Share
Tweet
Posts
Rockville - What SA TV really needs
Drama mini-series Rockville created by Entertainment couple Shona and Connie Ferguson has been the talk of the town since it premiered on Mzansi Magic two months ago. Apart from its star studded cast many have been captivated by its inviting story line and shock value, one person who greatly attests to this is Rockville head writer Phathutshedzo Makwarela.
According to Makwarela everything on television nowadays is completely rigid and old, Makwarela spoke to Times Live recently and described local TV content as absolute nonsense, preferring to steer his attention on international hits shows such as British show Downtown Abbey, US series The Good Wife, Game of Thrones and even the revamped 1970’s classic drama series Dallas.
His comments about the mediocrity of South African television content is quite ironic considering the fact that he has written story lines for some of our most popular soapies and drama series such SABC 2’s Muvhango, SABC 1’s Zone 14, Tshisa and recently canned M-Net series The Wild.
Makwarela further on explained to Times Live that his distaste for local television is primarily because of the way local writers are being treated by production companies:
“Here, writers have little control in the stories that they tell. It’s the way our industry is structured – if I took a concept to a broadcaster they are most likely not to commission me because they think I won’t be able to deliver it because I’m just a writer.” said Makwarela
In America writers are treated like ‘gods’ he added, but one production company that has shown to have great faith in Makwarela is the Ferguson Films company which hired the writer to develop the characters and story. Entertainment power couple Shona and Connie had already drafted an outline of the story but needed someone to add more meat into it and it and Makwerela was obviously the man they wanted for the job.
In previous interviews Shona has given praise towards Makwarela for his “brilliant and genius mind” adding that the young writer knew and understood exactly what their vision for Rockville was thus hiring him and his writing partner Gwydion Beynon for the job.
What’s interesting about Makwarela’s role as the writer for Rockville is how he managed to diverge away from type casting the actors in the show; we clearly see this in Connie Ferguson’s role. In the show we see Connie playing the role of a humble and God-fearing Mavis Mabaso who tries desperately to keep a roof over her families head whereas in most roles we saw Ferguson as a powerful business woman on The Wild and a successful advertising industry mogul on Generations.
The writers had a candid conversation with the actress who has been in the industry for 25 years, explaining to her that local viewers have already seen her play powerful roles it was time they got introduced to a different side of her acting skills.
“..It’s amazing what she’s been able to do-viewers love that they have never seen her like this.” said Makwarela.
Make sure you catch Rockville every Wednesday at 19:30pm on M-net’s Mzansi Magic
Source: Times Live
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and to find us on Facebook!
You might also like
Zalebs Events:
The Ultimate Redds Door Experience 2013
Share this
Recent Updates
Zalebs Music:
ZAlebs Playlist: 20 August
Reviews:
Review: The Impossible
What's Hot:
Here's what your Idols ladies will be singing
What's Hot:
e.TV launches Rolling With Mandoza
Reviews:
The Conjuring Review