabbing results.
Thanks to these revelations, you'll discover not only how to become thinner and healthier, but how to influence everything from your mood and fertility to your sex appeal and competitive edge - and even your lifespan through the power of food.
Riemvasmaak (4-part SA Mini-Series)
Premiere date: Tuesday, 15 January at 19h30
Portia Joel & Ceagan Arendse
Riemvasmaak is the first of four new SA Mini-Series that will run from January to April, 2008.
Set in the early seventies Riemvasmaak is the story of an exodus of a people from their beloved land. The forced removal of the community from land they had lived on for many generations leads one Riemvasmaker, Jaco Allemans, to define and redefine himself as a man; his initial defiance gives way to despair, loss and the eventual rediscovery of a more mature self and his role as a leader of his people.
History Of Rienmvasmaak
Riemvasmaak is an isolated area 56 kilometers from Kakamas bordering the Orange River to the south and Namibia to the west. Amongst other things, it's known for its hot spring and the dramatic beauty of the red, stony mountains surrounding it.
Its history dates from the turn of the twentieth century, specifically 1933, when permission was given to settle on Riemvasmaak. Different ethnic groups formed (and still form) the Riemvasmaak community, namely Xhosas, the people from Damara, Nama and Herero origin, as well as pastoralists. They all lived in harmony and spoke Afrikaans as their lingua franca and in many cases, as their home language.
In terms of the apartheid policy of the former SA government the people of Riemvasmaak were forcibly removed in 1973 and 1974. Those of Xhosa origin were moved to the former Ciskei, those of Damara, Nama and Herero origin were moved to Namibia.
The removals were brutal as their houses were torched to assure there was nothing for them to return to. In Namibia and the Ciskei the people were treated with open hostility by the communities already living there. They suffered many other hardships including illness due to different climatic conditions and their livestock being eaten by wild animals.
In February 1994, the government decided to give Riemvasmaak back to its original residents. As one of the first land restitution projects under the democratic dispensation, it was launched as a presidential project and had a high political profile. But the removals left bitter memories, especially under the older members, and the community had to start from scratch.
The Mini-Series
The story of this Mini-Series is based on recent history that has already captured the public imagination. However, the removals is only the backdrop for a universal human drama of courage, love, loss and renewal.
Rebelliousness and obstinacy are character traits of Jaco Allemans, but when the injustice of forced removal faces the Riemvasmakers, Jaco’s rebelliousness gains a political focus.
Jaco protests openly when the community is told it will be forcibly removed. He defines himself as a Riemvasmaker and refuses to leave the land. His courage in standing up to the white authorities wins him the respect and love of Trina Hendriks, the love of his life.
His refusal to leave the land leads to him being arrested more than once. Even Trina begging him to come with her and her family to Namibia cannot sway him; he is too passionately tied to the land.
Too proud or obstinate to accept defeat/reality he stays alone on Riemvasmaak, seperated from his love, his family and his community, which leads to continuing and escalating loss.
When he does finally give in and leaves for the Eastern Cape, he loses his identity as a Riemvasmaker and with it his self-respect. He then painfully reconstructs his life by finding financial security, but more importantly, his place in the community; a leader who takes on the government in a legal battle to get Riemvasmaak back.
Casting
Producer Margaret Goldsmid held auditions in Johannesburg, Cape Town and in Kakamas and Riemvasmaak in the Northern Cape in order to find the young actors to portray Jaco Allemans and Trina Hendriks.
One of her, producer/director Peter Goldsmid and director Xoli Norman’s main concerns were to bring exciting, new talent to the screen - they all felt it would add to the authenticity of the series.
Portia Joel & Errol Schwartz
The series introduces Errol Schwartz as Jaco Allemans. Errol studied acting at the University of Tshwane and graduated in 2006 as one of the top students in his year. Errol comes from Kakamas (the town closest to Riemvasmaak). This and his father being of Nama origin deepens his understanding of his character and story.
Trina Hendriks is being portrayed by Portia Joel, daughter of the veteran Cedwyn Joel. Portia is known for her role as Randi Adams in Generations and for having presenting Curious Culture on SABC 2.
Other newcomers are Chris Madjiet as Jaco’s father, Ceagan Arendse as Trina’s teenage brother and Jeremy September as Kabou, the passionate SWAPO freedom fighter.
Other actors who appear in the series include Denise Newman, Ben Kruger, Richard van der Westhuizen, Duncan Johnson, Esmeralda Bhil and Nazli George.
Research
In their wish to gain as much insight as possible into the lives of the Riemvasmakers producers Margaret and Peter Goldsmid recorded nine hours of interviews with prominent members of the community. They also had access to the files of the Legal Resources Centre, who helped them fight their land restitution case. Scores of affidavids by Riemvasmakers affected by the removals amplified the story telling.
The script was written by Peter Goldsmid and Xoli Norman and translated by published Northern Cape writer, Elias Nel.
The series was filmed on location in Riemvasmaak, Kakamas in the Northern Cape and in Welcomewood near King Williamstown in the Eastern Cape.
The Backyard Shorts
Premiere date: Monday, 28 January - time to be confirmed
The Backyard Shorts is a series of South African short films made by young animators. The films are being showcased in cinemas countrywide from 7 December to mid-February 2008 and are being shown on SABC2.
Behind this initiative are Executive Producers Isabelle Rorke and Dumisani Gumbi, the founders of Anamazing and the creators of the Animation Production Training Initiative (APTI).
“APTI is a groundbreaking training and production platform for emerging talent that is kick-starting an innovative era of animation in South Africa,” says Rorke. “The five animated films – part of a series of 13 are proof of this.”
Rorke says that while the local animation industry is small, it has huge potential to be developed in terms of technical ability and creative integrity in both traditional and digital media.
“We need to be ready to participate in the global animation industry's forecasted growth of over US$75 billion in the near future,” she adds. “APTI aims to help grow the local industry so that we can become internationally competitive. The five films, which are of outstanding quality and demonstrate both talent and creativity, show that it is indeed possible to broaden our base of animators and create opportunities for industry growth.”
The five films: The Culprit, Kwait Ou’s Big Hit, Bhovas and Sam, Blunder Hunter, and Snail Trail were produced by a core team that included writing mentors Penelope Middleboe and Martin Lamb from UK company Right Angle, and animation mentor Allan Cameron, a specialist with many years experience in animation.
APTI, which launched the Backyard Shorts project in November 2007, has succeeded in training 13 writers into animation scriptwriters, training 8 directors, training 10 previously disadvantaged animators, one production manager and one IT manager while producing a total of 13 five-minute animated short films.
“The stories are uniquely South Africa and draw on characters and situations that are familiar to us,” says Gumbi. “They represent a major step forward in the creation of an animation style that is truly South African.”
The Backyard Shorts have been screening in selected Ster Kinekor cinemas that have digital projectors.
Info about the films:
The Culprit
Accusations fly when it is discovered that someone is eating the leaves off the precious plants. Jose, the water pipe, and the Chameleon take up the investigation and on their way to solving it, Chameleon shows Jose how to enjoy the smaller details of life and not always hurry are along too fast.
Kwait Ou’s Big Hit
As the dwarf mongoose will have to learn, the stakes are high if you want to be contender in the boxing championships - and what you wish for as your reward for success might not be what you thought it was.
Bhovas and Sam
Can an old dog learn a new trick? In this tale of regeneration that celebrates the wonder of life two old dogs do learn some new tricks!
Blunder Hunter
Zzup, the desperately hungry mosquito, convinces Zzoo to hunt for more food, by pandering to Zzoo’s vanity. Hunter, the human, has prepared for battle too. This is an epic battle between a human and two mosquitoes who want their fill.
Snail Trail
Snails in a dank back corner of a garden have nothing but a compost heap to feed on. But Shelldon aims for something better – a leaf perhaps. He sees a beautiful mulberry tree reflected in a bottle and sets off to find it.
Land Of Thirst (3-part mini-series)
Premiere date: Tuesday, 29 January at 1930
Land of Thirst is a 3-part South African miniseries. A historical romance set in the Karoo in 1913, the series is a love story about two people far ahead of their time, caught in the crosscurrents of emergent South Africa.
Margaret leaves England and moves to Africa for the treatment of tuberculosis while Khanyiso goes to South Africa search of his African roots. Romance flourishes between them in the Karoo – but can they keep their love alive in such a hostile world?
In the premiere episode:
It is 1913 when Margaret Harding and Khanyiso Phalo independently leave England and travel to South Africa. Margaret seeks treatment for her tuberculosis at a sanatorium in the dry air of the Karoo. Khanyiso is the son of a Xhosa chief who was imprisoned on Robben Island some 20 years before. He was taken as a young teenager to London by the British colonial powers where he trained as a medical doctor.
Now Khanyiso has returned to his Xhosa village to find out what happened to his father and to serve his people. Margaret moves into a decrepit sanatorium run by the alcoholic Dr Jakes and his mean-spirited wife, with a few other TB patients from England. Khanyiso is forced to stay in a brothel after every single guesthouse turns him away because he's a black man who speaks the Queen’s English.
Khanyiso and Margaret meet on their arrival at the Karoo train station and discover that they have a lot in common. Young Paul, an Afrikaans farm boy who has dreams of being a sculptor, acts as their go-between in arranging secret meetings because their relationship across the colour line is unacceptable to white society. Khanyiso and Margaret fall passionately in love, but this is a love that puts them both at risk for their lives.
The notorious South African “Natives Land Act” is about to be passed by the white-run parliament and Khanyiso is drawn into his people’s struggle for their ancestral land. He is accused of sedition by the police who try to hunt him down, so he's forced to leave his people and his beloved Margaret, and go into hiding.
Strictly Come Dancing
Premiere date: Thursday, 31 January at 19h30
Eight more South African celebrities dance to be crowned King or Queen of the dance floor in SABC2’s new season of Strictly Come Dancing.
The season follows the same format as the third season with a one hour dance competition between 19h30 and 20h30 followed by a one hour break, and thereafter a half hour results show where the contestant with the lowest score gets sent home.
Here's a listing of the celebrities dancing in the season:
SCD4 Cast.