Netflix, World-Famous internet entertainment service, has started production on its second original African series, Blood & Water, a coming of age, mystery drama based in Cape Town

Blood & Water will be directed by one of South Africa’s most recognisable black female directors, award winning Nosipho Dumisa and produced by Gambit Films led by Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer as producers, with Daryne Joshua & Travis Taute as co-directors and writers and Simon Beesley as lead editor.

The series will include a line-up of fresh, talented young cast including two newcomers as the female leads. Blood & Water follows the exploits of the intelligent yet spontaneous 16 year-old, Puleng Khumalo played by Ama Qamata as she investigates the cold case of her abducted-at-birth older sister. In the search Puleng meets beautiful, alluring Fikile “Fiks” Bhele from nearby private school, played by Khosi Ngema starring in her debut role. Joining the female leads is Thabang Molaba playing Karabo ‘KB’ Molapo, resident bad boy and high school heart throb who is struggling to live up to his father’s high expectations. In her on-going search Puleng finds an ally and assistant investigator in Wade, played by Dillon Windvogel, while also having to handle the opinionated Wendy Dlamini, who at times is a bit too ‘woke’, played by Natasha Thahane.

Talking to the casting process, Director Nosipho Dumisa, said ‘Blood & Water presented us with the opportunity to bring a mixture of fresh new faces alongside seasoned actors. After seeing hundreds of actors and newcomers from both Cape Town and Johannesburg, we’re excited to be a part of opening up the industry.’

Completing the diverse cast are Gail Mabalane, Sello Maake, Arno Greef, Ryle De Morny, Getmore Sithole, Xolile Tshabalala, Sandi Schultz, Monique Rockman and Cindy Mahlangu.

The series is expected to launch globally on Netflix, in 190 countries, in 2020.

The post Blood & Water – Another Original African Production by Netflix appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Competition this year for the coveted nomination to represent South Africa was intense. This is a remarkable achievement for Daryne Joshua’s first feature film. The Producers, David Max Brown and Moshidi Motshegwa and their partners who supported the financing of the film at the NFVF, kykNET, Mnet and the distributor Ster Kinekor Entertainment, are absolutely thrilled with this news and are proud that the film deserved the accolade and confident that it will earn the Academy’s further nomination.

To date the film has been seen by over 32 000 people in South Africa.  “Noem My Skollie’s  great Box Office performance has now been crowned with the nomination as South Africa’s entry into the Oscars, we are extremely proud to have been part of getting this amazing film on to SA screens and are excited about the continued potential in our market and on the global stage”, says Mario Dos Santos, Chief Executive Officer –  Ster Kinekor Entertainment.

“Noem My Skollie has been a project close to our hearts and M-Net and kykNET are incredibly proud of every single person who has brought this authentic South African story to life,” says Jan du Plessis, Director: M-Net Channels. “What makes it even more special, is that this moving film is the work of a first time director and that the story is rooted in the true-life experiences of the screenwriter. It’s a film the world needs to see.”

The film tells the story of a young man in 1960’s Cape Town who ends up in jail and barters his skills as a storyteller in order to avoid being forced into the number gangs. It is based on the life of the scriptwriter John W. Fredericks who is now 70 years old. This is a heart-lifting story of redemption that sends the audience on an action filled roller coaster with a massive emotional impact. It is a film that delves with great authenticity into the culture of the coloured people of the Western Cape but it is a film for all South Africans to enjoy regardless of colour, creed or language.

“I dreamed the impossible dream. Deep inside my heart I knew that Skollie is going to make an impact! When I was 70 years old I was blessed with a replica of the OSCAR which takes centre stage on my desk. I manifested this!”  John W Fredericks (Writer).

Stage and Screen wishes Noem My Skollie nothing but the best for the Oscars.

The post Noem My Skollie – SA's Official entry to the 2017 Academy Awards appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Deur Hanri Wondergem

Van die eerste oomblik af vang dié rolprent jou aandag vas, dit skok jou en roer die hartsnare. Geskoei op die lewensverhaal van die skrywer, John W. Fredericks speel Noem My Skollie af op die Kaapse Vlakte in die 1960’s.

Noem My Skollie neem jou van die Kaapse Vlakte, na Polsmoor-gevangenis en terug na die Kaapse vlakte – maar geen moeite is ontsien om die realiteit van die grusame gebeure van die plek en die tyd by die gehoor uit te bring nie.

Vier tieners, AB (Austin Rose) en sy makkers, Gimba (Ethan Patton), Gif (Joshua Vraagdom) en Shorty (Valentino de Klerk) word groot in swaar omstandighede wat gekenmerk word deur armoede, bendes en die geweld wat daarmee gepaard gaan.  Ten spyte van die versoekings, probeer die vier vriende om die lewe van ‘n bendelid vry te spring. ‘n Traumatiese ervaring swaai egter AB se kop in ‘n ander rigting en hy en sy makkers stig hulle eie bende. Die besluit word geneem om hulself te beskerm. Die tieners word soos bloedbroers en pleeg misdade, maar van ‘n minder ernstige aard.  Die lang arm van die gereg is egter iets wat hulle nie kan vryspring nie.

‘n Ouer AB (Dann-Jacques Mouton) en Gimba (Gantane Kusch) beland agter die tralies van Polsmoor.

Dis hier waar die genadelose tronklewe die twee beetpak. AB is ‘n talentvolle storieverteller en span die talent in om die gevangenes te vermaak en so ook homself te beskerm. Gimba kies egter ‘n heel ander roete om sy eie veiligheid te verseker…

En na twee jaar moet die twee manne terug na die Kaapse Vlakte waar die lewe aangaan soos voorheen.

Gehore kan met rede uitsien na die regisseur, Daryne Joshua se eerste probeerslag wat die lewe van die jeugdiges uitbeeld op ‘n realistiese manier wat nog nooit van tevore gedoen is nie.

‘n Hartroerende verhaal wat die veggees van die mens in moeilike omstandighede uitbeeld. Dit is onstellend maar sonder enige twyfel die kyk werd.

Ander akteurs wat hulle verskyning in Noem my Skollie maak, is Gershwin Mias as die ouer Shorty, Christian Bennet as die ouer Gif, David Manual as die skollie himself, Gums. Abduraghmaan Admas as Mr C, en Tarryn Wyngaard as die roos onder die dorings, Jenny. Die ondersteunende rolle onder andere word vertolk deur Charlton George, Jill Levenberg, Sandi Schultz, Andre Roothman, Paul du Toit.

Prys gaan ook aan die kreatiewe span, wat so ‘n produksie op die silwerdoek laat realiser. Met ‘n uitstekende draaiboek van Fredericks, grypenswaardige regie deur Joshua, is daar ook die inspirerende klankbaan van die internasionaal erkende Kyle Shepherd wat die prentjie vervolmaak. Die puik passende tema-lied, word gesing deur mede-akteur, Hemelbesem.

Niks is volmaak nie, maar dit is ‘n rolprent wat so ampertjies ‘n 10 uit 10 verdien. Noem my Skollie is eg Suid-Afrikaans, en begin draai in teaters landwyd,k op 2 September 2016.

The post Noem My Skollie appeared first on Stage and Screen.