Friday 15 April 2016

FILM REVIEW: London Has Fallen

What I'm about to say may most probably leave a bad taste in the mouths of many, but please allow me to go on this rant: who ever told Gerald Butler that he could be an action superstar is the biggest liar there ever was! They sold dreams to the poor man, and now he is still out here chasing rainbows. I mean honestly, it is like he tries to break his own record of the worst action movie ever made each time he releases a new one, and just like the previous counterpart of this film, "Olympus Has Fallen" and "Gods Of Egypt", "London Has Fallen" is almost nothing short of garbage status. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, we can swiftly move along. (NB: that rant was totally based on me just trying to emphasize how much of a non action superhero Gerald is and very little on how bad the movie actually is because it is really not THAT bad but someone has to save Butler from himself; so I had to exaggerate to make sure that justice is at least served).

"London Has Fallen" should have really just been titled, "London Has Exploded" because very little falling happens here as almost everything just seems to go up in flames. Blasting gun shots, explosive bomb attacks and blazing helicopter crashes that leave most of London’s landmarks blown to smithereens, all put together with cheap pitiful visual effects. A few friends from university and I used to joke about how studying film might not have been a smart move for film lovers like us because it certainly ruined our movie watching experiences. We no longer view films like the average audience does and will scrutinize almost every aspect of the production such camera shots, lighting, sound, editing, acting skills, etc. So I am sitting here imagining that if we as viewers could find this as very important details, how much attention should the filmmakers pay to such aspects when producing a film; and yet creators of movies like "London Has Fallen" couldn't be bothered. Everything in the film is over the top and almost feels like a parody because of the poor quality of the CG explosions and helicopter crashes.

The plot itself starts off with a very clichéd storyline. Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), Secret Service agent for President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), is expecting his first child with his wife Leah (Radha Mitchell). He hopes to spend more time with his family, and is contemplating resigning from the Secret Service. In the mist of that, Asher and Mike are informed that the British Prime Minister James Wilson has died and along with Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs (Angela Bassett), they travel to London to join other prominent world leaders for Wilson's state funeral. As the dignitaries are arriving, several attacks are launched, killing hundreds of people. This really just made me laugh because as much as Butler and Eckhart are the main stars of the movie, it is ridiculous how all the other presidents and prime ministers just die off so easily. Well, surely they don't have prominent security personnel of Gerald Butler's caliber, but for Banning and Asher to come off as comic superheroes was just baffling. Even when their escape MI6 helicopter is shot and results in a crash landing on a park, they only just come of a little wounded despite the fact that everything, and I do mean everything in this film has been going up in explosion. I guess the writers tried to calm down our minds, that would obviously be troubled by this, by killing Basset's character; and yet for me, it just wasn't enough (even though killing Banning and Asher would have made no sense for the movie so I guess it's the over the top action that would have had give).

When you go head and attempt to just enjoy the escapism factor of the film, it really turns to be a good one. All the fast paced action make up for the terrible plot sequences and it's scenes like when Banning and Asher are expecting help from the White House but are able to spot an imposter Delta Force Team that make Butler come off as somewhat intelligent. He notices that the operators aren't sweating after supposedly trekking across the city on foot in heavy gear, making one think that maybe he isn't so much of a glorified butler after all (pun totally unintended). I also assume that if I wasn't one to overanalyze everything I watch, maybe the experience of seeing "London Has Fallen" would have been like enjoying a good action video game with all the explosions, crashes and shootings creating a nice backdrop of adrenaline infusion.

The film goes off to end in another extremely clichéd scene. Two weeks after the attack on London, Mike returns home and is spending time with Leah and their newborn child, named Lynne after his deceased boss. He sits in front of the laptop to send in his resignation letter but it is the news report on his television that prompts him to change his mind and delete it. This obviously leaves notion for a third film, oh so help me God!!!

FILM REVIEW: Batman Vs Superman

Okay, so I guess you could say I'm a bit late on this one; but please don't judge nor crucify me. Funny how this has been one of the most anticipated movies of 2016 and while almost EVERYONE rushed to the cinemas to see it on its release dates, it took me about a whole week and a half delay to finally join the party. Then there was that whole load of work that I had to do on the side, that left me behind on the blog, pushing me even further back on this review. But, oh well, let me stop blabbing and wasting more time; now that everyone has seemingly had their say, here is my two cents worth on this DC comics film.

I will start by stating how amusing it has been to see the world divide into two over the movie. While most critics came out to pretty much ambush the film and declare it utter trash, a number of fans that went to theatres to see it, came back in full defense; turning sharp blade on the reviewers for their negative criticism. What is also very interesting is that I haven't met or heard of anyone that was quite in between with their opinion of the movie. It's either you really loved it or extremely hated it. And I understand why. See, "Batman vs Superman" is an epic superhero film; but is also a very ridiculous story to watch or follow. What I mean is, if you are all about the action - two power figures coming at each other, turning everything upside down and fighting off a genetically-engineered monster in a massive showdown - then this film is everything that you need. Plus, if you are truly a comic or DC devotee, "Batman vs Superman" will definitely touch you way differently than the average audience. I can imagine the tear jerking moment you might have had when Superman was declared dead and your heart almost jumping out of your chest when you heard that heartbeat in the final scene. But, to be honest, all this excitement is not necessarily brought on by this particular movie, but rather by all the other Superman/Batman films that have created some sort of deep connection between the superheros and their avid fans such that it would move you to see them die or struggle in any sort of way; no matter how crappy the movie is.

On the other hand, if you are someone that doesn't just get satisfaction from the adrenaline rush of fast paced action and require a film to have a coherent story line for you to enjoy it, then I'm afraid "Superman vs Batman" might not be your cup of tea. I have never seen a movie that came from all sorts of angles like this one (okay, I probably have, but I don't remember it 'cause I can never recall the bad ones anyway). One minute Bruce Wayne is after Kent Clark and vice versa, then Bruce is out at Luthor's party and suddenly, we now have Batman and Superman going at each other as their superhero characters. At some point there are too many stories happening at once, you are not sure which one to follow. As for how and why, Batman and Superman are fighting each other when the enemy is clearly Luthor is beyond me (don't even try to answer that, it was a sarcastic question). Then there are the useless hurdles like Diana Prince stealing the data drive from Bruce Wayne only to later return it after she is unable to decrypt it. Why waste time in stealing it if we weren't going to see her use it anyway. And for her to return it was just ridiculous and totally unrealistic (but I guess that is why some things only happen in movies).

The entire film is very dark and gloomy. It's like everything happens late in the day around sunset into the night. This gives the film quite a depressing mood. It has no color at all. Some of the camera work in certain scenes is shaky and the cinematography of the film is really just nothing to write home about. The work done by the cast was truly amazing though and to be honest, the entire ensemble comprises of strong actors. However, their skills were pretty much just sabotaged by the poor script Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer put together.

I will not lie and say I was bored the whole time that I viewed "Superman vs Batman", but at some point, I was really just so frustrated by the plot that was all over the place that I stopped following the storyline, squinted my eyes through the dark scenes and enjoyed all the action.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

FILM REVIEW: Eye In The Sky

The inevitable is that someone must die, but the question that lingers is, who's hands should the blood fall on? That is the concept that this drone warfare film which boast of a powerful performance by Helen Mirren pretty much tackles. Colonel Katherine Powell played by Helen Mirren commands a mission to capture high-level Al Shabaab extremists meeting in a safehouse in Nairobi, Kenya. Clad in a camouflage military uniform, Helen is the queen bee of this operation and she keeps calling the shots like a gun machine at war (well, technically, she is at war). In fact, Colonel Powell is actually the only character that was able to just make her decisions without wasting time in this entire film, unlike her other co-stars that kept hesitating as we see later on. She is well respected and the other officers all address her as ma'am; I was a bit jealous myself (yes, because nothing is sweeter than having all the power in your hands).

Unfortunately, Colonel Powell didn't exactly have ALL the power to her disposal. A reaper drone controlled from Nevada by USAF pilot Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) provides an aerial view, while undercover Kenyan field agents use short-range video bugs for ground surveillance of the location where the terrorists are based. Kenyan ground troops are positioned nearby to execute the arrest, but are called off when Farah discovers that the terrorists have explosives, and are preparing two suicide bombers for what is presumed to be an attack on a civilian target. That is when Powell decides that the mission objective needs to be changed from "capture" to "kill". However, she is advised by her counsel to seek approval from her superiors. This is when the information is pretty much transferred from one superior to another, as they are all reluctant to make the difficult call, citing conflicting legal and political views. The film also becomes a tourism venture as we are taken through different countries. The mission is a multinational operation and the authorities involved are all located in different countries. While Colonel Powell is based in Northwood Headquarters and the drone controller is in Nevada; the mission itself is happening in Nairobi, Kenya and we get to meet officers in the UK, China, Singapore, etc. None of them want to have this blood on their hands so they keep referring Powell and her team to the next best superior.

Meanwhile, the situation in Nairobi is getting quite complicated. For one, the terrorists are going on with their plan and getting closer to reaching final stages; then there is also a girl spotted selling bread outside the building where the bombers are located. The military must now make the decision of whether to launch the attack and risk killing her too or stand down and risk having thousands of people killed by Al Shaabab. These scenes right here will have you the most frustrated. You get angry at the officials that are busy wasting time and you are really annoyed by the girl who is distracting the whole operation. It is easy to just root for a character to get killed when you are the viewer and the writers in this movie made sure to really grill us by pretty much influencing our desires but not giving us what we want for the longest time. It's like dangling the carrot in front of the rabbit and not giving it away until you feel so. When the strike is finally executed, it's sighs of relief galore for by the viewer, but we also somehow find ourselves praying that the girl is not hit. It shows just how Gavin Hood and his team really won at creating this film in a really emotionally evoking manner; which is what any good movie should entail.

"Eye In The Sky" probes away at the ethics of drone warfare in a darkly humorous fashion. There is a lot of military jargon involved but it is not in a way that disengages the audience. The cast does a steller job, and I have already gone on a blab earlier about how I loved Helen Mirren's performance. I'm a huge fan of war films and "Eye In The Sky" makes my 'good list' for sure.

TV REVIEW: "Heist" Pre-Season Finale

It is really with sadness that I am writing this post. Not because “Heist” was the greatest production ever made but it was a good show and it is now near end. You will remember that in previous reviews I might have gone on a bit of a rant about how the plot started off quite slow and dragged along for a while, but boy oh boy, did it all end with a bang! And the laughs, oh my God, the laughs!!! 




So talent finally managed to put his squad together (as I narrated in "Heist" So Far ) and as a unit they put together a plan. They were going to insert a bomb right above the vault where Irvin and his people kept the money and open up a big hole through the ceiling. Hence why they needed a “silent bomb” (which nobody, not even the viewers, has ever heard of) to avoid setting alarm to any of the people at the venue on the night; especially Irvin or security. Talent would then go down the opening into the vault to pack up all the money and have Cosatu and 5 Bob pull it back up to the ceiling. Well, that was the plan, until Talent hurt his thumb and 5Bob had to be the one going down into the vault despite his fear of heights. Mark on the other hand was the mastermind that kept an eye on everyone and informed the guys if the coast was clear and when to go since he had access to the CCTV as well as inside pass as part of security personnel. Even though this whole plan was the brainchild of 5Bob, it was very interesting to see Mark take the ropes and pretty much lead the team. I mentioned before that Mark was really the intelligent and logical one of the bunch. Merci would then take the money bags, put them into a mobile dustbin and take them out of the building without looking suspicious, hence her cover as one of the cleaning staff at the Justin Bieber concert. Flash was expected to come through to the parking area where Merci would be waiting for him and pick up both the money and the girl.

Well, that was basically the plan, but plans don’t always go smoothly or according to order. When the Cosatu and Talent went into the building to plant the bomb prior to the day of the heist, the last thing they anticipated was a bomb sweep. Imagine the shock when they heard that the police bomb squad was coming in to search the entire location for bombs; canines and all. They were this close, I mean this close, to getting busted and it was the witty Merci that saved them all from the mess. I loved Merci by the way. She was clever, she could think on her feet and a good actress too. No I’m not talking about Mbali, I mean MERCI!!! Yes, she was like an actress by an actress. The act she put on in order to get her job as a cleaner for the concert, the stunt she pulled to save Cosatu and Talent and then putting on a show with her supervisor to get back her confiscated phone were all just too brilliant. But then I guess, there isn’t really a Merci without Mbali KaNgwenya, so yes, the actress did an amazing job of portraying the character.



Then there was the incident where 5Bob went racing with the getaway car and brought it back leaking oil and almost falling apart. In true 5Bob style, he goes and parks it without telling the guys. We have all just hated to love 5Bob. He really would just make the most stupid mistakes and decisions often times and I guess it was Wright Ngubeni’s adorable charm that just kept us blinded to still loving him. It is only during the heist when Flash had to drive the car off that it wouldn’t start at all and he realized that it is dead. So now they have committed a robbery and have no car to get away with. 5Bob, 5Bob, 5Bob!!! It was the most hilarious yet nerve wrecking moment when Merci was standing there waiting for what seemed like forever for Flash to drive through and when he finally does, it is in a cart. I almost died! How were they going to get out of there without looking suspicious? Someone might be able to spot Merci who had gone and undressed from her cover clothing! How fast or rather slow can that thing go even! And I guess that is what gave this final episode so much life. It was suspense after suspense and as things were at times falling apart, we were kept on the edge of our sits almost constantly holding breathe. That is where the writers might have hit the jackpot. They didn’t just tell a story about a heist, they showed us obstacles and gave the characters challenges, which all really breathed life to the story.

The acting ensemble all did a magnificent job and it was quite a pleasure to watch them give great performances throughout the season. Solomon Twalo started off with a rather shaky performance but in the end, he came off beautifully. Cosatu by Waren Masemola was such a star, but then again, Warren has never been one to fall short. He always delivers. It was very interesting that at the end how most of us released sighs of relief when they made it out with the money, not paying mind to the fact that they were actually the bad guys. The entire time, the show had us rooting for the villains and we fell for it. We grew to love the characters and resonated with each of them. The writers made sure to have them wrap us around their fingers and they did! 

What did you think of the show? Leave your comment below

Tuesday 12 April 2016

FEATURE: How To Become A Great Screenwriter - Part 1

So I recently published a post on how to sell your screenplay, which I felt would be a great read for budding writers that are looking to get into the industry professionally and make money out of their talents. However, it was an interesting twitter discussion initiated by leading director, Adze Ugah this past weekend about the writing skills (or rather lack of) of most film graduates in South Africa that had me thinking that I might have jumped the gun with my previous feature and prompted me to write up this post. He shared his recent experience about how he had read a few scripts from recent film graduates and was disappointed by how they were all poorly written. He then expressed his concern with the future of the South African film industry, pointing out that some kind of intervention is needed in order to address this matter. I completely agree with him. And while his main focus at the time was on the South African crowd, I thought that this is actually a problem that the whole of Africa is currently facing.




The continent has a lot of amazing talent and we do see a number of creative filmmakers that are rising to make their mark in the global sphere. However, I also feel that we are still lacking in various areas and the concept of “filmmaking business” is still quite foreign to most of us. One of the biggest mistake that is made by most people, especially training institutions, is concentration too much on the technical side of things and neglecting the non-technical areas such as writing, production design, etc. I am a recent film graduate myself and after interacting with a few other graduates, one of the things I have noticed is that most lecturers will focus so much time on getting their students to master the skills of camera work, lighting, sound, and editing than all the other aspects of filmmaking. It’s as though they still feel that is what defines a filmmaker and assume that writing should just come naturally (what could be so hard about telling a story, right?). Wrong! There is a certain technical and creative skill that goes into screenwriting. When I was in film school, we only had two semesters that had screenwriting modules in all our three years of study, which is not nearly enough if you want to graduate to become a professional writer. Bare in mind that in those two semesters, writing is not the only thing you are concentrating on as you have to juggle a number of production assignments, so you only write just to meet the bare minimum standard in order to  get a decent mark. This is also what has lead me to believe that if you truly want to major in screenwriting, attending film school and taking up an entire film course might not be the best option. I would rather have you enroll for a screenwriting degree instead and focus on honing your skill right from the start. Even though there are some great writers internationally that have come out of film schools, it is not everyone that can cut through the clutter. You may also note though that there aren’t that many options for individuals that want to study towards screenwriting degrees in Africa, which is where our governments and training institutions make a mistake again. There needs to be more concentrated studies focusing on screenwriting and creative writing; or we can run the risk to continue having bad and poor writers getting filtered into the industry year after year.

I can already imagine you shaking in your boots and probably throwing in the towel; thinking to yourself, “that’s it! I don’t stand a chance”. Again, you’re wrong. You do stand a chance of becoming a great writer as long as you know what to do (which I’m about to share with you just now) and are willing to put in the time and effort.

First things first, you need to have passion; lots of it. Writers have various reasons why they write. Some may write because it is a way of expressing themselves or they have certain fantasies that they want to bring to life; any strong drive that will always lead them to put pen to paper (or fingers to keypad, whatever). Great writers would rather do nothing else but write. They will wake up in the middle of the nigh and write, hide away during the day so they write without any disturbances or even sleep for two weeks straight because they have been up for a whole 6 months doing nothing but writing. They absolutely love it and are driven each day to become better. It’s like an obsession. Many of the best writers we know today didn’t become great overnight. It probably took them years to get to where they are yet they never stopped because it was what they wanted with all that’s within them. If you do not have that much passion and ambition as a writer, then maybe writing is not exactly what you want to spend your entire life doing. You will certainly not survive once you start hating it (because believe me, at some point the line between love and hate becomes very solid in this kind of profession).

I always say that writing is a skill that you are born with, however, how successful you get to become through its use is highly determined by how well you hone it. I said it in how to sell your screenplay and I will say it again, write write write!!! The more you write, the better you become at it. If you want to become the best writer you can be, you have to be constantly writing (now you know why I discouraged you from attending film school and suggested that you take up a writing degree instead). Make writing a priority. Let it be the one thing you do the most in life. Go out and find inspiration; every writer finds it differently, figure out your way. You can never be too busy to write when you want to be a successful writer because you are too busy writing. Successful writers are very disciplined. Set goals for yourself; number of hours, number of pages, or number of scenes. Even when writers block hits, don’t give up, find your way of writing through it. The difference between great writers and average writers is that great writers never stop writing, and that is how their work keeps becoming greater.

Great writers also value excellence. I have noticed how most young African writers do not pay much attention to the quality of their work. They don’t care to make sure that the material they produce is up to international standards. I feel like while we have been too busy fighting to create the “authentic African” filmmaking legacy, we forgot about excellence. I can literally show you so many writers that don’t even follow the simple standard format of writing a screenplay and yet expect to compete in the global spectrum. If you are still typing your script on Microsoft Word then you are not serious. Successful writers pride themselves in being better than the rest and that is how they have come to the top. Their reputation means a lot to them and therefore they cannot allow even a simple thing as a typo let alone missing headings or scene numbers to ruin the quality of their work. It doesn’t matter how African your story may be, at first glance your work should at least look exactly like any script that would be produced by a Hollywood screenwriter. Read scripts from other established writers and compare them to yours. Read screenwriting books. Make sure that the quality of your work is nothing of sub-par standard.

One of the most irritating things about African writers is how they have all literally become like one person. They write about the same thing, in the same way and even at the same time. Like we can now predict without hesitation how a production will go within the first two minutes that it is on screen, most probably because we have seen something exactly like it too many times before. Let your work be unique. Come up with different ideas. If you feel that a subject that has been tackled before can still use your touch, make sure that it is from a different angle. Forget about trends. I know a lot of times writers are encouraged to follow trends and give audiences “what they want”. But audiences cannot want what they don’t know. Be the first to show them the unknown and make them want it. Evoke their feelings and connect with them emotionally. Make them laugh, cry, get angry, excited, think, etc. That is the trick of great screenwriting; when a viewer can resonate with your work in some way. This can be best achieved when you write about what excites you, not what the marketplace dictates for you to write.

Lastly, play by rules of the game. Yes, I know I just said you need to be unique and come up with different ideas, but you cannot be totally out of touch with what the rest of the world is up to. Nothing eeks me like a screenwriter or filmmaker that has absolutely no idea where anything currently stands in the industry, locally or internationally. Read other writers’ works, watch as much productions as you can and stay updated with the latest industry news. This will give you relevant inspiration to do your job better that anyone else while keeping up with the new age. You will also learn how the system works and therefore will be in a better position to know what your next best move should be, on both a local and international level.

Get in the right headspace, develop the right attitude and adapt the relevant behavior to be the great writer you want to be. I cannot emphasize it enough how it will NOT be easy, but with patience, persistence and passion you will get there. Screenwriting is not for the faint hearted and I hope you will be really sure that is what you want to do with your life before you embark on this journey. You will be rejected, discouraged or even used before you can make it. However, the trick is to never give up and keep writing!

Have anything to say? Comment below

TV REVIEW: Umlilo S03E04 Recap

We opened up this week’s episode with a scene of Mnqobi struggling through a bad dream. He is talking in his sleep. Could his troubles be finally catching up to him? Yes, we have all seen how Mnqobi wants to leave his dodgy past behind and start on a clean slate, which has proved to be quite difficult for him to do; and now the question is could he finally be succumbing to the guilt of all his sins? He goes to visit Cebsile’s grave perhaps in search of peace. We have seen him consult with his dead wife quite a number of times when he was in a tight corner before. It is quite saddening though how the writers have stripped Mqobi’s character into an overly vulnerable and almost weak man. It is a habit that most of these African productions seem to have in common. One minute a man is the most feared villain and the next he is the biggest woos there is.



Mnqobi gives quite a dramatic reaction when he hears on the news that Thembi wasn’t killed by the bomb he had planted in the car. It is even more intriguing that he went on to celebrate like that in front of Andile; not worrying that it might raise questions with her. He then asks her to have dinner with him. While we know how much of a family man Mnqobi is, and how much he loves his children, it is also no secret that he and Andile are not that close. So it was very interesting to watch them reconnect in this episode. He tries to bribe an administrator to give him Thembi’s address (which I thought was quite a funny encounter) but the officer will not have any of the corruption behaviour. So he decides to follow Vuyo home and stalks his house, waiting for him to leave so he can go in to see Thembi. He is caught by Vuyo who comes back for his forgotten briefcase and finds the two in the middle of their confrontation. While Thembi covers for Mnqobi (which I also find interesting that even though they are sworn enemies, Thembi and Mnqobi will still protect each other from other people. It is like they would rather kill each other than have other people attack them), Vuyo is obviously not happy about this and Thembi teases him of being jealous. She herself feels threatened by Mnqobi though as she quickly makes a call to a PI as soon as Vuyo leaves. Is she looking for more dirt on Mnqobi, is she trying to ensure that he doesn’t catch her off guard again or is it an assassination plan? 

Andile receives a text from Zuko inviting her out for dinner, but she declines and says she would explain later (and we assume that it is because she had agreed to dinner with her father). It is to the shock of her life (not so much to ours, I never trusted that man from day one) that she busts him making out with another girl in his office. I liked how she didn’t just run off crying like we are used to seeing these kind of scenes play out a lot of the time. She confronted the two, with the girl just walking off and not paying mind to Andile’s name calling tactics. The nerve that Zuko had to go on and make excuses after being caught red handed like that just had me seriously baffled. Later when the two bump into each other on campus, Zuko informs Andile that he broke things off with the girl, she doesn’t seem to believe him (neither do I) and compares him to his polygamist father. However, she is not that harsh in punishing him as the two go on to have an interesting discussion about polygamy. She doesn’t take him back but she certainly seems to be softening up rather too easily. This makes me wonder that could growing up in a polygamous family have led her to consider taking into a polygamous relationship herself. She talked a bit negatively about it in this episode but didn’t seem to be totally against it either.



Dumile pays a visit to Palesa Thlali’s office. She tries to get information on Mnqobi and the case, but Palesa is professional enough to respect the confidentiality promise she made to Mnqobi. The two however, go on to have a nice long chat about the Simelane family and Dumile’s lack of children with Mnqobi (which seems to be a touchy subject for Dumile). They are interrupted by Palesa’s assistant, Brenda, who reminds her that she has a court appearance. Palesa is dressed casual and borrows Dumile’s formal jacket. The two suddenly get into a heated friendship with hook up drinks and home cooked dinner dates. They let each other into their lives and share so many stories about themselves. I found it quite strange but Palesa has continued to proved to be way different than I first thought her out to be when she debuted on the show. Her impromptu liking to Dumile made me question if it was her way to get into Mnqobi’s polygamy (she and Mnqobi have seemed to be getting close in previous episodes) or was she trying to dig for some kind of information? I never, however, expected her to be lesbian as we eventually find out. Dumile walks into Palesa’s office and finds her making out with her assistant Brenda. Now this has gotten me very suspicious of their friendship. So was Palesa really just interested in making a genuine friend out of Dumile or should we expect a love affair to get started between the two? From Mnqobi to Spikiri to Palesa (plus the college sweetheart we have heard her telling Palesa about), is Dumile even capable of holding on to a romantic relationship for long enough?

Mnqobi continues in his quest to “do things right”. He pays a visit to his cousin Mthandeni to ask him not to kill Spikiri as he had ordered before. He then requests him to organize a cleansing ritual to cleanse him of all his current bad luck. Mthandeni walks into this with his own motives. He tells the sangoma that he is not pleased with how Mnqobi has turned out and would like to have him go back to his old self. The sangoma gives Mnqobi a baboon’s hand and a gun, saying no one would be able to dodge a bullet from it. Mnqobi goes to see Thembi with the intention to kill her (so much for a man trying to change), but is stopped in his tracks when Thembi tells him that she has his daughter Phindile, who is away at boarding school, watched and the killer is under strict orders to rape and kill her if he does not hear from Thembi every two hours (this answers our questions about the call she made earlier). Mnqobi is now desperate to get to Phindile before anything happens to her and take her back home. 

The games are only just beginning for Mnqobi and Thembi, and I cannot wait to see where Palesa’s story goes from here.

Leave comments below

Monday 11 April 2016

RED CARPET: The 2016 MTV Movie Awards Best Dressed

The 2016 MTV Movie Awards were held on April 9, 2016 at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, Carlifonia. As usual, because I like things and fashion being at the top of the list, I was here watching out for those red carpet looks like a hawk. I must say though that the MTV Movie Awards do not really put up the most extravagant red carpet displays like we usually see earlier in the year during award season. Most of the stars just turn up looking rather too casual; like there isn’t much pressure to go all out for the cameras. However, there are those few that will serve total slayage and stand out far from the rest. Those right there are my people that I live for and they make up my best dressed list! (You will also notice how most of the looks on the list consist of black shades. Not much color was present on the MTV red carpet 😞)




First up is Kendal Jenner in this amazing black number and lace-up shoes. This outfit screams sexy yet sophisticated all at the same time. I totally love how it shows off so much skin but in the most tasteful and subtle way possible. It is youthful but still conservative. The way the laces are tied up on the legs sort of remind me of barbed wire, giving the look a very artistic touch. Absolutely amazing and red carpet appropriate! 



I love love love this look. I’ve always been a bit of a sucker for jumpsuits and if it makes you look like a super heroine star like this Cara Delevigne ensemble, my whole soul is sold! I love how it fits on her body and the cut out detail is really my favorite feature. The metallic zip creates a beautiful contrast while the long sleeves balances the show of skin created by the cut outs very nicely. This look just makes my heart to faint a little at the sight of the awesomeness that it is. 



Katie Stevens looked like a million bucks in this cute glittery sequin dress. No, really guys, this look just has a very expensive taste to it and she kind of reminds me of these trust fund kids born into “Housewives of what what” families. The cute bun makes her look like a pretty doll and the shoes are even prettier. I love how the dress is two toned with the bottom part linking to the white shoes and the top part going for a darker shade closer to her hair color. Now this is how you step onto the red carpet.



Chrissie serving some fit leg slayage like it ain’t no issue! And really, it wasn’t at all!! Quite a simple black dress until you see those toned leg and arms popping out of it as well as the low drop neck giving the look a bit of some sexy. I appreciate the fact that she went for a sandal stiletto and the gold detail on it matched her clutch; adding a bit of shine to the dark shade of her dress. Her long tresses also go with the flow of her floor length dress. An ensemble that fits together all just perfectly.



This is one of the best monochrome looks I have seen. I really love the skirt. I love the detailing on it and yes, I love the midi length it has as well. It totally elongates her legs because it goes high waist and still shows a bit of leg by stopping just mid-way. The nude sandals are so basic yet so amazing; and I find it so great that she went with a solid simple top. Those toned arms!!! And the sleek hair showing off her beautiful jaws, slay on Nagis Farkhri, slay!!!



Talk about aging so gracefully! I haven’t seen Halle Berry rocking the red carpet in a while and when she does, she does it with a reminder of why she is one of the best. Looking at this dress, she could have easily opted for a cropped top and pencil skirt, but I am so happy that she didn’t. The lace detail gives off a sense of sophistication for the whole look but still says, “I am trendy and edgy”. I wish she had gone slick with the hair though.




I really couldn’t tell you why I love this dress. Maybe it is because of the potential it has more than the way it actually looks right now; and I am a huge sucker for lace, which you probably know by now. The top is really just so amazing, though the dress would have looked even nicer if the bottom was shorter or more fitted. The low drop neck is a fantastic touch to the look and I absolutely adore those shoes. Charlize Theron is aware that she in not getting any younger and we totally appreciate how she is welcoming age with such style.

Friday 1 April 2016

FEATURE: How To Sell Your Screenplay

Are you passionate about writing? Do you have a way with words? Do you see your name rolling with the credits at the start or end of a movie? Do you have a great story to tell that the world would absolutely have a fantastic time watching? Do you want to sell it? I thought as much (every writer thinks they are great and would grab the first chance to have their material sold). Selling a screenplay is not easy at all, especially as a first time writer. However, it is even worse when you don't have a clue where or how to start. This article will give you a guide which can help you to come up with the best way for you to sell your work. You might even have to use several different methods, but if you put in the necessary work, you will get there.

First of all, this is what you have to know, in order for your screen play to sell, it has to be a really good screenplay. No! Scratch that. It has to be a great screen play. And in order for you to come up with a great screenplay, you have to be a really good writer. So how do you become one? Simple. Write, write, write. Yes, that's write... ehm, I mean right. The only way you can become the best writer you can ever be, is through practice and experience. No one is born a great writer. They are only born with the talent, but talent has to be natured and harnessed. The more you write, the more you get better at it. Write as much as you can. Ask for advice where you can. Get the help of an editor or script consultant if you must. Have a trusted friend to read your work and get their opinion. Then write some more...and read some screenwriting books for important tips. Read scripts from produced screenwriters too. I always suggest reading your favorite movie's script. They are available online for free on sites like The Script Lab and Simply Scripts. Most experienced writers will tell you that if that's your first screenplay you are holding in your hands, it's probably not your best material and it probably won't sell. But that doesn't mean you suck as a writer. It just means you need more practice and you can definitely get better. Now once you have written and written and written; and are sure that your material is up to industry standard, it's time to sell (you probably have a lot of scripts by now, and looking at your first script like "what the hell was that?!", with your most recent as the best masterpiece ever written).

1. The most best way that people find as an easy way to sell their work is through an agent. There are agents that actually hunt for good screenplays and pitch them to producers for sale. If you sign under one, they can read your work, tell you if it's worth selling or not (before you can even embarrass yourself in the industry) and then they can actually sell it for you. They are almost like publishers in the book writing industry. The best thing about agents is that they have vast experience working with producers, they mostly know the great ones personally and they know exactly what each one of them requires. So they will easily know which producers are most likely to like your script. There are thousands of such agents in Hollywood, but unfortunately, we don't have any in Swaziland or Africa. However, there are some agents that will represent international writers. Another thing to note about agents is that they seldom go for brand new writers. They are more likely to sign an experienced writer than an inexperienced one. So if that is your first screenplay, it will be quite hard to get an agent. You have to be patient and persistence is key!

2. Now the next best option is taking one of your screenplays and actually produce a film from it. Yes, I know you just want to be a writer and probably don't have much interest in the harsh hustle of production, but if you want to make your work easily noticeable, making a film will help. You can even ask a filmmaker friend to help you if you have a good filmmaker friend that might just be looking for a script to shoot. It is easier for people to agree to watching a movie than reading a script. And this will show that not only are you a good writer, your material can actually be transferred from paper to screen (believe me, some stories are just better read than watched). If they like your film, they will probably ask to see your other unproduced work; and if your film attracts a large audience and even makes it to theaters or festivals, voila! You are no longer just a no name writer. It is now easier for you to get an agent or grab the attention of a producer independently, without an agent.

3. It is not always that agents will be able to spot good work. Sometimes they do get it wrong. Your work could be unique and unusual while agents are looking for commercial and easily marketable stuff. Don't throw it away! (But make sure that you know the difference between unique material and bad material). If you feel that your screenplay deserves a chance but you have a hard time securing an agent, sell the script yourself. Now do know that this will require A LOT of work and effort. You have to perform the magic of an agent without the wand, which is their contacts and experience. Write query letters to producers, managers, and directors. Call them. Email them. Tweet or Facebook them. Do what ever you can. However, be realistic in your quest. You are most likely to get a response from Adze Ugah or even Gavin Hood than you are from Quinton Tarantino or Christopher Nolan. When they ask you to send in your work, make sure that your really great script is accompanied by all the required material. A solid log-line, treatment, character profiles, the works. Try as much as possible to not put a producer or director in a position where they have to request you for more information on your screenplay, chances are they won't. Submit everything at first chance. The only time they should be asking for more, is when wanting to see your other screenplays. You also have to learn how to pitch. They will call you in to pitch and you have to be good at it. Again, it's a once in a lifetime chance. You fail the first time, they might never want to see you again. Keep your pitch simple, short and rehearse before pitch day.

4. Look for screenwriting gigs online. Sites such as Craigslist and many others that post screenwriting jobs will have directors that are looking for scripts. They will either want a ready written script, so if you have one that fits their requirements, you can send it through; or they might want you to develop and idea into a screenplay. These are mostly independent filmmakers so it's not your one way ticket to Hollywood, but it is definitely a way into the industry. You will now have a produced screenplay on your credits and great experience, plus a good pay check (depending on each project).

5. Another great way to get exposure is by entering screenwriting contests. There are various competitions that are open to international writers and can help you to gain experience and recognition. Join some of them and have a guarantee that your script will be read by a professional and if it is any good, might get to win a prize. The prize money is a nice bonus, but even though winning does not mean your script will be bought and produced, someone will notice your work and give you a call. Another thing, before entering a contest, do your research and find out what previous winners have achieved so far. Some competitions put you in a better position for long term success than others.

6. Attend festivals, conferences, seminars and workshops. This is a great way to not only learn more, but to get contacts too. You will meet various directors, producers and managers that might be looking for new scripts or writers to help them with a project. Once you have had an in person meet up with a producer or director, it is easier to pitch to them in future. If they allow you to send in your work, do so immediately. Don't wait for months or even long weeks, they might forget about you. They probably meet new people preaching the same gospel to them eveyday.

7. Work your way up. I know this might seem like the last resort, but you actually don't want to wait until it's too late to realize that this is what you should have done. So make this your first step if you can. And you can try out all the other strategies while doing this. Get a job as a production assistant or runner or even as a toilet cleaner at Universal. You will get a chance to not only learn as much as you can, but to also get closer to the experts and by God's grace get one of them to listen to you or introduce you to people who will. Be prepared to be considered a nuisance by some who feel that you are bothering them but others will definitely see you as ambitious, determined and driven. Before you know it, you have worked your way from runner to assistant, to producer or straight to award winning screenwriter if Woody Allen decides to take his conversation with the delivery boy any seriously.

There are a whole lot of other things you can do to boost your chances to sell your screenplay or get recognized in the industry. You can relocate closer to where most studios are located. If you want to work in the South African industry, move to Johannesburg or Cape Town. If you have a keen interest in Nollywood, go live in Lagos. Relocate to Mumbai to gain access to Bollywood and go to LA to get noticed by Hollywood. Work with local filmmakers too. One of them might be a step ahead of you and have a string of contacts that they might be willing to share and take you with him/her to the big time! As I said earlier in my post, it will not be easy at all! However, it is not impossible. And remember to copyright your material before sending it out. I will write a post on copyright in the next week if you are not sure how it really works.

Do you have anything to add or questions? Feel free to comment below.