Well African film fans its ol' Father Geek here along with Dr. SOTHA and Rigobert Song bringing you another edition, the 80th, of our Africa-AICN column for the end of your work week...

DR.SOTHA back for another edition of Africa-AICN. There’s a lot of projects to get excited about in the next few months- Harry Potter, LOTR, The Majestic, Vanilla Sky, Shallow Hal, ALI, and of-course Jean Claude Van Damme’s next straight to video blow out. None of these however, can rival ‘Doctor Gugenheim’s Demonizing Doctor’, an indie film produced by maverick medicinal outfit ‘Rock the Doc Films’. The (non) fictionalized film of a brilliant doctor with unconventional methods (based on my life to which I have given them my blessing) will premiere on cable channel ‘What’s up Doc’(only available in certain Islands off the coast of Bermuda) on December 25th. They are confident they will find a worldwide distributor after the ratings bonanza of the premiere.

That’s right Bermuda folks, set your recorders for 4 in the morning because ‘Doctor Gugenheim’s Demonizing Doctor’ is coming to an Island near you. For more info email me at africaaicn@hotmail.com

SOUTH AFRICA

* The acclaimed and highly controversial South African drama series, Yizo Yizo, has won a prize at the International Film and Television Festival, Cinema Tout Ecran in Geneva, Switzerland. Yizo Yizo won the Best International TV series category, competing against the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous and five other international TV series. The Jury awarded the prize to Episode 5 of Yizo Yizo, directed by Barry Berk. The episode deals with sexual relationships between teachers and female students.

* A varied and full programme is scheduled for Sithengi, The Southern African International Film & Television Market, which takes place at the Artscape Complex in Cape Town from 12 to 15 November. Among the numerous activities are the Pitching Forum Sessions, which will be attended by top overseas commissioning editors; a Film Finance and Investment Seminar; World Cinema Screening selection including Hijack Stories from South African director Oliver Schmitz; Resfest (the Global Digital Festival); African Mini INPUT; the launch of STEPS For The Future (35 films made by Southern African filmmakers about the HIV / AIDS crisis); and a conference conducted by the African Script Development Fund. For full details visit www.sithengi.co.za.

* Zone Vision, the London-based thematic channel producer and distributor has further expanded the reach of its popular Reality TV channel by signing a deal with MultiChoice Africa to launch the channel on the DStv platform in South Africa to an additional 540 000 subscribers. Covering the world's most exciting, real-life drama documentaries and fly-on-the-wall stories, the Reality TV Channel now broadcasts to 95 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Reality TV (channel no. 42 on the DStv bouquet) h! it local screens on 1 November, 2001. The channel has already proved a hit on DStv in North Africa, broadcasting 24-hours per day English language reality programming in 46 territories from Angola to Zimbabwe.

* Back by popular demand (okay it might have been a prank email) The South African Box Office: Baz Luhrman's frenetic musical deluxe offering, Moulin Rouge (Nicole Kidman / Ewan McGregor), went straight to the top of the South African box office in its first week, having clocked up R1558 391 (price of a facial in Los Angeles – DR.SOTHA.) Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz are clearly charming local audiences with the touching war-time saga (yeah right – DR.SOTHA), Captain Corelli's Mandolin, as the film is currently in second place. This is followed by American Pie 2, Animal and 15 Minutes. (All brand new, current releases…in Antarctica – DR.SOTHA)

NORTH AFRICA

* Liam Neeson is set to star in Morgan Creek Prods.' next installment of the "Exorcist" franchise, a prequel that has yet to be titled. John Frankenheimer is directing the project, which begins production in the spring in the United States, United Kingdom and Africa. The "Exorcist" prequel traces the story of Father Merrin (Neeson) back to his first encounter with the devil while doing missionary work in post-World War II Africa.

* Here’s your dose of Rigobert Song:

Hello all African film lovers. If you loved Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ album, then you’ll find that this mesmerizing documentary makes a startlingly good companion piece. The group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has achieved international recognition for their vital music and the social context of bringing a nation together. Before I can get on with the review remember to email me at rigobertsong@hotmail.com with any news, thoughts, emerging films coming out of Africa.

On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps To Freedom

-- Produced by Leelai Demoz, Eric Simonson -- Directed by Eric Simonson -- 56 minutes -- USA/South Africa

On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom tells the inspiring story of the group that introduced South African music to the world - Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Nominated for an Academy Award, this film recounts how a music affirming its deeply traditional roots has been passed down and popularized under the most hostile circumstances not only for South Africans but also for people everywhere.

Musicologists Sikhole Shange, Patrick Buthelezi and Angela Impeya trace the origins of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's music back to the oppression of the apartheid years. Zulu men, driven off their land, were forced to find jobs in the cities and mines, living in single sex hostels far from their families. To maintain contact with their homeland, they invented a kind of singing and dancing called isicathamiya, meaning "on tip toe" descended from traditional Zulu "stomping." In the city they added influences from American popular music - vaudeville, rag time, gospel, Doo Wop and rock and roll - to invent a unique musical form of resistance. Every Thursday night they staged competitions lasting into the next morning where for a few hours they could escape the depersonalization and degradation of daily life under apartheid.

Founded in 1964 under the leadership of the charismatic Joseph Shabalaba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo soon became the pre-eminent isicathamiya group in South Africa. But it wasn't until Paul Simon featured the group in his 1987 Graceland album and subsequent tour that their music became familiar to international audiences. Amazingly their hits soared to the top of the charts in both Britain and American, a unique achievement for a world music group. However when they performed with Simon in South Africa they violated the ANC's "cultural boycott." Shabalaba argues that by affirming indigenous culture and the dignity of the performers Ladysmith's music was an implicit act of defiance to the apartheid regime.

This beautifully made film follows the group from Johannesburg to London and Los Angeles performing such favorites as "Hello My Baby,""Nomathemba,""Paulina" and "Homeless." It has an unusually strong focus on the context out of which this music arose makes it an especially valuable resource for courses in ethnomusicology, African Studies and Popular Culture. It’s small wonder that it was nominated for an Academy Award when it was released. This is how the press felt about it:

"There's much historical footage, lucid chats with Paul Simon about his Graceland triumph plus a memorable all night singing contest in Durban. The mood is intimate, the sound compelling and the editing leaves audiences wanting more Mambazo." - Variety

AFRICAN AMERICAN

* Reclusive stage legends Michael Jackson and Liza Minelli are planning a movie together, according to the Peoplenews gossip website. In the wake of his new album Invincible, Jackson seems keen to return to the public eye - and his friendship with Liza may make them perfect working partners. "It's about two struggling entertainers trying to make it, ' he says. "They get turned away everywhere they go - with some of the best dancing ever. I'm not joking!" (I wish you were though – DR.SOTHA) But Jackson's increased public profile has not dented his bizarre behavior. He also insists he and Liza come from the same planet, adding, "It's called Capricious Anomaly in the Sea of Space." (Nah, I won’t even comment, it’s too easy – DR.SOTHA)

* "The Wedding Planner" helmer Adam Shankman is in negotiations to direct Steve Martin and Queen Latifah in the romantic comedy "In The House" for the Walt Disney Co. and Hyde Park Entertainment. The project is scheduled to go into production in the spring. Shankman has been in high demand since making his feature debut on the Jennifer Lopez-Matthew McConaughey starrer "The Wedding Planner." Following the romantic comedy, he directed "A Walk to Remember," starring Mandy Moore and Shane West, and has since been mulling other studio offers before settling on "Houze." Along with producer Denise DiNovi, he has received a script commitment from CBS for a fantasy dance drama project, which is one of three scripts toward a pilot commitment DiNovi has at the network. Shankman, who is set to direct the Columbia TriStar TV-set drama project, is executive producing with DiNovi from a script by Mark Christopher, the writer-director behind the film "54."

* Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard was so impressed with Will Smith’s hard work as he prepared to play Muhammed Ali, he stepped into the ring to spar with the actor. The two-time welterweight champion kept a close watch on Smith, fearing he didn't have what it took to play his pal Ali. And when Leonard's best friend Darrel Foster was signed as Smith's trainer, the ring master decided to see just how good the movie star was. He says, "Darrell trained Will for one year to transform him into a boxer, and I was truly impressed with the way he turned his body into a machine. His reward for a year's hard work was to box me for a couple of rounds. As a boxer, he's got what it takes, but he's still no Ali. Ali's persona was always unreachable. Will gets as close as anyone, but I got to know Ali and there's a certain presence around him that makes him appear to be untouchable. He's bigger than life. I said to Will, 'To portray Ali is real attitude because Ali had confidence, style a! nd skill and if you can come close to that, you're doing a great job.' Ali was bigger than boxing and I think Will understands that."

* Latina bombshell Jennifer Lopez is to co-star with Ben Affleck in a new film about a hitman. The curvy stunner will replace Halle Berry who pulled out of Gigli because of scheduling problems with X-Men 2. Lopez is expected to get $12 million for the role, her highest film fee to date. The movie tells the story of a free-spirited woman (Lopez) sent to supervise a lowly hitman (Affleck) who has kidnapped the mentally slow brother of a district attorney. Together they hold the brother hostage in an apartment and go on the run from the police, falling in love in the process. The movie will go into production next month.

* Actor Will Smith insists on the very best water on set - even if it just goes straight down the drain. According to Britain's Punch magazine, the actor had film executives tearing their hair out on the set of his latest movie ALI with his outrageous demands. After one row, crew members had to ship in gallons of expensive mineral water for rain scenes - because Will didn't want to rained on by anything else (What about Evian water? That ain’t bad to get rained on – DR.SOTHA)

* The senior pastor of Harlem's Canaan Baptist Church has chastised the Rev. Jesse Jackson for inviting television news crews into his church to cover a sermon despite an agreement not to do so. An article by Peter J. Boyer due to appear in Monday's edition of the New Yorker claims that the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker extracted a promise from Jackson to keep the service closed to the press and to show penance for fathering an illegitimate child. Instead, the article said, the service was broadcast live and Jackson never mentioned the child. In a letter to Jackson, excerpted by the New Yorker, Rev. Walker wrote: "Your addiction to the need of media attention seems to be fatal and you have fallen into the practice of using people for your advantage and personal aggrandizement."

DR.SOTHA REVO & OUT