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M-Net Literary Award winners

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On 31 July at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, pay-TV broadcaster M-Net paid tribute to five South African novels in its M-Net Literary Awards. The novels are Plaasmoord; Small Moving Parts; Santa Gamka; Ga di mphelele! (Let Them Live for Me!); and Iingada zibuyile endle (Wildcats have Come Home).

Karin Brynard’s Plaasmoord was judged as having the most potential for adaptation into a screenplay and won the Film Category prize. Plaasmoord is set against the backdrop of a small town on the outskirts of the Great Kalahari. On one level, a spine-chilling plot unfolds, centered around a gruesome double murder, while on another level the author provides unique insight into a rural society in the grip of change. The murderer is exposed by the changes sweeping through the town, changes which also bring to light the avarice and greed with which everything in society is cloaked.

The judges felt that Brynard had brought something new to the table of the murder mystery genre, mixing history and extraordinary insight into contemporary society to produce a quite intoxicating novel.

Jan du Plessis, Director: Content Strategy at M-Net, felt that Plaasmoord had vivid texture, which could be transferred to the silver screen. “We were blessed with some great books this year, many of which would have worked well as screenplays,’ he says. “Plaasmoord stood out from the pack because of the richness of its characters and the way the author brought new life to the murder mystery genre’.

The winner of the English Category was Sally-Ann Murray’s Small Moving Parts, recognised by the judges for its lush textures of language and minutely-observed narration. The judges said of Small Moving Parts: ‘Seldom has any piece of South African writing in English rendered the bildungsroman form with such lyrical beauty and complexity, combining both the imaginative and the real, in ways that are unique and outstanding. Detailed it may be, but if the devil is to be found in the detail, the detail surely also harbours redemption. There are so many examples of little things remembered, things that are common to the essence of being South Africans – the small parts make up a wondrous whole. Small Moving Parts is about the fabric of society and the fabric of a mind, life in South Africa and life itself.’

Winner of the Afrikaans Category was Eben Venter for Santa Gamka. The judges felt that Santa Gamka had all the hallmarks of a worthy winner of the M-Net Literary Awards because of its innovative use of language, in the same vein as pervious winners Marlene van Niekerk (Agaat) and Etienne van Heerden (30 Nagte in Amsterdam).

With a touch that remains light despite the often-desperate circumstances of the inhabitants of the town of Bethesda, the reader is taken on a journey by an attractive 21-one year-old rent-boy who grew up in the heart of the Karoo. Here the impact of the "new" South Africa has not been felt, apart from cosmetic changes. His hometown remains a place of contrasts. It is a place where you could well find yourself in a potter’s oven with only seven minutes to live if you’re not careful. Santa Gamka is a rich testament to an equally rich imagination.
 
The 2010 M-Net Literary Awards also recognised winners in two of the African Language categories – Sotho and Nguni. Debutant novelist Mokhale Machitela scooped the Sotho prize for Ga di mphelele! (Let Them Live for Me!), written in Sepedi. The judges praised Machitela for his tale of thwarted passion and murder most foul that kept them glued to their seats: “The author touches on relevant issues such as infidelity and the impact of cultural beliefs in modern society. The language is rich and powerful, laced with idiomatic expressions and humour to soften the blows. Ga di mphelele! is based on the notion that all human beings have shortcomings that affect their lives, none more so than the main character who spends most of his life trying to correct his mistakes, while simultaneously making even worse decisions – with devastating consequences.’

The winner in the Nguni category is a political allegory about the emergence of our rainbow nation, written in isiXhosa. The prize was awarded to Professor Peter Mtuze for his novel Iingada zibuyile endle (Wildcats have Come Home). The judges lauded it for introducing a bold new strain in African-language literary tradition. Iingada zibuyile endle provides an acute reflection indicative of issues of readership, thematic explorations, aesthetics and a range of issues which link African-language writing in South Africa with African writing practices in the rest of the continent and in the African diaspora. “The novel is written with sensitivity and pathos, introducing various animal characters to present an all-encompassing plot. The author, deftly weaving allegory, humour and satire, succeeds in showing how the characters grappled with one another in a South African political landscape with all its unpredictability.’

M-Net’s new talent search

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Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net has announced Young Stars, its new talent search devoted to seeking out the country’s hottest young performers. M-Net Young Stars has been added as a new element of Market Day, the youth-oriented entrepreneurial contest run by M-Net’s children’s channel, KTV.

As with KTV Market Day, children must be between the ages of six and 15 to enter M-Net Young Stars – whether in groups or individually. More information can be accessed from www.ktv.co.za/marketday and from the regional coordinators.
Kids who progress beyond the audition stage will perform at KTV Market Day in their region on 4 September. On the day, the five regional judges will choose their top individual and top group performers in their area.

Performances will be filmed and broadcast on KTV Power edition as part of a special M-Net Young Stars show. Viewers will vote, contestants will be eliminated each week – and on 9 October, when the Top 2 perform live on the Power Edition, the judges will award the winner R20 000.

M-Net gets knitting

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M-Net’s Palesa Xorile


Gogo Magic knitworkers

Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net has teamed up with the Gogo Trust (a social brand and registered Charitable Trust) to create an initiative whereby underprivileged South African grannies (or “gogos’) are knitting beanies for impoverished children and also for sale to the 2010 Fifa World Cup public.

Beanies are being knitted in the colours of the South Africa flag as well as in the colours of the other competing World Cup nations. The Gogo Magic team will travel to World Cup host cities ahead of matches and deliver beanies to communities in Soweto, Rustenburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban and Cape Town.

Gogo Magic has been created under M-Net’s CSI (Corporate Social Investment) banner, M-Net Cares. Thus far the initiative has created job opportunities for 550 grannies (from Meadowlands, Thembisa, Vosloorus and Polokwane) and some 10,000 days of work. Every beanie purchased by the public will create a day’s work for the grannies.

This CSI partnership was officially launched at a function held on 3 June in Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch, which saw approximately 60 grannies hard at work in a knitting circle.

M-Net CSI manager Palesa Xorile said that the project came about when M-Net was approached by Mike Walker of the Gogo Trust. “We were looking for worthy projects and Gogo certainly fit the bill. There’s a beautiful story behind it – it was started by white grannies who then invited black grannies to join in. We liked the fact that Gogo was creating jobs and that it was also attracting ladies who didn’t need jobs but who wanted to contribute.

“After the World Cup we’re hoping to diversify into other woolen items. We’ve also aligned Gogo Magic to the Breast Cancer project and have done pink beanies for them. So there are different initiatives that we can align with. CSI is very important to M-Net because government has a huge job to do in terms of development initiatives and corporates need to step in and help.’

M-Net Marketing director Koo Govender described Gogo Magic as a heart-warming initiative. “We’re very proud to be associated with Gogo as it creates jobs and transfers skills across race and age. Plus, most of the beanies will go to underprivileged kids. As M-Net we would like to thank the Gogo Trust for this wonderful initiative. So far 14,000 beanies have been knitted. Our target is 19,000.’ 

With the motto “Every stitch counts’, Gogo Trust founder Mike Walker paid tribute to the people within the organisation ie. the “knitworkers’. “I started the initiative with my granny and it grew and grew. Without M-Net’s wonderful support we would never have been able to create Gogo Magic. I would like everyone to spread the word about Gogo Magic – that we’re not just a fluffy concept but that we’re actually making a difference.’

M-Net is sponsoring the launch of the Gogo range of knitted goods in select retail outlets and via “pop-up stores’ in corporate foyers and malls.

For more information visit www.gogoknit.org or www.mnetcorporate.com.

New M-Net local content channel

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Commencing 12 July, South African pay-TV broadcaster M-Net will launch a new local content channel with a strong entertainment focus. Mzansi Magic will be available to MultiChoice subscribers on DStv Select, DStv Compact and DStv Premium.

The channel’s diverse content procurement strategy will provide a solid basis for existing and emerging South African producers and filmmakers to engage M-Net in the licensing and production of local content.

According to Yolisa Phahle, channel director for Mzansi Magic, M-Net aims to play its part in stimulating the growth and development of the industry in a sustainable way. “With this channel we want to engage producers and explore possibilities beyond traditional commissioning models. In partnership with South African filmmakers, we will seek to empower emerging talent to produce compelling content with local and universal appeal, but also to ensure that key skills are transferred to the industry.’

Among other things, the channel will introduce to television the uniquely South African low budget film genre nicknamed “bubblegum cinema’. It will broadcast comedy hits such as Moruti wa tsotsi and Madhluphuthu, which have only been available on DVD to limited audiences.

The channel will offer a diverse content mix, including local and international feature films, music specials, documentaries and soapies. Says programme manager Lebone Maema: “Subscribers will be treated to a host of new local programmes which will premiere on Mzansi Magic. These include interactive talk shows hosted by new and established television and radio personalities’.

Phahle adds. “This channel has been shaped through dialogue with some of the our most successful actors, musicians, comedians and it is a privilege to be involved with an initiative that will promote local content both in South Africa and globally.”

M-Net literacy project

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Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net’s Literary Awards have launched the Naledi Initiative which will boost literary rates among South African children. In its pilot phase the project will see over 300 children in Gauteng receive specialised literacy training from 3 May to 4 July.

The Naledi Initiative is an M-Net Cares project and is a partnership between the M-Net Literary Awards and the Readers society of South Africa. It is endorsed by the Department of Education.

The children will participate in a course known as Dynamic English Level 1 Basic, facilitated by established education training services provider Triple E Training. The course focuses on the development of phonic skills in learners – developing listening skills, focusing on the sounds of the language, and associating the sounds with letters to identify words so that they can be reproduced in written form.

M-Net Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications Koo Govender feels that Naledi has the potential to grow exponentially. “The focus area of the Naledi Initiative is equipping children with basic literacy skills via fun, interactive projects. Through this we hope to inspire a life-long love of reading in children and go on to develop a nation with excellent literacy skills. The children are obviously the future of the country and M-Net would like to give them every opportunity to be a success.’

Each group of children at the five schools (Motheo Foundation School –  Lawley, Zakariyya Park Combined School – Zakariyya Park, Olifantsvlei Primary School – Eikenhof, Elethu Themba Public School – Eikenhof and Lawley Primary School – Lawley) will then receive five weeks of literacy training – a total of 25 hours per learner across five lessons per week. The classes are tailored, based on an age-appropriate pre-assessment and learning style analysis of each child, which will give the facilitator information to map out the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, enabling them to focus the activities. The Triple E Training program also includes remedial methodologies and includes activities which draw on the child’s experience, while encouraging fantasy and play.

At the end of the program, an assessment will be completed for each child – should they have achieved their objectives, they will receive a certificate at a fun graduation ceremony on 7 July, along with a book, kindly sponsored by Penguin Books and Pan Macmillan.

Palesa Xorile, CSI Manager at M-Net, praises the Department of Education for their willing assistance in identifying schools which needed help. “The Department has been a great help in targeting schools to participate in Naledi in its first year,’ she says. “Now we look forward to working with the Department to grow the initiative beyond these schools from next year and inspire South African children to read, improve their communication skills and teach them analytical and critical thinking. M-Net understands the value of education, which is why we are contributing towards making a difference through our Naledi Childrens’ Literacy Project’.

David Ferreira, Operations Director of the Readers Society of South Africa, couldn’t be happier about the Naledi Initiative. “I’m thrilled about the fact that this campaign will contribute richly to the lives of hundreds of children. Reading isn’t only a necessary skill in today’s society, it enriches our lives, and feeds the soul. That is why the Readers Society exists – to instill a passion for reading in South Africa, and to ensure the literacy education of children across the country. And with the knowledgeable guidance of the Department of Education, Naledi has developed into something that glimmers!’ he says.

New M-Net show delayed a week

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The 13-part original South Africa reality format, Way of the Warrior, will start broadcasting a week later than scheduled on M-Net Action (Channel 106 on DStv), on Monday, 22 February at 6pm.

According to M-Net Action’s Channel Manager, Khosi Khanyile, the delay is due to the fact that M-Net is not 100% satisfied with the final first episode product.  “We believe Way of the Warrior has the potential to become a signature show for the channel. Therefore we want our viewers to be hooked from the start and have worked around the clock to ensure that the format translates perfectly onto screen. We have given the production company [Gathered Moss Productions] another week’s grace to deliver a first episode that will set the scene for episodes to come.’

M-Net acquires new 3-D Barbar series

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The new 3-D animated television series Babar And The Adventures Of Badoufrom Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana Enterprises has been sold to a number of global broadcasters including M-Net. Sales for the first 26 episodes (52 x 11 minutes) have recently been finalized with:

  • Disney Channel in Italy and Spain
  • Sveriges Television AB (Barnkanalen) in Sweden
  • TV2 in Norway
  • YLE 2 in Finland
  • Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR1 and Digital DR) in Denmark
  • Societe Radio–Canada (SRC) in French Canada
  • M-Net in South Africa
  • KM Productions in The Middle East

 

Babar And The Adventures Of Badou introduces King Babar’s eight-year-old grandson, Badou, along with a cast of colourful new characters including Zawadi the zebra and Chiku the monkey, in an updated version of the classic series. The show is a Canada-France co-production from Nelvana Studio and TeamTO, in association with The Clifford Ross Company.

The series is set to launch on France’s TF1 in Fall 2010/Spring 2011. Playhouse Disney France is pre-buying the series to air as a second broadcast window. It will debut in North America on Corus Entertainment’s YTV in Canada.

Nelvana Enterprises and The Clifford Ross Company will oversee the merchandise licensing for the property and have appointed TF1 Licences as the representative agent in France and other European territories such as Belgium and The Netherlands. The Babar literary character celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2011.

M-Net VUKA! Awards Winners

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The three big winners at the M-Net VUKA! Awards for public service announcements (PSAs), announced on 25 November at The Bassline in Newtown, Johannesburg, were “Conflict Diamonds’ (Best Overall PSA – Professional), “Moses’ (Best Overall PSA – Newcomer) and “It’s Getting Hot In There’ (Best Overall PSA – The Contenders).

“Conflict Diamonds’, directed by Grant De Souza, scooped five of the eight awards in the Professional category. Directed by Jonty Fine, “It’s Getting Hot In There’ also won Best Concept and Best Use of Humour in The Contenders category. “Moses’, directed by Alan Shelley won six awards in the Newcomer category.

Prior to the announcement of the winners, M-Net CEO Patricia Scholtemeyer said the social relevance of the VUKAS! encourages M-Net to take these awards to greater heights. “VUKA! is an important part of M-Net’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme under the umbrella of “M-Net Cares’. Tonight we honour the advertising industry for their contribution to social change and for shedding light on the country’s voiceless.

“Desiree Markgraaff of The Bomb, the coordinator of the awards, estimates that the VUKA! brand is worth R500m if you combine the production, post-production and air time value of all the PSAs entered into the competition. But the true value of the brand is priceless. The strength of the VUKAS! is rooted in the advertising industry’s passion. We’re associated this year with Cannes Lions as the winner of The Contenders category will attend Cannes Lions next year. We thank CineMARK for screening the finalists in cinemas. Earlier this year we launched the Hall of Fame in M-Net’s foyer in Randburg where the winners of the Professional category will be showcased. Winners in the Newcomer category will be awarded valuable internships in the industry.’

M-Net took ownership of the VUKAS! from partners MultiChoice in 2007. The VUKAS! have a two-fold function: serving as a platform to reward and nurture South Africa’s filmmaking talent while simultaneously providing vital exposure to social causes and charities via PSAsS.

“Conflict Diamonds’ was conceived by Young & Rubicam Cape Town, in association with Blue Panther films and directed by Grant de Souza. Produced on behalf of the African Diamond Council, “Conflict Diamonds’ is a hard-hitting PSA which perfectly illustrates the human cost to the underground diamond trade. “Conflict Diamonds’ scooped 5 of the 8 awards up for grabs in the category: Best Overall, Best Concept, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design / Original Music and Best Editing – and also claimed a spot in the newly-established M-Net VUKA! Hall of Fame. A permanent installation at M-Net’s Randburg headquarters, the Hall of Fame houses tapestries representing the concepts behind each winning PSA alongside a video loop of the work itself.

“21st Birthday’, entered by Lowe Bull Cape Town, produced by Velocity Films and directed by Anton Visser for the Industry Association For Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA) picked up awards for Best Direction and Best Script. The 3-part series of PSA’s which also include “Sports Day’ and “Roadblock’ illustrates the heart-wrenching effects of alcoholism in everyday life.

“Experiment’, entered by Adrian Bergoff and Garreth Bird, who co-directed for Filament Film on behalf of the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre won the Best Animation award for its intelligent use of modern and concise animation in conveying its serious message.

The Contender category Best Overall winner, “It’s Getting Hot In Here’ by Taryn Scher and Renier Zandberg with Ogilvy SA, directed by Jonty Fine, on behalf of Oxfam Global Warming, takes a humorous look at the serious topic of global warming and delivers a knockout message with finesse. “It’s Getting Hot In Here’ also took the awards for Best Concept and Best Use of Humour in the Contender category.

Two members of the team behind “It’s Getting Hot In Here’ receive automatic entry into the Cannes Young Lions challenge in June 2010, where they will network with and compete against the world’s finest young creative talent in the creative world’s most prestigious grassroots showcase. Their trip is facilitated by Cinemark and the team will have all their expenses paid by M-Net.

“Silent Killer’ directed by Grant Paul Roy for Silver Bullet Productions, on behalf of Heart & Stroke Foundation SA, picked up the Best Cinematography award.
The Newcomer category was dominated by “Moses’, which picked up 6 of the 9 awards on offer including Best Overall, Best Direction, Best Script, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design / Original Music and Best Editing. Entered and directed by Alan Shelley from City Varsity Cape Town on behalf of the St Kizito Children’s Programme, “Moses’ uses biblical references to illustrate the cause of unwanted children.

Other winners in the Newcomer category were: “The Last Piece’ (Best Concept) by Oli Payne of Vega Durban, directed by Paige Sanders on behalf of SA Guide Dogs, “A Home for Every Heart’ (Best Animation) by Vega Durban, directed by Chris McNabb, Sharleen Hollick and Brendon Celine on behalf of the Thokomala Orphan Care Organisation and a special mention in the Best Use of Humour category for “An Empty Conversation’ by Big Fish, directed by Themba Nkabinde for READ.

The teams behind the Newcomer Category finalists will be offered hand-picked internships at top creative and production houses in South Africa which will allow them to gain first-hand experience in real world scenarios, allowing their talent to flourish. They will be supported during their internships with limited financial assistance from M-Net.

M-Net Director of Corporate & Marketing Communication, Koo Govender, said that both M-Net and the judging panel were enthralled by the quality and volume of submissions in 2009, which saw more than 110 entries for the Awards. “The future of the South African film and creative industry is bright and we look forward sharing its development,’ she said. “The M-Net VUKA! Awards will continue to both inspire the industry and grow in parallel with it – and we wait in anticipation to see the magnificent heights it is sure to attain with the participation of such talented people, be they newcomers, contenders or professionals’.

M-Net Channel Scoops International Award

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In a first for South African television, pay-TV broadcaster M-Net has won a HOT BIRD™ TV Award, in the Fiction category, for its Action channel. The announcement was made at a Gala event held in Venice, Italy on 20 November.

More than 150 channels from 20 countries entered the competition. M-Net Action beat out strong competition from FOX Retro, an Italian channel, and Tele Klub, a channel from the Russian Federation.

The HOT BIRD™ TV Awards is an annual event which celebrates the development and viewing experience of television channels across the world by highlighting excellence and innovation in thematic satellite television. Created in 1998 by Eutelsat, Europe’s leading satellite operator, this prestigious competition aims to draw attention to quality thematic television productions, new concepts that capture audience attention and enrich viewing experience.

Genre Channels Manager Khosi Khanyile said: “This was the first time that M-Net had entered any of its channels into the awards and it’s a great honour for the M-Net Action channel to be recognised on such a grand scale. We look forward to entering more M-Net channels into the HOT BIRD TV Awards next year.’

First local weekly series on M-Net Series channel

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Absolute Woman, hosted by Metro FM radio personality Melanie Bala, is to be the first ever local weekly series on M-Net Series (channel 110 on DStv), debuting on 6 January 2010. The M-Net Series channel is normally associated with top class international series.

Described as a “stylish, sexy, sophisticated talk show celebrating the quintessential woman of today’, Absolute Woman will be shot in studio with an intimate audience and will include relevant, topical issues. This will include interviews with inspirational, iconic South African women; inserts with women from all walks of life speaking their mind; and demonstrations in studio – from Botox injections to pole dancing and cooking tricks.

Head of M-Net’s Genre Channels, Khosi Khanyile, says this new show is tailor-made for the dynamic women who tune into M-Net Series: “It’s for women, by women, about women, but steering away from any of the negativity that so many of us get trapped in, in today’s age and culture. We will celebrate all things that make us women tick and will bring excitement, laughter, tears, tips, information and real life stories to your screen.’

Bala adds: “Absolute Woman speaks to me and where I am in my life now. I am an information junkie, I love reading and am very curious about why people do the things they do. I’m also a little bit of a feminist, and love to challenge the status quo when it comes to how women are seen in the world. This platform offers the opportunity to share information, learn more about something you might not know too much about and accept all women, as they are, flaws and all.’

Currently a news anchor and contributor on The Avenue with Glen and Unathi on Metro FM, Bala started working on radio as a researcher for then Bophuthatswana Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Bop). This allowed her to mingle with a mixture of musicians. Her first exposure to a radio talk show came in 2004, on Metro FM, in which she interviewed prominent politicians, businesspeople and newsmakers.

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