Represent Interview: Scottnes from CoalStove
“Film makers need to do what kwaito did: mess around and wait for what feels good to you. When people like Oscar and others started kwaito they didn’t care that people called it bubble-gum, they made the music because it sounded good to them. That’s what we need to do.” Scottnes Smith Every now and then Editorista gets to meet people who simply radiate “raw talent”, drawing you to them and making you curious about the path they’re shooting along. Today we get under the skin of 23 year old Scottnes Smith, a sparkling bright flame that we met two years ago at a rather messy awards ceremony- let’s just say lots of gold tequila was quaffed to celebrate a win and Scottnes happened on the occasion and offered much support. We’re catching him on his way towards massive things, starting with his start up Coal Stove productions – make sure to check out their Off The Shelf movie nights. We give you – Scottnes! Scott, give us the short version of your backstory if you don’t mind… from birth to now, how did you find yourself where you are at?… I was born and bred in Jo’burg. I lived in Nigel for a while- way back, then moved to Eldo’s. From there my family moved to Observatory when I was about 13 where we’ve been ever since. I went to school at Sacred Heart College. Right now I’m finishing a degree in Dramatic Arts specializing in Television at Wits University. I guess that’s it. How do you define and describe your brand Coal Stove? Whats it all about? Coal Stove Pictures is based on a simple idea: South African stories need to be shared, with each other and with the world. The Coal Stove is the place where we share our stories. It gives fire, warmth and maybe cooks a little pap! We wanna help South Africans reach out to each other through all our stories. Tell us about the Off the Shelf events .. what’s the inspiration, what can your clientele expect? Off the Shelf is a place where people can come and enjoy SA films. We show short films from around the country and internationally. Most of the work is by students at film schools though not exclusively. Off the Shelf is an opportunity for filmmakers to get their work shown. There’s no point in having films gathering dust in our cupboards. People make films to be seen. We give them that chance. For people who are not necessarily filmmakers though, Off the Shelf is a place to just enjoy being at the movies but with a distinctly SA flava....
Aiybo! Phuza’d K-Ci lets the ladies down.
Sounds like Keith Sweat was the knight in shining armour that saved what could have been a disastrous Ladies Day concert thanks to the shameful drunken/drugged performance of K-Ci and JoJo, although Ginuwine did his part too to keep the concert on the up. By the way losers, we do have newspapers, tv and internet in “Aaafrica” and your poor treatment of your African fans will not go unchallenged. Thanks to Linda for representin’! As I watched K-Ci and JoJo’s performance at the Women’s Day concert on Wednesday night, I was fuming, already planning what I was going to write about the ridiculous farce of an act the Hailey brothers were putting on. I was also cursing the crime situation at concerts because out of fear of being robbed of my new sleek new phone which takes such lovely photos, I had brought my old crappy phone. I wish I’d had a fantastic camera with me to capture the moment because I don’t think anyone who wasn’t at the concert would actually believe how poor a performance K-Ci and JoJo put on, and how drunk K-Ci was. That was all before Keith Sweat came on stage though! He was the concert’s saving grace. He was professional, organised, and daymn! still oh so sexy after all these years! But let’s talk about the first two acts first. Ginuwine is cute, and he can really dance! I’ve never been a big fan, and I only really know his popular tracks that got played on the radio, like “Pony” and umm, umm, that other one. But I enjoyed his show; he was energetic, so fine, and very entertaining. His backing singers had great voices, and there were a couple of dancers with him as well, all male – a nice break from the standard fare of booty-shaking ho’s on stage. I really liked the fact that we didn’t have to wait 30 minutes between acts; the stage management was tight. Well, actually, it’s not like there were any instruments to be moved around – Ginuwine had no band, just a DJ. K-Ci and JoJo had no band, no DJ, just a boom box. I’ve noticed that American artists tend to do this when they perform here in “the motherland”. They generally give us the budget version of the shows they put on back home. They should watch some of our local acts in concert – I’ve HHP perform with an 8-piece band; and I won’t even talk about the tight choreography of the likes of KB and the late Lebo Mathosa. American artists, we know what a good concert is; we are not fooled! I’m...
Wanna travel the world with Smirnoff?
You got to give it to ’em – Smirnoff certainly knows how to do things in style. Their latest venture, Smirnoff Ten, is an awesome concept, bringing the idea of reality tv, documentaries, travel, multi-culturalism, brand activation etc all into one powerful punch… They’re looking for ten people to spend a year partying around the world with Smirnoff – wow – the auditions are this week so hurry!!! The lucky South African that makes it will be one lucky b*stard although we’re certain travelling together with the same 10 people for a year will take it’s toll and be filled with ups and downs and lots of babelaas…. SMIRNOFF EXPERIENCE IS LOOKING FOR ONE LUCKY SOUTH AFRICAN TO TRAVEL THE WORLD FOR TWELVE MONTHS OF ORIGINAL FUN As part of its launch of Smirnoff Experience, the makers of Smirnoff announced that they are beginning a global search to recruit ten consumers who will travel the world in search of original nightlife experiences. This original initiative – dubbed The Smirnoff Ten – will select ten people from across the world who will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel together for a year re-tracing the journey of the Smirnoff brand. This adventure will be documented through short films, blogs, photos and other media. Now the search has begun for the lucky South African who will ultimately be part of the exclusive Smirnoff Ten. As part of the journey, the team of globetrotters will travel to Smirnoff Experience events around the world. The journey kicks off in Moscow at the end of September then to Shanghai in January, 2008. Paris will be the next leg of the journey with New York hosting the final event in September 2008. In addition to the cities mentioned above, the Smirnoff Ten will visit some of the world’s other exciting cities, events, festivals, bars and clubs across Asia, Europe, South Africa, Australia, North and South America. Smirnoff is seeking fresh talent who may have experience as writers, photographers, reporters, presenters, cameramen, editors or they could be any other creative individuals. Smirnoff will also be looking at people who have experience working within the nightlife industry, such as mixologists, DJs, promoters – essentially those people who can navigate their way into any party or club anywhere in the world. The South African search begins on August 9, 2007 at Durban’s De la Soul and then its off to Cape Town on August 11 at Blush Lounge in Greenpoint. Joburg consumers can attend the auditions at Capitol in Rosebank on August 17 and 18, 2007. The auditions will run from noon to 19h00 in each city and are open...
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...
Represent Review: Niemand/Lonehill Estate
Representah John went to check out Niemand and Lonehill Estate at Carnival City – the bottom line is the same old story guys, we need to support our hard-working and superbly talented artists more – let’s get behind them and attend as many shows as we can. This is what Represent is all about so let’s Represent! Here’s Johns words, Sharpile!: I don’t know what the issue is, marketing, the fans or winter? Twice I’ve gone to see a show at Carnival City, first the Carnival Pops, and now the Niemand show – and both times the venue was almost empty. I really feel for the excellent performers on stage having to play to almost empty halls. Friday night’s show by Niemand really lived up to it’s name as almost no one pitched to see the show. That said, the show was brilliant. Niemand is one of the best acts I’ve ever seen on the local scene and were it not for the awkward seating arrangements, we would have been dancing and rocking violently. They delivered what I expected and more. The highlight of the show though, was the opening act – Lonehill Estate. Wow ! These young guys are playing at a level only seen in seasoned performers. Why they opened for Niemand is beyond me because they deserve their own show. The front man Nathan Ro has an incredible voice and it helps that he is a born performer. He presented the songs in a funny, sometimes sad and always most entertaining manner. He has the charisma of a dictator on stage yet will stun you when he and the band do an ad-libbed song, with words and themes – including musical keys – from the audience. He is a REAL “Soutie” and yet he enthralled the small crowd with his take of an Afrikaans song. The rest of the band, The President (well deserved name) and Sunshine D, is VERY capable but the base player, Gabriel Craig, stunned us. The guy is so versatile – after playing base for a few songs he switched to piano, penny whistle and the flute. Wow – what a talent! The show gets full marks – it’s entertaining – a bit loud so leave the old folks at home – and tickled our feet which left us wanting for space to dance. Come on everyone! This kind of talent deserves better support all...
Represent Review: Fall Out Boy
Fall out who? Editorista asked (she’s a jazzy hiphopping kinda girl)… *blush* ….”FALL OUT BOY” she was informed, firmly educated by many of their adoring Jozi fans. Thanks to Mike, our own private rockstar in the making, who checked out one of the hottest rock acts on the planet on behalf of all Representers on Friday night at the Dome: The two-hour traffic jam caused by the masses of cars headed for The Coca-Cola Dome and the broken down truck on Hans Strijdom all added to the anticipation for the Fall Out Boy concert on Friday. Getting into the venue was a similar story as the constant flow of people clogged a jam-packed entrance. The crowds were hyped up and ready for action while the opening bands showed their stuff. The proudly South African sounds included the likes of Love Jones, Harris Tweed and Fever Tree. The lights at long last all darken as the crowd’s electric energy, caused by the anticipation of everyone about to see their all time favourite boy band live, cuts through the air The quartet appears onstage to an enormous scream from what seemed like the whole of Johannesburg. Completely ignoring the crowd, they form a little group around the drum kit for a quick wish of good luck and possibly a traditional handshake. They break into an energetic song brand new off their new album “Infinity on a high”. The lead guitarist/singer blows us away with his great vocal skills, a true show of a talented song writer and band leader. The bass player Pete Wentz (evidently the favourite band member to the crowd as he received the biggest applause) takes first prize for performance with the drummer coming a close second. The lead singer, being as humble as he is, enjoyed playing the gig and did everything perfectly. The Bassist being a hunky guy with some earth-shattering good looks, clearly enjoys showing them off – maybe a little too much. Being the first person to speak to the crowds, his arrogant nature shines through clearly. When describing his take on South African culture he blatantly mocked the power cuts and bad taxi drivers of Jo’burg, hardly a good idea to relate to the crowd and create a good atmosphere. The majority of the crowd was so infatuated with his dashing good looks they miss the not so nice remarks about “South African culture”. Besides the wack attitude from one member in the band the performance was the best I’ve seen since The Offspring’s performance in 2004. Hopefully next time around the attitudes will be more...
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