Here at ZAlebs, we receive many e-mails, which range from people asking us how they can become famous to requests we cannot mention on this family website.
Recently, we received an e-mail from a disgruntled Generations: The Legacy viewer, who feels that the soapie is exploiting young talent. Here's what the viewer shared with us:
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this letter are those of the ZAlebs reader, and not ZAlebs.
While I still wonder what the initial plan for Generations The Legacy is, I can so long question the storyline and what they apparently refer to as “hard hitting drama”.
I cannot forget how 16 characters were kicked to the curb and it quickly raised eyebrows about whether or not the creators care more about their ratings than the well-being of their employees.
Motsoaledi Setumo, who recently played the raunchy lingerie model Thabitha Cele, is one of the many young people that got to be part of the supporting cast. When one thinks back to those sizzling scenes and the talent Motsoaledi possesses and was wrongfully taken advantage of, I start to question whether sex or talent sells.
As I try to get a hold of Motsoaledi to ask her how she felt when she finally sat down and looked at the outcome of her role, she was unavailable to take my calls. I was happy to catch two of her interviews on TransAfrica Radio and UJfm while I was still gathering my research.
There was a point when I couldn’t do it anymore during my second shoot, I wanted to go to the bosses and ask them to terminate my contract.
I want young people to get into the industry, because of their talent and not get naked to get recognition – I might have done it, but it’s really not the way to get into the industry”. said Motsoaledi in the interview.
As I heard from a valuable source, Thabitha Cele’s character is done and has no following because I’m not even certain how her character ended. In the storyline, Karabo Moroka had promised to always take care of her and now has disappeared like the flame that was used for the wax candle scene.
We all grew up watching Generations and enjoyed it, because of the storylines and how well the talented actors made it come to life. The current cast is quite talented, but are the creators using it to their most viable tune?
Storytelling is about sharing people’s real-life dramas and actually sending a message out. It’s about trying to get the audience to relate to your story as much as you can and it seems like Generations The Legacy is just doing the complete opposite.
They are trying to sell their product, as though they selling a magazine by choosing which character will “sell” the most on each quarter.
There was drug smuggling, a student and teacher affair, surrogacy, an abortion and recently a lingerie model that was actually seeking her brother and now we remain in the dark. This story that has no consistency which just proves to us that the talent is not as valued and to us strictly means exploitation in more ways than one. It seems like they selling articles not stories and to that I say kindly please go back to the drawing board.
One can’t help but compare the success of Soapies and other Drama series that seem to be doing well and I will continue applauding them.
- Anonymous fan
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Credit image: Supplied
