Canadian Movie @ the Alliance
Movie buffs and those of you interested in the French language and culture, make sure to catch the screening of Canadian Oscar-winning (Best Foreign Language 2004) movie Les Invasions Barbares. More on the film at IMDB and see the synopsis below – free entry. Les Invasions Barbares Fri 10 August 2007 6pm Language: French – English subtitles Not suitable for persons under the age of 16 years Free entrance Venue: Alliance Française of Johannesburg 17 Lower Park Drive corner Kerry Road Parkview (opposite Zoo Lake) For more information: 011 646 1169 culture.jhb@alliance.org.za Les invasions barbares Rémy, divorced, in his early fifties, is hospitalized. His ex-wife Louise immediately asks their son Sébastien, now enjoying a successful career in London, to come home. Sébastien hesitates; after all, he and his father haven’t had much to say to one another in years. He relents, however, and flies to Montréal with his French fiancée. Upon his arrival, Sébastien stops at nothing to obtain a clear picture of his father’s state of health and help make things easier for him during the difficult times ahead. He uses his wits, cajoles his family and friends, shakes up the system and even resorts to bribery in order to bring a greater measure of comfort – and happiness – to his father’s life. In the meantime, relatives, friends and lovers stop by Rémy’s bedside to offer their support, settle their accounts… and reflect on their own lives. Seventeen years later, the decline of the american empire continues… Rémy, divorcé, la cinquantaine, est à l’hôpital. Son ex-femme Louise rappelle d’urgence leur fils Sébastien, installé à Londres. Ce dernier hésite, son père et lui n’ont plus rien à se dire depuis longtemps. Finalement, il accepte de revenir à Montréal pour aider sa mère et soutenir son père. Dès son arrivée, Sébastien remue ciel et terre, joue de ses relations, bouscule le système de toutes les manières possibles pour adoucir les épreuves qui attendent Rémy. Il ramène aussi au chevet de Rémy la joyeuse bande qui a marqué son passé : parents, amis et anciennes maîtresses. Que sont-ils devenus à l’heure des “invasions barbares” ? L’irrévérence, l’amitié et la truculence sont-elles toujours au rendez-vous ? L’humour, l’épicurisme, le désir peuplent-ils toujours leurs rêves ? A l’heure des invasions barbares, le déclin de l’empire américain...
Tay Zonday the new Youtube Star
We’re not sure what it is about this guy that has given him his iconic mass appeal, but the world’s going crazy over Tay Zonday’s monotone songs on YouTube “Chocolate Rain” and “Internet Dream”… The video’s are simple talking heads and shoulders, the songs are cheesy with bad repetitive casio keyboard sounding backtracks – maybe it’s his nerdy look and deep baritone voice? Tay Zonday is a 25 year old geeky grad student from Minnesota who’s life is no doubt about to change as nearly 4 million people (and climbing) watch his tacky videos with catchy but damn awful lyrics. The YouTube snowball has everyone and their dog doing their own takes on the songs, watch this space for another internet eye-opener. While we prefer the Internet Dream lyrics and sound, check out the hit Chocolate rain here: ...
Representing in Phalaborwa!
So many of us are not from Jozi. In fact many of us are from everywhere but here: drawn to the gold rush, the vibe, the work opportunities… searching for success and a ‘piece of the good pie’ that our wonderful adopted city of Joburg generously offers us. But there’s nothing like going home to your town, kasi, village or street, nostalgia flooding your being at the emotions of remembering where you are from and how far you have come since you left for the big lights. Our writer Reuben “The Matrix” Malema paints exactly this scenario as he takes us through his visit to his hometown of Phalaborwa in Limpopo to attend the Cell C/Ghetto Ruff/Zola event on the weekend. Thanks for reminding us of how good it feels to make a triumphant return. Bring on the holidays. See our photos here. On Saturday 28/07/2007 the Palamine Club – Namakgale – Phalaborwa (My Origins and Home base!!!), had its wide-open grounds teeming with bodies all out in full force and well adorned – partly in support of a charitable good cause and partly in a quest for an exhilarating night out. For me and the ‘Jus Dat’ entourage, the night and fun started way before the official proceedings took centre stage as our convoy conglomerated at the Malepe residence in Namakgale (Di – 12 !!), a place all too familiar to me. In a very emotional way the setting evoked images of my childhood days in a juxtaposed collage of memorabilia against my now triumphant return to my Origins (The warm feeling really defies words and any attempt to express these emotions). At 18:00, hazards flashing, our convoy took to the streets in a presidential-like parade with all routes leading to Palamine Club. Our entry through the VIP access point was indeed a very momentous occasion which got even Big Vic (one part of Jus Dat`s management and Executive production duo) in a near tear-jerking moment as in his own words: “We left home in search of greater opportunities in Johannesburg and now Palamine Club is paying homage to our achievements!” – If I never cried right there and then, I knew i`ll never cry that night ever again, because his words were not just his own, but sentiments shared intimately by many of us from Limpopo who’ve undertaken the same search for success in the Highveld of gold down south! Hence the emotional gratitude and heartfelt tribute to Big Vic and Tumelo Mailula`s success (Re a Thekga Bakone!). The tight security venue was embellished with red and white, clearly symbolic of Cell-C`s corporate identity. At 19:00 Phalaborwa’s star Radio personality: DJ Eddie Crooks handed the stage over to one local star...
CT Theatre of Magic coming to Jozi
You know how we occasionally ponder over why CT’s venues, experiences and general taste can outdo Jozi’s time and again? It’s our pondering and we’re sticking with it. Anyway, moan no more. Cape Town brings us the much desired Madame Zingara’s Spiegelpaleis tent and all the bells and whistles as the “Theatre of dreams” slides into Jozi – and it’s yours for the taking! It’s apparently a fantastical, magical, experiential break from the norm…we’ll be at opening night and let you know if the hype is on point. Events companies take note ! 🙂 New venue! Bookings open today. We decided to see what CT bloggers had to say about it, here’s PurpleRonnies take: The tent itself is something amazing to behold. It is huge. It seats around the outside of it in excess of 300 people. It has a stage at the back, a dj, a dance floor/stage in the middle and stained glass windows made in the 1920s and imported specially. The atmosphere was one of excitement and fun and not a little bit of silliness. The waiters and waitresses were all also dressed in various fun, silly or sexy outfits and this just really added to the whole effect. The performances were incredible and the highlight of my evening. The hostess was wonderfully funny, charming and sexy; and had a sultry, silky singing voice. We saw clowns, jugglers, singers, dancers and the like. But the amazing part consisted of three performers who I still drop my jaw at when I picture it in my mind. They suspended themselves from the ceiling using rings, ropes and other dangerously exciting things and suspended and contorted themselves in the most unimaginable ways….. And the official PR: The Theatre Of Dreams comes to The City Of Gold There is a legend that dates back to 1920, one of such grandeur and splendour that she will enchant all who pass through her seductive doors. The Theatre of Dreams is one of only a handful left in the world today. Like every old theatre, her spirit travels with her, woven into ballooning velvet canopies, merry go round dance floors and stained cut-glass windows. Her intimate booths, ornate bar and bevelled mirror columns hold a million secrets, while her glorious chandeliers hang above. The history of these Spiegelpaleis tents dates back to the 1920s when the tents were built to entertain patrons after WWI and were designed to travel across Europe to small villages where no entertainment was available. They have immense history, mystique and beauty to them and hold myriads of secrets in the mirrors and wood walls. Sell out shows across the world bear testament to their...
Represent Shesha: VUKA! call for entries
We urged you last year and we urge you again in the rapidly disappearing 007. If you want a chance to show your work as a director to the industry at large, the Vuka’s certainly give you a platform to do that. Now we’re not going to nag you, you know who you are, all Representah’s who are already directing or still dream of directing, make it happen! Find your charity partner and make that public service announcement. We look forward to seeing your name on the finalist’s list. You know you can do it! You got about 7 weeks – entries close the 20 Oct so get a move on brothers and sisters with vision, determination and talent. Represent! Every year, without fail, South African film makers dare to make PSA’s about important issues to enter into the MultiChoice VUKA! Awards. This year we dare you to do it again. Entries for the 9th annual MultiChoice VUKA! Awards have just opened. You don’t have to try hard to avoid reality. We live behind high walls, electric fences. Our car windows are up, doors locked. The MultiChoice VUKA! Awards dare you to open your eyes. We dare you to see, to hear and to feel. We dare you to make a commercial that encourages viewers to buy into humanity and not a product. We dare you to put your heart on your sleeve and move people. Come on, we dare you. If you cast your eyes over a list of the people who have dared to make MultiChoice VUKA! Awards it reads like a South African filmmakers guide to Who’s who. Luminaries like Keith Rose, Miles Goodall, Sunu Gonera, Cindy Lee, Kevin Fitzgerald, Mike Middleton, Werner Maritz, Sergio and Lizelle Mes pop out at you. Whether they initially entered as newcomers in the hope of launching their careers, or as professionals flexing their muscles; they all hold some things in common; the daring, the drive and the determination to be successful in this industry. “The MultiChoice VUKA! Awards aims to encourage South Africans to focus beyond the lens, creating empathy, inspiring action, building national pride and, ultimately, generating income and awareness for the charities”, says Marilyn Watson, corporate communications manager, MultiChoice. You can hear the same note of daring in the voices of last year’s winners. Best Overall Newcomer winner, Leon Von Solms says that participating in the MultiChoice VUKA! Awards gave him the confidence and the affirmation he needed to continue following his dream. Best Newcomer Director Matthew Bilton says creating a MultiChoice VUKA! is a rite of passage for any young filmmaker because it gives you a strong understanding of the production...
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