Well, another week has flown by and Dr. SOTHA has filed yet another Africa-AICN report with Father Geek here at Geek Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Like always he has all the info for what ailes you film fans of Northern Africa, South Africa, and even African TV. And as usual he includes just a touch of Afro-American news for those who don't have time to search through all the General AICN news stories for such goodies, just enough to wet the appetite so those juices will get flowing and drive you to search insanely the site for its hundreds of such listings. But enough of Father Geek, here's the good doctor now...
Hi there spasm fans, DR SOTHA here for another round up of African news to
sooth those ailing creative bones. My good doctors have informed me, that
not only do they read my column before each hysterectomy, but they also have
heated debates at the watercooler about who gets to read it out loud at the
weekly (SASG) "scalpel abusers" support group. Doctors with this kind of
honesty make me go a big rubbery one. Now listen to the good doctor, because
he wants you to send all your prescriptions, symptoms, and defects to
AfricaAICN@hotmail.com
Nurse, for god's sake get out of that medicinal cabinet, we have have a
column to run.
SOUTH AFRICA
Nurse, for god's sake get out of that medicinal cabinet, we have have a
column to run.
SOUTH AFRICA
* HOLLYWOOD FILM PRODUCER LAUDS SOUTH AFRICAN STUNT CREWS Christopher Webster who produced "HELLRAISER" and "CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT" was in Cape Town recently filming "STYX", a gangster thriller starring Peter Weller (Robocop) and Bryan Brown (of FX fame). While filming STYX, Webster was impressed with the South African stunt crew. Grant Hulley, one of the stuntman, drove up a ramp,through an explosion, flipped the car 360 degrees off the breakwater in Table Harbour and then escaped from the sunken vehicle in the icy Atlantic. Roly Jansen the stuntman co-ordinator remarks " There are about 30 stuntmen and stuntwomen working in South Africa. We keep busy all the time, because there are so few of us".
* Nkonkwa Roldo has a spec on the market titled "IZIPHUKUPHU" - "The Idiots" (Not to be confused with Von Triers soft porn effort - DR. SOTHA) about a car salesman who becomes intertwined in a big heist involving lots of drugs, violence and attitude (all the ingredients for another good soft porn film - DR. SOTHA). Roldo is looking to co-finance with his own Freehouse Productions.
* Alex Scotopoulos is in pre-production on a short claymation feature about a mannequin who comes to life and discovers the poverty and crime in downtown Johannesburg. It is up to her to save the life of a young innocent abused and disparriaged by the system. He is using the finest artists Cape Town has to offer. The title is called "Plastic People" (Look out Aardman.DR. SOTHA).
* The Great Dance, a doccie feature by South African brothers Craig and Damon Foster has received a nomination for this year's WildScreen Panda Awards. WildScreen is the world's largest festival of natural history film and television. It is held biennially in Bristol, UK and will take place from 7 to 13 October. The finalist nomination at WildScreen has positioned the South African feature documentary in the top 10% of wildlife documentaries over the past two years and within the top 5% of non-British wildlife documentaries. 420 films from 40 countries were submitted to the WildScreen nominations panel. The Great Dance deals with the unique relationship between the San people, or bushmen, of the Kalahari and their environment, seen through the experience of hunting and tracking. Specially-adapted mini-cam technology andnever-before-seen footage of the death-defying 'chasing hunt' feature. The Great Dance is an Aardvark/Earthrise/Liquid Pictures/Off the Fence production co-produced with KirchMedia, e.tv and Primedia Pictures.The film will be released on the Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau circuit on 20 of October in Rosebank, Johannesburg, 1 December at the V&A Waterfront Cinema Nouveau in Cape Town and 19 January 2001 at the Brooklyn Cinema Nouveau in Pretoria.
* The new website for Sithengi, the Southern African International Film & TV Festival, is up and running. Sithengi will take place at the Spier Estate (outside Cape Town) from 13 to 16 November this year. You can now register for Sithengi on-line so visit www.sithengi.co.za . There is a series of scheduled updates and improvements to the site.
* Emerging filmmakers are invited to participate in the Molweni Township Film Festival to be held in Cape Town in September 2000 as part of the One City Festival. The organisers are calling for films which explore life in the townships. All genres are welcome. The closing date for entries is 31 August 2000. Please send VHS copies of films to 19, 35th Avenue, Elsies River, 7490. Directors are requested to send resumes and a synopsis of their films. For more info contact Ntombi or Martina on (021) 933 1514 (o/h) / 082 355 66 45 or email: martina@gem.co.za . .
* After bringing the excitement of extreme sports to moviegoers, Warren Miller Films is planning to do the same with wildlife. The company has created a joint venture agreement with Emmy-winning Wildlife Films' Dereck and Beverly Joubert to produce TV programs, live events and an educational Web site focusing on wildlife. In addition, the companies have plans to start a wildlife stock-footage business, using 250 hours of the Jouberts' acclaimed library of nature and wildlife film and photography as its core resource. "We want to apply our expertise in niche-market branding to expand our business," Warren Miller Films chairman Kurt Miller said. "Dereck and Beverly Joubert are the world's premiere wildlife filmmakers, and we see an enormous potential for building their film work into a globally recognized brand while maintaining its integrity and unique creative voice." Warren Miller Films is known primarily for its skiing-related programming, including such documentary features as "Snowriders," "Born to Ski" "Freeriders" and last year's "Fifty," which marked the company's 50th anniversary. (From the Hollywood Reporter).
* The Mel Gibson-vehicile, The Patriot, has blasted its way to the number one spot at the South African box office, displacing Mission Impossible 2. In its first week (14 - 20 July), The Patriot took R1 964 585, with MI:2 taking R1 650 910 for the same week. MI:2 has clocked up R10 578 602 since its release on 30 June. The other three films in the top five are Dinosaur, Road To Elderado and Gladiator. (Bring me "Nurse Betty", "Being John Malkovich" and "Wonder Boys" to take the reigns at the top of the BO and then I'll get excited - DR. SOTHA)
NORTH AFRICA
* Rhanda Ghanji has "EVERY WHICH WAY UP" in development. She is set to direct her own script. It revolves around a man who has realized that through sleeping around he has contracted AIDS. Through his depression, he starts hearing voices that he understands as being God himself, who tells him to sleep around with as many woman as he can, because God has chosen him to bring an end to overpopulation. (Gotta admit that's a wacky premise? - DR. SOTHA). Benin's DLUMA Films is financing.
* TWINS OF THE RAIN FOREST is a short film from Nigeria. "Rigobert Song" sent this short synopsis: "Omote and Okoro live in a rural village with their son, Oshare. A rural village waits in anticipation of the birth of Omote and Okoro's next child. When Okoro gives birth, everyone is frightened and horrified. She has given birth to twins, considered to be evil spirits by the village. According to an age-old tradition, Okoro must drown the twins. As she and her husband prepare for the ritual, their older son makes plans of his own to save his brothers and begin a new tradition. Screenplay: Albert Egbe Director: Odion P. Agboh
* Another short film from Nigeria called "A PLACE CALLED HOME" thanks to "Rigobert Song" : once again Tokunbo Daba is young, handsome and successful; the world is his oyster. That is, until he tests HIV positive. From then on, life for him becomes a battle for physical and emotional control over the debilitating implications of the diagnosis. His anger and rage make his psychotherapy sessions difficult and he refuses to allow anyone to visit him. Tokunbo shares the hospital ward with Ahmed, an A.I.D.S. patient who is in far worse physical condition. Both men have recurring nightmares in which the central theme is death. They are both lonely and afraid. However, while Tokunbo is hostile and bitter about his condition, Ahmed, though resigned to his fate, lives his life with hope, and is determined to vote in the upcoming Nigerian election before the inevitable. Inspired by Ahmed, Tokunbo slowly develops a more positive attitude and eventually turns into a symbol of hope for many. His story reinforces the fact that as long as there is life, there is a will and of course...hope. A Place Called Home was shot on location in Lagos, Nigeria.
* A film from the Democratic Republic of Congo now, released in French with English subtitles called "The Champion" from director Bakupa Kanyinda Balufu. Described as a political satire (an African "Bulworth" perhaps? - DR. SOTHA). Here's the synopsis: "A wicked political satire about African dictators, this film tells the story of the president of a fictitious African nation who spends a sleepless night playing checkers with a pot-smoking vagabond who is claimed to be the "all-around champion". However the rules of the game entail opponents howling vulgar and foul obscenities at one another. The Champion proceeds to insult, and trounce the President. His reward - and fate - are not exactly unexpected in this hilarious send-up of living under tyranny. It won at the FESPACO Film Festival for Best Short.
* Mali has something to say with a film from director Abbdoulaye Ascofaré in Songhoi (what language is this? - DR. SOTHA) with English subtitles. The synopsis is forthcoming: " Zamiatou is the mother of two quarrelsome boys and a depressed teenage girl. She is also the wife of a man arrested for political reasons who returns from prison mentally and physically destroyed. She struggles hard to survive in a poor and desolate area. She is ready to face anything to keep the family alive except prostituting her beautiful daughter. Her determination will take her far from her family. The film snagged the best actress award in the short film segment at the Cannes Film Festival 3 years ago. (Can anyone tell me if this is available at Amazon or anywhere else? - DR. SOTHA)
* The Nigerian film industry believes it has much to gain from the South African experience reports Johnny Masilela in the July issue of Screen Africa. A four-member Nigerian delegation visited SA at the end of June and consisted of the all-powerful Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (Itpan). "Our visit was first and foremost to forge alliances with industry players like M-Net and also to study South Africa's National Film and Video Foundations. We want to observe how the South Africans are exploring the film industry as an engine for democratic and economic change," said the delegation's Femi Odugbemi.
AFRICAN AMERICAN
* Lindo pulls off gem of role in Mamet's 'Heist'. Delroy Lindo ("The Cider House Rules") has joined the cast of screenwriter-director David Mamet's "The Heist" for Elie Samaha's Franchise Pictures and producer Art Linson. The project stars Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Sam Rockwell and Rebecca Pidgeon (what's a Mamet film without her? - DR. SOTHA). "Heist" revolves around a gang of jewel thieves, led by Hackman, who get together to pull off the biggest heist of their careers. Lindo plays Hackman's accomplice and best friend. Lindo, repped by WMA, most recently appeared in "Gone in 60 Seconds" and "Romeo Must Die." His other feature acting credits include "A Life Less Ordinary" (crapfest) and "Get Shorty" (good stuff) Franchise "didn't anyone know Battlefield earth was camp" Pictures is also producing the Renny Harlin-helmed "The Champs" starring Sylvester Stallone and "Angel Eyes" starring Jennifer Lopez, both of which will be distributed through Warner Bros.
* The HBO TV Movie "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," which starred and was produced by Halle Berry, was one of the leading contenders of the prime-time Emmy Awards, announced Thursday, July 20. The movie about the legendary black actress nabbed 11 nominations, including a nod for Best Television Movie, while Halle earned a nod for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. Other African Americans who earned nods include Steve Harris, of ABC's "The Practice," for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and Danny Glover, of TNT's movie "Freedom Song," for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. Oprah Winfrey also didn't do too bad in the nominations. Her ABC production "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie'' earned a nod in the Best Television Movie category. In addition, Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria brought home respectively nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for their roles in the film. The awards ceremony will air on ABC September 10.
* Chris Rock is set to star in the Paramount Pictures film "I Was Made To Love Her," which is due to hit theaters this fall. The film is a remake of Warren Beatty's 1978 film "Heaven Can Wait" and Rock tells "Essence" magazine that when he saw the movie he knew it would be a great film to feature African Americans. Rock and three writers from his award winning HBO variety show reworked "Heaven's" screenplay to make it "more urban." In addition, he changed the main character from a football player to a struggling comedian. Rock joked in the magazine, "I'm only 135 pounds, what am I going to be -- a jockey?" At any rate, the film now centers on Rock, a moonlighting bike messenger, who tries to woo a very uninterested young woman, played by Regina King ("Jerry Maguire," "Poetic Justice"). Rock goes on to say that he chose King as his leading lady because "she has a realness -- like someone from around the way (A realness, just like Pam Anderson turns in a gritty performance every week on VIP right? - DR. SOTHA)
AFRICAN COAXIAL
* A rereleased book titled ISLANDS IN CHAINS by INDRES NAIDOO was first published in 1982, and chronicles his account of 10 years on Robben Island and his liason with Nelson Mandela. With the help of Albie Sachs, he manages to convey being languished in exile in Mozambique. At the time, his book made waves on distant shores, being translated into several languages, and in then the Soviet Union, serialized in a national magazine. In 83 the book won the Martin Luther King Memorial Award in the US. A decade later a London Theater group wrote a play based on it. It has been published for the first time in South Africa and urge historians to take a gander.
* Pamela Heller Stern of Bedfordview, South Africa has been nominated for the Poet of the year 2000 Award hosted in August by the International Soceity of poets in Maryland, USA. Pamela is overjoyed at the prospect of having her work showcased on such a big stage. (Now all we need is some big investment to adapt one of the longer poems into a feature film.no really. - DR. SOTHA)
* NEW PROGRAM CALLED "BROTHERS" (that's Brothers not Big Brother folks - DR.SOTHA) gets its television premiere this week in South Africa. It revolves around the Morolong family - Maki and four sons Ofentse, Katlego, Matlho, and Tshepo. Tragedy strikes the family when the man of the house is killed in a taxi shooting. They live in Sophiatown where death and pain are often used in the same sentence. It will premiere on E-TV this week.
* Cape Town-based Suburban Films has just completed shooting a commercial in America. This is the second international commercial to be shot by director-producer team, Miles Goodall and Linda Notelovitz since the launch of Suburban Films in March this year. Through their North American representatives, Taxi Films, Suburban Films bid and did treatments via telephone conferencing with The Lord Group Young & Rubicam, New York. Upon being awarded the job - "America s Promise" - Goodall and Notelovitz travelled to America, where filming took place. Headed up by General Colin Powell, America s Promise The Alliance for Youth, is focussed on mobilising the nation to fulfill five promises to young people, viz developing ongoing relationships with caring adults, providing safe places with structured activities during non-school hours, providing a healthy start and future, as well as a marketable skill through effective education and finally, opportunities to give back through community service. This high profile commercial was shot over four days
That's it for another week folks. Monty Python got the answer right last week, there are 54 countries in Africa, 55 when Marlon Brando visits, and 56 when Marlon Brando and James Gandolfini visit together. Monty Python will watch me perform a big liposuction operation on Brando free of charge.
This weeks question, a language question if you will, How many official languages in the land of South Africa? Fairly simple.
