Filmmakers – just do it – without funding!
For various reasons, and not only because Editorista was hanging out in ‘film city’ Cape Town with the rest of Jozi this Krismuzi, films and how to make them seems to be highly topical. Well in our world anyway. Ed’s got friends moving to Durbs to make wildlife documentaries (lions in Durbs?), chomees in the Eastern Cape building their own crew accommodation ’cause there’s none available, Jozi film mates driving frantically round dodgy areas looking for a cheap laugh on HD and amazing travelogues being produced on a song and a prayer using 30 second still cameras (Ed will remain the originator of this one!Trademark.) So we decided to ask one half of one of our favourite film teams, CoalStove, to give us their predictions for all filmmakers in SA in 2007. Scotnes Smith, you rock! Leading Questions. There is something about leading questions that gets one so much quicker to the point then an ordinary monologue. Phrases like, “Did you have sexual relations with you secretary Mr President?” or “So you took a shower before or after the affair sir?” always get a conversation moving along swiftly. So imagine my surprise when Editorista herself dropped me a line and asked me to do an article for the glossy pages of Represent. What was surprising wasn’t that she asked, but that she asked me to do it by myself. That left me with that slightly vacant look of someone being caught enjoying a really good fart. Faced with the terrifying task of spilling my guts alone, I had better go big. Last time I was talking about an event we at Coal Stove launched last year called Off the Shelf. Its about celebrating young film talent. We hope when people leave they do so with a warm feeling that something is being done to change the face of filmmaking in South Africa. It’s something fuzzy feeling you get watching Bambi. That is not the sense you get sitting in the auditorium at the Gauteng Film Commision’s first annual Film Indaba though. Picture this: a room full of weather-beaten filmmakers, going at the throats of a group of flustered civil servants trying to explain that the ways of getting the money are complicated but do exist. Flying insults, cups of tea and the occasionally pantaloons; besides, it was a decidedly drab affair. Everyone in the room is convinced that the only way to build the local film industry is by having the government sponsor films which don’t make their money back. Here is where I get gutsy. THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER! The way to get the film industry going...
Represent Recommends: Kate Nash
Gotta love the raw accent “in’it” of chart-climbing North Londoner Kate Nash – we love her brash storytelling style of singing/talking – it’s almost like we’re listening to her diary entries being sung out live and loud. “know wot ah mean luv?” Kate Nash has something MPeople meets Sinead OConnor about her warbling when she’s in the singing parts – although her semi-spoken style is often compared to Lily Allen… Editorista has been chasing her voice down for a while now and eventually found it. Hows this for lyrics – listen to the video below : So I went to that party and everyone They were kind of arty And I was wearing this dress Because I wanted to impress But I wasn’t sure if I looked my best ‘Cause I was so nervous But I carried on regardless Strutting through each room Trying to find you And when I saw you Kissing that girl My heart it shattered And my eyes, they watered And when I tried to speak I stuttered And my friends were like whatever You’ll find someone better His eyes were way too close together And we never even liked him from the start And now he’s with that tart And I heard she done some really nasty stuff Down in the park with Michael He said she’s easy And if your guy’s with someone that’s sleazy Then he ain’t worth your time ‘Cause you deserve a real nice guy So I proceeded to get drunk and cry And lock myself in the toilets For the entire night...
Ladies get enchanted by the Quadro…
Mhh, Good looking talented Brothers in suits singing coolio harmony and opera with deeep bassey voices… ladies, this one’s for you. The Soweto Opera Quadro will be hitting the road to take their Brothers in Song show to both Johannesburg and Cape Town audiences in March and April this year, in what is set to be not merely a tour, but a tour de force. The four Soweto singers that make up the outfit – tenors Elliot Koena, Edward Mabunda and Bokang Sehau, as well as baritone Xola Mpo – are causing quite a stir in local music circles, making opera accessible to the broader public while not compromising on quality. These versatile performers are capable of wrapping their finely-tuned vocal cords around anything from jazz, opera and Broadway standards to Afro-pop, traditional music and gospel. The Soweto Opera Quadro will give two performances at the Baxter Concert Hall in Cape Town on Saturday, 1 March 2008, at 5.30pm and 8.30pm. Thereafter, they travel to London’s West End to participate in the South Africa Proud! Festival. The quartet then head back to Johannesburg to perform Brothers in Song at the UJ Arts Centre from 15 to 27 April 2008. An added treat at the concerts will be the presence of special guest Loveline Madumo, a talented soprano who also enchants audiences as a member of the celebrated Black Tie Ensemble. Musical direction for the Brothers in Song show is by Mark Cheyne, who also conducts, with staging by Trish McKenna. The concerts promise to deliver a blend of music to suit all tastes. Music-lovers can expect to hear exquisite renditions of a diverse selection of tunes by the likes of Josh Groban, Il Divo, The Beatles, George Harrison, Verdi, Johannes Kerkorrel and Nianell. Booking for all the Brothers in Song concerts is open at Computicket. The Soweto Opera Quadro is: Edward Mabunda Born in Soweto, Edward started singing at an early age. He joined a private music clinic where he studied basic performing arts and majored in voice and stage acting under Petrus Mofokeng. Edward sings a variety of music genres from traditional African music to opera. He joined Pro Musica Opera Company as understudy in 1999 and performed in Opera productions such as Verdi’s La Traviata, Rigoletto, Un Ballo in Maschera, Madam Butterfly, Tosca, La Boheme, Le Nozze di Figaro, Mahler’s Symphony No 2 and the Gounod St. Cecilia Mass. He is also a freelance soloist for SABC choristers and a founder member of The Soweto Opera Quadro. Elliot Koena Elliot is a tenor and started singing at primary school, later joining vocal teacher Petros Mofokeng as a...
Check out “Adele” – the new Amy?
What a pleasure to be soothed by a voice as sweet as Adele’s so early on in 2008, particularly when you have as high expectations for this new year as ours . Her folky poppy single Chasing Pavements has shot to the top of the UK charts, she’s already won a Brit Award and her tour is sold out within days of her new song breaking onto the airwaves. You’ve got to love the UK music scene. The super-soulful guitarist and songwriter from Souf London is only 19 years old, which means we have loads more lovely songs to come *yay* as her voice matures and she hones her style. Her bluesy vocals are reminiscent of the diva’s of neosoul: Lauryn, Alicia… and the obvious comparison would be Ms Winehouse. How refreshing that our Adele is a voluptuous, curvy gal – let’s hope she doesn’t waste away or get caught up in the pressure like mad thing Amy. Read more about Adele & her music video here here and here. Watch the video:...
“Design your Personal Life” concert online
Musicians we hope you uploaded your tracks onto the HP “Design your Personal Life” website and got everyone you know to vote for you – looks like the gorgeous, hard-working Indie/rock musician and friend of Represent Ike Moriz is shaking his touche at the top of the list… However we wait to hear who the judges choose as final winners. *ahem*. What we’re really looking forward to tho, is the simultaneous online LIVE BROADCAST of the concert from four international cities including JOZI; the other three venues are Dubai (UAE), Istanbul (Turkey) and Athens (Greece). It’s taking place on the 31 January and features the top 5 bands from the campaign – for all of you with electricity, make sure not to miss this event. More info on MIO or the HP ZA site...
Proudly brought to you by:
