First Wednesday Film Club next week
Sep25

First Wednesday Film Club next week

If you love film and you still haven’t been to the First Wednesday film club (we’ve been talking about it since 2005) it’s not too late, as it’s the first of October next week and a Wednesday, so roll up to this legendary cinematic gathering: A Winter Tale, 1st OCTOBER, 7:30pm, STUDIO 4, Atlas Studios,Milpark, Johannesburg. A Winter Tale is set against the backdrop of a multicultural community’s unrealized hopes and dreams. Bitter and tragic, funny and hopeful, the film tells a uniquely Canadian story that features Toronto as a central character. International Awards2007 Tonya Lee Williams Award for Outstanding Canadian Feature Reel World Film Festival 2007 Special Mention/Outstanding Screenplay Category Reel World Film Festival 2007 Audience Award Best Feature T&T Film Festival 2008 Best Foreign Film San Diego Black Film Festival 2008 Remi Award – Best Editing Worldfest Houston Int Film Festival 2008 Award for Best Editor Zuma Film Festival 2008 Award for Best Cinematographer Zuma Film Festival 2008 Ousmane Sembene Award for Best Foreign Film Zuma Film Festival 2008  Award for Best Film Festival of Black International Cinema...

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Off the Shelf on the Rooftop of Jozi
Sep21

Off the Shelf on the Rooftop of Jozi

The crew from Coal Stove films will be having another filmfilled night in the city of Jozi at the mind-blowing Intermission space at the Private Practice venue in Bree street on the last Sunday in September. Four local SA short films will be shown – the film makers will all be on hand for questions afterwards. Get amongst! Map and more info below: SUNDAY, 28th SEPTEMBER. 6.00 PM for 6.30 PM AT PRIVATE PRACTICE NO. 195 JEPPE STREET (ENTRANCE ON BREE…See map below for directions) Featuring: “DE LA REY “, a documentary by Panayota Athanasiou on the controversial popular Afrikaans song of the same name. “UBOMI”. A community’s struggle against crime and child abduction leads them to startling self-realization. By Themba Oliphant. “DAY 7596” by Xolelwa Nhlobatsi and Carl S. Nkosi. Three best friends in their twenties are startled out of the humdrum of Coaltheir ordinary lives when one of them is tragically murdered. “ACE OF HEARTS ” by Andrew Macdonald. When a serial killer turns on the cop who is out to get him, a gripping cat and mouse chase ensues. FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH THE FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE. ENTRY R20 For more information: Call: 011 836 8911 Email Visit Coalstove. Click below for the...

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Support South African Crafters in Newtown
Sep21

Support South African Crafters in Newtown

We always feel *happy* after a Saturday in the sun in Newtown, downtown Joburg city, with all the wonderful eating spots available, the theatre, the shops, the vibe is well worth a visit: A great way to celebrate Spring and the city is to head down to The Zasekhaya Market, which takes place on Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown on Saturday 27 September from 10am. The market sets itself apart as the crafters and artists that sell at the Zasekhaya Market offer trendy and cutting edge products that range from jewellery, shoes, bags, felt animals, mirrors, accessories, clothing and visual arts. The crafters are some of the top artists in the countries and often their products are exclusive and one offs. It’s a great outing for a Saturday, safe and secure parking is available on the square and there are many restaurants nearby to provide...

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Represent Review: Road to V Launch party
Sep19

Represent Review: Road to V Launch party

Short, and oh so sweet, that’s the tone that was set at the launch party for the first ever Road to V festival thats taking place in December in South Africa. We’re hoping the heat may still be turned up artist-wise, ‘coz ever since Snoop stood us up at his Joburg concert, we’ve been sulking. He’s cool, but he’s come and gone and we think there’s fresher, edgier artists than Snoop and Maroon 5 for a brand like V. Anyway, let’s see what happens, we’re sure the party will rock either way, as every summer party does. They’re looking for South African bands for the mix – our team Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema tells us what you need to do to enter below, as well as what went down at the launch, and photographer Nkateko Siweya shares a photostory of the party with us here : Wednesday night, Melville – Johannesburg. The Brits are here in full force! Well, that’s my view of Sir Richard Branson’s Empire: The Virgin Group. In this case a division of it which resides in leafy Sandton called: Virgin Mobile. This year the Virgin conquest has its eyes firmly set on ZA. A kick-butt and cash flush team made up of Sony Ericsson, Edgars Music Series, MTV and of course, Virgin Mobile will be granting a selected few South African bands (music groups) a chance to share a huge blingin’ stage with Snoop Dogg at the (already UK and USA staged as V Festival) Road to V World Music Concert  in Johannesburg on 15th December 2008. The Catch The prospective band/s must upload an MP3 of their well made track on the Virgin mobile website  for the scrutiny of the good people at Virgin. Yes, it’s that easy and yes it’s that difficult  too, because chances are you may be amongst the selected few and chances are you might not make it at all – but then again if you do not try you may never know, right? So, go right ahead and be a good sport! Take the chance! And what a chance… The biggest prize of all is a guaranteed opportunity to perform at a sequel of the event with some of the world’s greatest musicians in the United Kingdom and the United States of America in 2009. This thrilling opportunity for South African bands to crack the extremely competitive international market was announced by Nicholas Maweni – Head of Corporate Affairs at Virgin Mobile South Africa on the night. A lot of nice to know stuff was also shared, we were blessed with good music from Jozi, KoldProduk, Cassette, Zebra &...

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Represent Review: Hype Hip Hop Awards
Sep18

Represent Review: Hype Hip Hop Awards

Is Hip Hop yesterday, today or tomorrow? Rooted in the US, but scattered all over the world where young people feel urged to stand up and wax lyrically about their lives, we believe as long as there are lyrics, dope beats and issues to be expressed, hip hop’s global appeal will continue to reign proudly. We love hip hop, and have loved it since its earliest days. We believe Hip Hop is for today and tomorrow, but like every genre of music, it’s followers won’t put up with crap… they need to be inspired and uplifted. Hip Hop must continue to explore, evolve and innovate, finding new ways to surprise, engage and entice the fans. When was the first time you fell in love with Hip-Hop? Many people remember this question from the movie Brown Sugar.  I was confronted with the same question at the Coca Cola Dome this past Sunday. The hippie and at times down right bizarre clothing aside, I had to admit that Hip-Hop is all but a part of our daily existence. So real and strong are its effects on the lives of youngsters that the atmosphere at the MTN Hype Hip-Hop Awards could have been wrongly mistaken for a runaway Guy Fox day parade in the US. Kids as young as 12 years old were fully adorned in similar apparel and brands to those of their favorite MTV Cribs personas. Look! There goes 50 Cents, Eminem and the entire west coast brotherhood! Sprite basketball hoop shooters were sweating it out to punt the decade old jingle: Obey your thirst! Whilst Skateboarders enticed my eyes in a tireless seesaw recurrence as I dearly wished I was 19 kg’s lighter, Darn McDonalds!!! This being the first ever dedicated South African Hip-Hop awards event, the budget must have been very tight as the interior decor and Hip-Hop related activities left a whole lot to be desired. Do not quote me wrongly! This was an exciting event, but the lack of the usual “bling” that is associated with all things Hip-Hop was very scarce. Perhaps roping in the right sort of sponsors would do the trick for next year’s event. Do it some proper justice, I mean… My specific qualm was with the inclusion of KFC as one of the event’s  anchor sponsors, no disrespect  to good old Colonel Saunders  and all, but KFC is all about loving family atmospheres, least of all Hip-Hop, let alone the sort of hyped up culture we see on a daily basis…A little reality please. THE AWARDS The opening of the awards ceremony was down to earth, but the Hip-Hop charged vinyl...

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