10 | Entertainment
24 August 2020
Seriously Single: South Africa’s latest contribution to the Netflix catalogue Kendra Connock
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hether they met in preschool or were thrown together by chance in a university res room, there is nothing quite like the bond that exists between two best friends. Ultimately, this is what Seriously Single demonstrates. It’s a romantic comedy so it has its moments of swoon-worthy flirtation and you’ll definitely giggle a time or two, but what really sets this movie apart is not the relationship between a protagonist and her Mr Right; but rather the relationship between a protagonist and the one person who will always have her back: her best friend. The film was produced by Burnt Onion productions, which consists of a trio of siblings determined to share their voices and stories with Africa and the world. What sets this movie apart from any of the other hundreds of rom coms out there is its
display of diversity. This movie portrays the best aspects of our the “rainbow nation” with sweeping images of cosmopolitan Johannesburg and dialogue in English, Tswana, Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa, and Sotho. The storyline relies on a number of romantic comedy tropes and the storyline is similar to 2016’s How To Be Single (from high-octane nights out on the town to the more vulnerable moments of the films’ protagonists stumbling their way through romance and heartbreak; right down to the witty bartender and someone who wants more than just a casual relationship). The leading ladies in this film are veterans of the South African entertainment scene: Fulu Mugovhani and Tumi Morake. Their characters are dynamic and fun, but also vulnerable and personable enough to seem familiar to watchers, as if they were the girls you’d meet in the ladies room at a nightclub. If you can look past the similarities to countless other rom coms and the typical tropes one expects to find in these kinds of films, you’re left with an enjoyable film, endearing characters, and a sense of familiarity – something we don’t often get when watching movies on Netflix. It may seem like just another romantic comedy, but in Seriously Single, the characters look and speak like ordinary people, and this is the film’s greatest triumph.
Image: Cletus Mulaudi
Back-to-back releases for South Showmax Africa’s own goddess of guitar announces Kendra Connock
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ollowing her debut solo offering in 2019, guitarist Robyn Ferguson has added two additional EPs to her repertoire in 2020; both of which solidify her position as the goddess of guitar in the South African music scene. These back-to-back releases come after the artist’s struggle with health issues which have taken their toll physically and emotionally. Ferguson’s talent is evident in every piece of music she works on and her latest releases, Falling Forward and Harbinger, only showcase this fact even more. As a musical polymath, Ferguson wrote, played, and recorded every note on these two EPs herself; the multi-layered and complex music she produces is exceptional in its own right, but the fact that she does it all herself makes it all the more impressive. As Ferguson used her music as an outlet during a difficult time, Falling Forward and Harbinger were both inspired by her personal health struggles and the physical and emotional
TRY @Home
effects she is still feeling. She suffered nerve damage during her illness and still experiences some paralysis, but not even that could stop her. Robyn’s music is entirely instrumental; and that’s all it needs to be really. Her talent is not limited to technical skill in playing instruments, but also in her incredible ability to make listeners connect with her emotionally through the sound of her music. Each of her songs is connected to the emotion she was feeling when she wrote it; “Gravity” has a weight to it, a heaviness that surrounds the listener; while “Oxygen” reinforces the sort of claustrophobic experience by the artist during her stay in hospital. “Petrichor” gives the listener space - there’s still that undertone of anxiety from earlier in the EP but it is now accompanied by a kind of peace; as if the rain is finally easing up after a big storm. You can find Robyn’s music, including Harbinger (written, recorded, and released during the COVID-19 national lockdown) on any of your preferred streaming platforms.
Closet Refresh
you are willing to say goodbye to because the bleach will likely dissolve the bristles after a while. The best clothing to use for bleaching is denim and darker materials that the bleach will be visible on Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok are full of clothing DIY ideas, and a quick search on there will provide you with Emily Harrison endless inspiration and creativity. 2.Go thrift shopping Charity shops have recently started to open up again since closet refresh is something that everyone lockdown forced many of them to close. Charity shops are great needs every now and then. Everyone has for finding new, extremely affordable clothing items as well as felt bored with their clothes at one point items for you to DIY. If you do not want to spend any money at or another. There are plenty of ways to all, another option is to host a clothing swap with your friends. update your style without spending a lot of money, You can do this while still social distancing by creating a especially now when the COVID-19 crisis is putting a WhatsApp group and sending pictures of the clothes you want financial strain on everyone. to swap. 1.Try out some DIYs 3.Refresh your mindset There are many ways to DIY a piece of clothing, Sometimes all a closet needs to be updated is a new set of so the best idea is just to let your imagination take eyes. A good way to change your perspective on your clothes over. From painting, to embroidering, to cutting, is to ask someone else to style you. Seeing how somebody the options are endless. else would put your clothes together will give you new The easiest way to add some new life to inspiration. Styling pieces together that you clothes is to bleach them. There are two ways normally would not is also a good way to use bleach on your clothes. The first way to get inspiration. Layering is another is the traditional tie-dyeing method, and a quick option, because putting different items of YouTube tutorial will give you the correct clothing together will give you that street technique. Another bleaching method is to wear look without you having to spend use a paint brush to create a more intricate Illustration: Marchall Potgieter any money. design. However, be sure to choose a paint brush
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new local fantasy Blood Psalms Emily Harrison
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howmax recently announced that they have a new local Showmax original in the works called Blood Psalms. African video entertainment company, MultiChoice, is joining forces with global broadcaster, CANAL+, to produce the show. The fantasy epic comes from the minds of creative duo Layla Swart and Jahmil XT Qubeka, who were also behind the critically acclaimed crime drama Knuckle City (2019). Swart is producing the new show while Qubeka is writing and directing. The story will centre around a young African queen, Zazi, who has to deal with a world ending prophecy while leading her people. The story imagines a thriving pre-colonial Africa and the myth that exists there. It is heavily influenced by the ancient mythology that can be found across the African continent but with a specific focus on Xhosa legend. The ten-part fantasy series has already gained a lot of attention as well as many comparisons to Game of Thrones. The series is authentically African and is being filmed in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and the North West. The series has more than 50 black actors in its cast, including some well-known South African names. The cast includes Thando Thabete, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Hamilton Dlamini, Sello Maake Ka Ncube, Warren Masemola, Thabo Rametsi, and Thishiwe Ziqubu, to name a few. Another interesting aspect about the show is that the story is told in vernacular rather than English. Swart and Qubeka stated that they wanted to contribute “to the preservation of African culture and languages as authentically told by Africans”, which explains the creative decisions behind the show. Actress Enhle Mbali gave viewers a sneak peek of her character, Umna, on her Instagram page, showcasing the costume and set design of the show. All of the pictures that have been released from the set show incredible costume and set design that is sure to amaze audiences. To ensure that the series is as authentic as possible, the creators of the series consulted African spiritual guides and healers. The series joins the short list of other Showmax originals which points to a more hopeful and creative future for the African television and film industry. The fantasy genre has been garnering a lot of attention in the television industry over recent years. The success of Game of Thrones has led to a flurry of other fantasy series including the Netflix originals The Witcher and Cursed. Now Blood Psalms is going to add an African story to the roster while also adding some much-needed representation to the genre with its incredible all black cast. Blood Psalms is set to be released early 2021.
