On 24 January 2016, e.tv began airing a new season of their popular, local, thematic, regional documentary series. This season features distinctively unconventional stories, about dynamic people or groups of people unique to each of South Africa’s regions, but with national appeal and resonance.
“We believe that we have interesting stories about our country that need to be told… This documentary strand is also part of the channel’s commitment to develop young filmmakers across the country,” explains Monde Twala, MD, e.tv.
e.tv launched a call to action inviting local filmmakers to submit their proposals for regional documentaries. The channel then made a final selection using narrative richness and unique perspectives as the main judging criteria for each of the stories submitted. “These are incredible stories about South Africans, our rich and layered cultures, our heart, and our tenacity,” says Twala. The eight commissioned proposals were thereafter allocated a production budget and provided with guidance, where necessary, to make their film come to life onscreen. “… we want the stories to remain authentic to the filmmakers’ perspectives,” says Twala.
The new documentary slate features something to pique South Africans’ interest: Ingoma is a celebration of indigenous music through the eyes of the youth; Forging Ahead looks at how positive relationships helped springboard an underprivileged young man to work toward a better future; VenRap is about two young men who start up a digital radio station to support up-and-coming Venda hip-hop artists; Durban City Explosion celebrates the talent of Durban street performers; Ikhankatha, seeks to uncover the failures, successes and secrets of the Ikhankatha through the initiation period; Mama Notofi looks into the life of an extraordinary 74 year old, female boxing promoter in Port Elizabeth; Ukuthomba features an in depth look into Ukuthomba, a controversial initiation process proudly upheld by the Ndebele culture; Strings ventures into the life of a young, successful violin player from the Free State.
Twala stresses that with this slate of documentaries, the channel wanted to highlight the importance of owning and celebrating our stories, and our culture: “It’s important for broadcasters to show content that tells stories which resonate with audiences, content that makes South Africans proud of our heritage, and stories that remind us of the beauty of our country and its people.”
Bloemfontein resident, Charlene Stanley – a 42-year-old filmmaker from production company Storytown Productions and director of Strings – expressed her joy at having her and husband Eddie’s documentary commissioned, “For a small production company… it is quite risky to tackle any project without being commissioned by a broadcaster or a corporate client. Nowadays, it is of course quite easy to simply publish on YouTube or Vimeo for the whole world to see. But if you want to earn an income from your work, like we have to do, it’s a little more difficult,” comments Stanley. “Production costs are high, and you have to be ensured of at least covering your expenses before tackling a project. The regional documentary initiative by e.tv is really a wonderful opportunity for filmmakers like us to get our work broadcast. One wishes there were more like it.”
Strings tells the story of the young, internationally acclaimed violinist Bonolo Kgaile; it is above all a story of hope – the hope that if you dedicate yourself fully to something you love, it will ultimately open wonderful doors for you, even if it is something that’s seen as unorthodox or unusual.
Stanley expands: “The story of the Mangaung String Programme and it’s American founder, with his dream to teach township kids from the Free State the violin, was one of the first news stories we covered while we worked as TV journalists in our province… I kept track of the project’s development and of the exciting musicians it eventually produced over the years. I always thought the project’s impact, as related by someone who successfully came through it, would be a story worth telling. When I learned about Bonolo Kgaile, who is seen as one of the most promising young violinists in the country at the moment, I knew we had found an ideal case study.”
Stanely says that her biggest hope for Strings is that it will take viewers of all ages on a truly inspiring journey.
South African viewers are at a place where they are hungry to see themselves and their way of life reflected in the content they engage with, it is stories like that of Bonolo’s that make up part of our heritage: “We are at a place where we are reclaiming our culture and our stories, and it’s exciting to see this sense of self and pride manifest in different ways,” comments Twala.
“We are targeting South Africans of all ages and races. These documentaries aim to tell stories that educate, entertain and enlighten South African audiences about each other’s cultures and unique experiences!”
