Some 120 entries have been received for the 2012 M-Net TAG Awards for public service announcements (PSAs) produced in aid of worthy charities in the Newcomer, Professional and TAG 10 categories. The PSAs are specifically for television or cinema.
Winners will be announced in Johannesburg on 4 December (venue to be confirmed).
TAG (Television Awards for Good) falls under the M-Net Cares banner, which forms part of the pay-TV broadcaster’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategy. The awards were previously known as the Vuka! Awards.
Last year M-Net introduced the TAG 10 category which provides a platform for young “wannabees’ to break into the industry. TAG 10 matches teams of young and up-and-coming copywriters, art directors, producers and directors to highly-skilled professionals who are willing to share their expertise through the different phases of creating powerful and effective PSAs.
According to Palesa Xorile, M-Net CSI manager, the uptake on this category has been slow.
“We think it is due to the current economic climate,’ she explains. “Individuals and companies do not seem to have the extra resources needed to produce the PSAs. This category has a big prize – a trip to the 2013 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the makers of the winning PSA.’
Because M-Net is invested in developing young filmmaking talent, particularly among historically disadvantaged South Africans, training workshops were held during the year for TAG Awards entrants.
“In total we held seven workshops in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. We also held two extra workshops for ischool Africa. The workshops went very well and the turnout was great. Our participants left the workshop inspired and motivated to do their PSA,’ notes Xorile.
The judges for the 2012 M-Net TAG Awards are Glen James, Clinton Bridgeford, Vuyani Plata, Peter Carr, Andrew Traill, Rob Wilson, Adam Thal, Thabang Moleya, Cindy Lee, Alun Richards, John Culverwell, Gerd Muller, Teboho Mahlatsi and Dylan Lloyd.
Johannesburg-based production company The Bomb Shelter is producing the awards event.
The winning PSAs will be screened across all M-Net channels.
Screen Africa magazine – November / December 2012
