Latest news with #Isidingo
IOL News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From studio to screen: Sean Trimz's role in shaping SA's soapie soundtracks
Sean Trimz is a multifaceted artist, songwriter, record producer and record executive who has quietly shaped the soundscape of some of South Africa's most popular television shows. As a multifaceted artist, songwriter, record producer and record executive, he has quietly shaped the soundscape of some of South Africa's most popular television shows. Sean Trimz, born Dumisani Mlaudza, hails from Katlehong and was raised in Vosloorus. His music has been featured in hit shows such as 'Isidingo', 'Gomora', 'Uzalo', 'Isibaya', 'Isithembiso' and 'The Queen'. Despite his pervasive presence in millions of households, Trimz has deliberately stayed out of the limelight, focusing instead on building a sustainable career and growing his record label, Certified Clique Music. Trimz's passion for music started early, singing in school choirs during primary school, where he discovered his love for songwriting. He began recording in 2011 and, by 2013, launched his own record label. His professional breakthrough came with the 2015 single 'MyTurn', which brought him initial recognition. Over the years, he released several significant projects, including 'Thang For Ya', 'Eastside', 'Eastside 2.0', 'Freedom', and the 'No Validation' EP, which impressively hit number one on iTunes within an hour of its release. Reflecting on his music being a staple in popular TV dramas, Trimz shared, 'It feels really good because that's where music sells itself. Having my music play on TV changed a lot for me. These shows are licensed and marketed internationally, so they gave me global reach." "I even get direct messages on Instagram from people around the world who discovered my music through those shows.' His music, embedded in the fabric of South African storytelling, resonates far beyond local borders. Though his sound is widely recognised, Trimz has intentionally kept a low profile. He explained, 'I don't want to be famous - but broke. That's never been the goal. I've always been focused on building a solid, sustainable music career that generates real income - not just hype.' This practical mindset has guided his career choices, valuing longevity and financial stability over fleeting fame.
SowetanLIVE
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Kgomotso Christopher: The perfect icon
Was there a time Kgomotso Christopher was not relevant? The answer is simple — not in the past two decades. Petite but powerful, she melts hearts and lights up every room she enters, first with her beaming smile and then her star power. She has crushed very TV role she has played — Katlego Sibeko (Isidingo), Yvonne 'YV' Thebe (Scandal!), Dineo Price (Legacy), Keabetswe Moloi (Generations: The Legacy), and Nandi Mahlati (Fatal Seduction). Her acting career, paced with fearless choices, is what has made her the greatest and most versatile TV icon of our generation. 'I've played a drug addict, housewife, gambling hustler, investigative policewoman, lecturer. In theatre I've done everything from Shakespeare to Molière and Chekhov. There's nothing I've not done and there's nothing that I can't do and can't wait to play,' she says. When I challenge her to offer me a guide to her professional life in three-act structure, she doesn't hesitate. 'First Act: The struggle … the rejection. Second Act: A chance meeting. A chance given … serendipity. Third Act: 'Patience is a virtue',' Christopher quips. No matter the act, Christopher's greatest power in the industry is that she will always be the 'why' kind of performer. 'Why are you an artist? Why do you choose, still, to be an artist in a very unstable industry, in a country that's battling economically? Why?' she asks. 'It's in the moments when you don't have work, when you want to give up, when you don't know what your future looks like, especially financially in this industry because it impacts your family and children. The challenge is to find a way to remind yourself why you still choose the path and journey.'
The Citizen
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Primo Baloyi on Pirates' new doccie: ‘It makes the sport that much better when you know what's behind the scenes'
Primo Baloyi spoke to The Citizen at the launch of the Pirates five-part documentary 'Giants' which hit the screens on Sunday. Sports documentaries have grown in popularity in recent times, and this is because they combine two things that are loved, sport and storytelling. 'It makes the sport that much better to watch when you know what goes on behind the scenes,' content creator Primo tells The Citizen. The lanky creator, who is also the son of former Bafana Bafana Captain Lucas Radebe, spoke to The Citizen on Thursday evening at the launch of Orlando Pirates' five-part doccie, Giants, which tells the story of Pirates' journey in the last season. 'The Europeans have been showing it with all these documentaries they've been doing, even the Americans in Basketball and all these doccies. A lot of people see sports from the outside,' said Primo. He said that though sport is masculine, through storytelling, it opens itself up to the whole family. 'So now sport is becoming much more of a family thing. Even Formula 1 is becoming a family thing. A lot of girls and women are getting into Formula 1, golf; there are a lot of sports that are gaining recognition because we realise that there's a lot behind the sports, behind the players and the game. A lot goes into these master performances.' ALSO READ: Tyla named among Variety's 2025 Power of Young Hollywood honourees Pirates doccie The first episode of Giants will be screened on all MultiChoice platforms this coming Sunday. A handful of media and some of the Pirates team were in attendance at the launch that was held in Orlando Stadium, the Pirates' home ground. The five-part doccie follows the players, their families, and zooms in on what inspires and drives them on the field of play. 'I'm excited to see what's gonna happen from now on. There's a lot we didn't see, it's like we're excited to still see Rele (Mofokeng) and a little bit more of Tito (Patrick Maswanganyi). There's still a lot we need to uncover, but this was the beginning,' said Primo after watching the first episode. Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa and midfielder Talent Mbatha are the focus of the first episode. The doccie shows how much their mothers have been anchors for them, supporting them throughout their careers. 'The common thing with all of us, our moms had to be patient for us to be where we are, so it's really good to see that. It was dope,' shared Primo. ALSO READ: Former 'Isidingo' actress on how Sri Lanka beats a similar drum to Africa Travelling with Pirates The content creator has just returned to Mzansi after travelling with the Pirates team to Spain, where they underwent their pre-season training, which also included some matches against European opposition. 'We had so much fun, it was insane. It was a dream holiday mixed with a dream pre-season engagement. I trained with the guys.' Sportscaster Thomas Mlambo, former Pirates player and now content creator Michael Morton were also part of the trip. Primo played football growing up and said he played with half of the Pirates team in the juniors when he was still playing. 'So it was very easy to kind of click with them. We've got such a really dope bond with the guys, and we went to the guys, I mean, we were the only supporters.' 'We left with them, we could chill with them, and we had time with the coach to speak about things. And it was my birthday on the 11th,' he says. On his birthday, Pirates took on English side Bolton Wanderers. 'It was insane, like my life was made on that trip.' Primo has been collaborating with one of the main sponsors of the doccie, Vodacom, for the past few years and through that relationship, he travelled with the Pirates team to their pre-season training in Spain. He is also one of Pirates' ambassadors. 'In the last two years, I've been working hard to keep this relationship and establish myself as a brand, alongside a giant brand.' 'They believed in how I was tackling this marketing message of showing my passion for being a Buccaneer. I made a gimmick about holding the crossbones up before the game, and that ritual caught fire, so Vodacom really liked that and kept me alongside Pirates until the trip.' 'A lot of people didn't know that I played football, and now that I can combine my content creation with my knowledge of football to be a sports caster, basically.' NOW READ: How Lebo M's former ballroom dance mate became the author of his 'Nants'Ingonyama' autobiography
News24
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Tina Jaxa on 4 decades on TV – ‘I let the process, path and journey lead me'
Few can deny the star power and talent exuded by Tina Jaxa over the past 42 years. She has been on our screens for most of her life but her iconic appearance was in the hit soapie Generations as Priscilla Mthembu. Her subsequent roles as Lorraine Dhlomo in Isidingo and her iconic portrayal of Eve in the sitcom Madam and Eve from its second season also cemented her in the memory of South Africans countrywide. And who could forget her dazzling role as a sangoma in the hit comedy film I Now Pronounce You Black and White? In recent years, the seasoned actress has been seen in well-known shows like BET's Redemption and 1802: Love Defies Time, showing us that there's still more to see from her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TRUELOVE Magazine (@truelovemagazine) Tina shares with TRUELOVE the ins and outs of her decades-long career. Seasons of love South Africa has been getting treated to more of Tina's flamboyant flair with the latest expansion in the How to Ruin franchise – How to Ruin Love: The Proposal. This is where Tina transforms into Zoleka's aunt and biggest advocate, Liswa, a free spirit who loves to party and speak her truth. Touching on what she enjoys the most about being a part of this instalment, Tina says, 'When I listen to my 34-year-old's expectations, I say 'what? No! Why would you want to move that far? Why would you look at those particular elements in a relationship? This is what really matters' and I point all those things out. 'With this project, there are a few lessons that Zoleka should have learnt, which is where my character, her aunt, comes in. The fundamental and authentic way of loving a person should be how they conduct themselves.' Made for the screen Whether it's Durban Gen 's no-nonsense Nomvula Jack or the captivating Thembi in Vula Vala, Tina lets the universe guide her on the roles that come her way. 'I let the process, path and journey lead me. I don't think there's a role where I would say, 'I would never do that.' If I were to put those pointers across, then it would not make me a thespian. I would not truly be authentic to my craft because, at the end of the day, that's not who Tina is. That is just another persona, a journey, that I'm bestowed with, which I need to treat with respect without judging it in any way. This is because if you look at all the characters in your life [or] where you've seen movies, someone is going through that,' she explains. @truelovemagazine The cast of How To Ruin Love: The Proposal give their insight on bouncing back from ruined love ❤️🩹 Watch the four-episode comedy spinoff available now on Netflix! #HowToRuinLoveTheProposal #HowToRuinLove #NetflixSA @Sive Mabuya-Bukani @Netflix South Africa @Bohang Moeko @Noxolo Noxi Dlamini ♬ original sound - TRUELOVE One role that has impacted her greatly is her South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA)-winning performance in the 2014 series Shreds and Dreams. She plays a hypochondriac mother who discovers that her missing daughter has been suffering unimaginable trauma at the hands of a family member. When describing the intensity of the show, particularly the scene where the police and medics find the child, Tina reveals that she cried on that day. 'I must have cried for most mothers out there. I took it in deeply but when I was done, that role had affected me for two weeks – to the point where I had to consult with a psychologist. But at the SAFTAs, I won two awards.' Going behind the scenes What many people don't know about the award-winning actor is her passion for behind-the-scenes work and executive producing. She has her own production company, Tina Jaxa Productions, or TJP as she calls it. As with all projects still in the works, much will become known once they've come to fruition but Tina teases us about five shows she and her team are working on. During our interview, she reveals that her co-producers were holding a crucial meeting about the future of the exciting projects coming our way amid her hectic acting schedule. 'I had a deep, meaningful conversation with my agent in Cape Town, asking for three months just to concentrate on TJP. They did and I'm glad that within those three months, we came up with five shows. 'Some of my former bosses are part of them; people like head writers and lead directors; people who have directed me. They also include one of SA's biggest production companies, and I'm about to co-produce with them,' she shares. This celebrated thespian has shown the true mettle of her lasting power – evolving from behind the scenes to owning her stage.
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Trump's film tantrum: Brandon Auret calls on Gayton McKenzie to invest in local films
'I'm a firm believer in that when the door is closed, jump through the window,' actor Brandon Auret told The Citizen. Auret has called on Minister Gayton McKenzie to use Donald Trump's 100% tariffs on films made outside of the US, as an opportunity to invest in local film industry. Picture: brandon_auret/ Instagram South African actor and filmmaker Brandon Auret has called on Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie to use Donald Trump's 100% tariffs on films made outside of the US as an opportunity to invest in the local film industry. The US president recently proposed a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced content. If implemented, it would apply to locally made films, potentially even productions filmed here and series sold into the US. 'I'm a firm believer in that when the door is closed, jump through the window,' Auret told The Citizen. Opportunity Auret, who most South Africans were introduced to when he appeared on the SABC 3 soapie Isidingo as Leon du Plessis, said he doesn't blame Trump for his decision because it's always been much cheaper for foreign films to be made outside of the US. Auret said the decision was however sad for the South African industry because not enough films are being made by locals. 'Hollywood screwed itself, especially with Los Angeles. The prices that they were paying to get location licenses, to get permits to be able to film in a studio- the executives screwed you over, it's not other countries, mister Donald Trump,' said Auret. 'The big money guys, they chased the films away. It became too expensive to shoot in Los Angeles.' The South African actor said that if one takes a movie with a $10 million budget in the US and shoots it in South Africa, the conversion rate means the budget swells to at least R180 million. 'You could shoot the exact same quality film in South Africa, with our crew, our cast. It makes sense not to shoot in a country that's not overcharging you for everything.' He said this was an opportunity for McKenzie to step up for the local film industry. 'Not just the sport side of it, but the arts and culture side of it. Get your mayors, councillors from different areas to put money into a film and let every place in South Africa become a film location,' expressed Auret. 'There's no backing. Nobody is doing a thing about the film industry, the DTIC and the NFVF has screwed over people,' Auret claimed. The Citizen contacted McKenzie's office for comment, but was unsuccessful at the time of publishing. Any response will be included once received. ALSO READ: SA's film success faces a Trump-sized threat 'No backing' In March, members of the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective, Independent Producers Organisation and other industry players protested outside the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) offices in Tshwane, voicing growing concerns over the DTIC's failure to address critical issues impacting the industry. In April, the South African Screen Federation (SASFED) criticised McKenzie for appointing National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) CEO Vincent Blennies. 'The minister's disregard for established rules and guidelines can harm the regulatory frameworks that have been put in place to ensure fair distribution of resources, transparency and effective governance in the sector,' read a statement from SASFED. While addressing McKenzie as the minister, Auret called on mayors and politicians to invest in domestically-made films. 'Invest some of that money into filmmaking. Get those films to come over to your little town, little cities [and] shoot there, employ the locals,' said Auret. He said the benefit is that it creates a whole ecosystem, including accommodation, food, and transport services. The shooting of a film could involve as many as 180 people. 'The money spent on a film doesn't just go into the film; it's not like everything ends up on the screen. There's a lot of money spent outside of the film' ALSO READ: South Africans make their presence felt at the Met Gala in New York Tourism Auret says there's a lucrative tourism factor when people shoot films across South Africa. The impact of cinema on tourism is enormous. The fantasy film series The Lord of the Rings significantly contributed to New Zealand's GDP through tourism. The series, which was filmed entirely down under, boosted tourism by about 50%, bringing in an estimated NZ$33 million (R600 M+) annually. By 2018, New Zealand welcomed 3.6 million visitors annually, and tourism became the nation's largest export industry. Auret said South Africa has more to offer tourists than the country's three biggest metros, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. 'My whole big thing is not just about making films, not just about investing in the communities that are in those cities, but opening up the tourism. Getting people to go 'wow, that movie was shot where?'' NOW READ: REVIEW: Riky Rick's last album 'Boss Zonke Forever' epitomises his passion for young people
