Sony’s Earth F.C., a formidable team to be on
Sony is stepping up to the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) plate with the launch of their impressive campaign “Earth F.C.” , a major social investment initiative anchored around the FIFA World Cup Football tournament taking place in South Africa in less than 3 months (woopee!) … let’s not forget Sony is lucky enough to be an ‘official partner’. We’ve had a look at their offering and we must say we approve, it’s creative, well thought through, meaningful, through-the-line and at the same time fun. Good job Sony. Represent! The campaign is made up of three main elements, first, the “Public Viewing in Africa”, a series of awesome public screening areas planned for the colourful West African countries of Ghana and Cameroon (both qualifying countries) where access to TV is limited but soccer is everything. “Sony employees have teamed up with UNDP, JICA and local NGOs [so] our caravan of vehicles can move around the country, setting up big screens in public places like village squares and schools. The live broadcasts will primarily be for matches involving African teams.” Sony have also incorporated an HIV/Aids education drive into the program, offering ‘education, counseling and testing can be offered before the matches and at halftime’. ‘A trial run co-sponsored with JICA in Ghana last year delivered impressive results: 7,200 people took part in the event (five times the normal JICA figure in rural areas) with 1,100 of them getting tested for HIV test (3 times the normal figure). Clearly this approach can increase the reach of HIV/AIDS education.’ JICA and GHANA you can also read more about the Ghana trials here. The second prong consists of a bunch (1000) of ‘ highly durable yet environmentally conscious vegetable-based Join the Team plastic footballs‘ that have been designed by Sony’s engineers with the aim of creating robust footballs suitable for the African terrain and conditions. Sony is hoping to get a million clicks – with every 1000 clicks a ball will be donated. It’s simple, go here and click on Join the Team and play some virtual soccer ball passing around the globe (FYI we were pass number 9359 and 9 balls so far have been donated (it’s the 1st of April 2010)… ) The third part of the program is a little closer to our hearts, as it’s about giving out 15000 tickets to South African kids between the ages of 12 and 15 who would otherwise never be able to afford the matches, we’re not sure how they’re managing this but they will be transporting and looking after them and of course dressing them in specially designed Sony bandanas 😉 There’s...
Represent Review: So you think you can Dance
We’re delighted that some of Represent’s fabulara dancer friends: David Matamela, Thabiso, Megan and Elizma are all getting their go on telly, it’s about time these tireless hard-slogging dancers got a glamourous platform to shake their booties, it’s a nice change from the bread-and-butter corporate work they have to do, although they do it so superbly. So… The Matrix was on TV!! Yes, yours truly and the legendary Agent Katz have been mingling with the visual media people again… See Agent Katz’s photostory of the night as well as lots of close-up backstage pics here, and read all about the live TV event below: Saturday 27 September 2008, The Standardbank Arena – Ellis Park Sports Precinct. Many a follower and busloads of family and friendly supporters turned out in their droves for the live, SABC 1 broadcast of the riveting Teen pop-culture dance competition: So You Think You Can Dance. There’s just something awesome about attending a live event, for starters, while the repertoire of choreographic work is kept at bear-minimum levels, the adrenaline rush in the live environment is forever pumping, ensuring that you miss none of the breath- taking content. This being a family and teens targeted programme, the event coordinator found himself with a mammoth of a task at hand – painstakingly trying to regulate the loud screams and vibrant young energies transcending into the arena (p.s we were trained like Seals in a series of very important drills: when to scream, shout, clap and boo… I wonder if they purposefully ignored training us on how to spot the cue for when to shed a tear at some of the beautiful and emotion-evoking scenes, captivatingly portrayed live on the expansive and well designed stage). Like in other true pop-culture show which has managed to survive the long and treacherous transatlantic journey to land on our ‘color tubes’, a team of villains posing as ‘Duke and his Duchess’ style personalities made-up the expert panel of Judges…Such a snooty bunch this lot!! Professional Choreographer: David Matsamela, Professional Choreographer: Ms Didi Moses, Professional and International Choreographer: Harold van Buuren. AND NOW THE PERFORMING ARTS… Those of us who grew up with square eyes from being glued to the indoor square box would surely confess to loving YO-TV (The former version with the Dodo costumed dude who famously exclaimed: Ma’ Cousins!!!) , for many of us the sole purpose of watching was to feed our secret affection of the super-styling babe: Sade! Well, I can confess that she’s still as fly and confident as ever! Iyoh, Iyoh, Iyoh!!!! The 14 amazingly talented contestants with elastic-like flexibility were grouped in pairs...
Wisen UP! Don’t believe the BULLSHIT
Not only can you watch some really entertaining TV, but you can also OPEN your minds, WAKE up, stand up … for your rights as intelligent thinking, questioning human beings. Oh! and take your brains out of the category of ‘bullshit baffles brains.’ Bonus. We can’t get enough of the Penn & Teller series Bullshit that reveals so much about all the crapiola, lies and nonsense in the world that MOST people just suck up and live by. It’s obviously a highly cynical and overtly realist/pessimistic approach to many hot topics that make us tick, BUT we kinda like it as a lot of it is based on scientific and logical intelligence. Some of it is a bit of a stretch, but damn, it’s entertaining. Fact is, we’re tired of humans getting ripped off by unscrupulous bullshitting others. Oh, and be prepared to blush as you recognise your own gullibility in certain episodes – well, at least now you can QUESTION things a bit more instead of believing everything you’re told to believe…or at least carry on believing knowing the kind of choice you have made. What a welcome media approach in this world filled with so much Bullshit. Our only question is, once you’ve got rid of all the soft and curly cotton wool comfort zones that keep us going everyday, gives us a ‘life’ framework or optimistically guides us forth… (aka bullshit), what’s left to believe in? What’s the point? Answers welcome! If you prefer making informed choices, decisions and knowing everything about everything… find out the truth here by watching some of the hilarious but fascinating free Bullshit episodes online – AND STOP stop STOP giving your money, precious time, happiness, intelligence, talent and skill away to greedy liars… It’s harsh, there’s really bad language and horrible truths, but you really should watch it and wisen...
Nice Idea SABC3!
We’re suprised that SABC 3 is sticking to the oh-so-90s continuity presenter format, but at least they’re trying a fresh approach – the presenters will sport up-and-coming young designers creations in April giving them a brilliant (and much needed) opportunity to flaunt their work to the nation. Nice idea. Let’s hope they can carry it off better than some of their announcements. SABC3 viewers will soon witness their favourite continuity presenters looking poised to take the catwalk by storm, when they go on air sporting creations by new upcoming young South African designers. Announcing the exciting new development at Audi Joburg Fashion Week, organisers African Fashion International (AFI) confirmed they have inked an agreement with SABC3 that will see young designers from previously disadvantaged backgrounds showcasing their wares to the more than seven million viewers who regularly tune in to the channel. For an initial period of six months from the beginning of April, the presenters – Zinzi Zungu, Thuli Zulu, Liezel van der Westhuizen, Dennis Tau and Jason Greer – will wear innovative homegrown creations that are certain to complement the channel’s aspirational identity and add a sprinkling of glamour to prime-time...
HHP on your screens (again.)
To say that Jabba is a star is an understatement, just listening to his song JIVA brings home just how much talent this superstar oozes – keep watching HHP as everything he touches turns to gold. We’re your biggest fans. As of Friday April 4, South Africa’s top Hip Hop MC, Jabu Tsambo aka Hip Hop Pantsula, joins e.tv’s prime time drama, Rhythm City, in a starring role – as himself – for 11 episodes. This is the rapper (and dancer of note) HHP’s acting debut in a daily TV series, so he is understandably nervous. “It’s absolutely amazing to be integrated into a show I watch on a regular basis. I like the free flow of characters on the show, and the dialogue freedom they are given. It just seems so natural. My role on Rhythm City is challenging because I have to act myself, but I am looking forward to the experience,” says HHP. Here’s how it all begins: New rival venue, The Hotplate, launches its opening night with HHP as the headline act. KO Sports Palace owner, Fats (Mpho Molepo), claims to know the star from back in the day – and proves it by leading our star to home territory, namely, The Kilowatt Club, for an after party. Suffocate (Mduduzi Mabaso) saves the day – and HHP – when an attempt is made to steal the star’s swanky car. The former gangster, now owner of The Kilowatt, sends the carjackers packing, leaving HHP extremely impressed with our thug-made-good’s street sharps. The band of boys begins a series of peculiar adventures when Suffocate and Fats take HHP on a private township tour – a visit that would never, ever, be legally available to your average sightseer. They introduce him to shady characters (like Special and Toolkit), and their favourite hangouts. HHP is so inspired by these escapades that he will attempt to record an album reflecting Soweto’s hardcore city image. Suffocate and Fats start having secret dreams of changing their careers. Enter HHP’s irate manager, played by Zolisa Xaluva. A deal will be struck and there’ll be cause for celebrations. Until the incident that threatens to put everybody’s music career on hold. Most of the episodes HHP appears in will be filmed in Soweto, where The Kilowatt and The Hotplate are situated. The drama’s cast members include some of South Africa’s top entertainers, such as Kelly Khumalo, KB, and Pam Andrews. “We are very excited to have HHP in Rhythm City. His appearance illustrates a storyline that will provide viewers with an intimate glimpse of the unpredictable side of the music industry. There was no one...
Proudly brought to you by:
