Dave Levinsohn's on-the-spot skills often make it look like he’s making it up as he goes... that’s because he is! This week Gino has a front row seat with one of SA's top comedians. Find out how far Dave will go, why he likes it when people don't laugh and how not to introduce him at your braai. This popular and original comedian has been honing his skills as the host at the Coffee Lounge comedy club since 1997, and is a regular face at the Vodacom International festiva...
Award winning broadcaster and creative momtrepreneur Lebang Kgosana joins us this week for some insight into her 15 years of experience in the media and entertainment industries. With a degree in Marketing and Communications, followed by her training at the YFM Academy, Lebang’s expertise includes advertising, broadcasting, and events management.Lebang began her career at the Creative Counsel where she was an account manager, branched into broadcasting at YFM where she was a presenter a...
We take a break from in-studio guests to have a look at Showmax. This is what to check out on Africa’s biggest streamer.Chasing the Sun 2The Springbok journey to the Rugby World Cup final 2023.EmpiniSet against the backdrop of the dangerous private security industry, Empini is a high-stakes drama that follows Ndoni Themba, a deeply troubled private security bodyguard on a quest for answers.The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip SAVarious members of the "Real Housewives" franchise from across...
In today's episode we reach new heights when Gino gets the opportunity for a one on one with the legendary Mandlankayise Walter Dube. Director, producer, co-screenwriter, Mandla (to his friends) is a writer and award-winning South African cinematographer. His diverse work includes documentaries, shorts, theatre and feature films. Mandla’s work in feature films includes Tsotsi, The Italian Job, Strike Back, Silverton Siege, Angel Heart, and Heart of the Hunter. His 2017 feature film, Kalushi w...
Ever wondered who takes the leap off a building or crashes cars in movies while the stars take the credit? That’s the work of a stuntman. Special effects teams, directors, and cameramen all rely on the expertise of stuntmen to realize their creative ambitions.This collaboration creates the pulse-pounding moments that keep audiences on the edge of their seats. In this episode Gino gets an insight into the world of these unsung heroes. We chat via Zoom to Katja Hopkins and Crai...
When you are watching stuff on the screen, big or small, there is one thing that tells you where you should be emotionally; tells you whether you should be sad, or happy, or terrrified. That is the score, the music that takes you on the emotional journey that you are watching.Today Gino finds out more about what goes into scoring music for television and film as he chats to Modiakgotla Keatile Shole, better known as Modia.Modia, who holds a National Diploma in Electrical Engineeri...
We recently received a VIP invite to a preview screening of local movie Just Now Jeffrey. On the back of that, Gino now has the chance to chat to Brett Morris, co-director and co-writer of this coming of age South African comedy.Brett has had a long career as a creative in the advertising world, ranked in the top 5 by his peers. He is a published fiction, non-fiction and feature film script writer and shares his insights about cinema and just what it took to bring Just Now Jeffrey to the scre...
On Spring Day, 1 September 2023 SABC TV Licences launched the Win A Holiday Experience competition campaign in an effort to encourage South African customers to pay (or renew) their TV Licences.For their efforts, customers would be rewarded with weekly prizes such as smart TVs, Bluetooth speakers, wireless headphones and laptops. This was done by a random selection automated by a dedicated microsite that was set up to monitor the competition entries.In order to qualify for the prizes, the cus...
Former minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan, once called today's guest "aSouth African writer to look out for".Palesa Mazamisa is a published playwright, author and producer.Before entering the world of theatre and film, she worked in the publishing industry and has touched on journalism while remaining a human rights and gender activist.Palesa spent her childhood in The Netherlands before continuing her education in the US. From there she was "head hunted" back to South Africa. Followi...
"This time around Gino hooks up with the producer of Netflix's Inkabi - who also happens to be an old school colleague, in the person of Princess Zinzi Mhlongo; both of them hailing from eMalahleni, Witbank in Mpumalanga. Her professional theatre directing debut was a production of And the Girls in Their Sunday Dresses presented at festivals in the UK. In 2010 she was selected to be one of 12 theatre producers from across the world to participate in the Theatre Foreman Festival in Germa...
Three lucky kids from Thokoza will soon be winging their way to Portugal to represent South Africa as part of the CinemaTAKE filmmaking project.This week's episode finds Gino chatting to Emilie Demon and Mpumi Mcata (BLK JKS) from Cinema TAKE, an association born out of the friendship of film lover Emilie Demon and Muriel Huet, a presenter at the BFI (British Film Institute), among many other jobs, along with film director Mpumelelo Mcata. The association’s main objective is to bring cin...
This week Gino dives into the world of Post-Production, where all the component parts of a film or television programme are pulled together and given that extra polish that makes then stand out on our screens. To get more insight, Gino is chatting with Johnny Nkgapele.Having graduated at the University of Witwatersrand, Johnny wasted no time getting into the South African Film Industry. He started by editing LoveLife commercials and went on to editing reality shows and music videos, hav...
Love it or hate it, there is no denying that reality TV has changed the face of popular viewing. In this week's episode, Gino chats to Portia Hlubi, the founder of @Milk and Honey TV - a Black - Female Creative Agency that has crafted a spectacular reputation for itself on Africa’s TV landscape. Portia began her career as a commissioning editor but has really established her career with her involvement in reality TV. Gino gets a first hand understanding of just how you go about finding t...
37 episodes down the line and it is now a good time to catch up with the latest news about the raft of guests we have featured over the last 8 months. We have also included the link for each guest's episode, so you can easily refresh your memory as to what was going down back then.Guests:Sparky Xulu - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2220442/episodes/13356214Jefferson Tshabalala - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2220442/episodes/13476229 &nbs...
With 2024 well and truly established, it is time for a quick look at what's been happening on our own proudly South African doorstep.Gino casts his eye over 15 local productions from this year that have hit our screens.We've also added a Noteworthy section of an additional 5 titles (not all local) that are worth a look.Youngins - ShowmaxRed Ink - ShowmaxA Soweto Love Story - NetflixTrading Places - NetflixReyka 2 - NetflixEkhaya Backpackers - ShowmaxThe Mommy Club 2 - ShowmaxThe Real Housewiv...
As part of our ongoing journey through all aspects of Film, TV, Theatre and many other forms of media, Gino sits down with multi-award-winning production designer Karabo Legoabe. Karabo has a Naledi Award, an Independent Theatre Award and was listed as one of the Top 200 Young South Africans by Mail & Guardian in 2021.She studied drama at the National School of Arts then received her Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts Honours at Wits University majoring in Production Design and Arts Manage...
Today, Gino chats to Kari Sekati, co-founder of Stage Fabrics, supplying wardrobe and styling to both individuals and the TV and Film industries. From single day shoots for an ad to months spent on the set of a feature film, it all seems a far cry from Kari's background of business management and property investment.Kicking off in 2017, Stage Fabrics was built on a friendship through school at LISOF. The two young women have business, marketing and more importantly fashion qualifications whic...
In this episode Gino relates the ups and downs of having a few days off in Dubai. With useful tips on where to shop, how to save money and the best way to get about, this episode is your one-stop advice shop. Established in the 18th century as a small fishing village, Dubai grew into a regional trading hub in the early 20th century and grew rapidly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries with a focus on tourism and luxury. It has the second-most five-star hotels in the world , as well ...
It's almost Valentine's Day and you still haven't got anything for your beloved. Better get a move on. But can you afford it? In this episode Gino looks at what you could or should be earning in the Media industry. The episode is divided into three categories: Creative, Marketing and Social Media. Within these categories, Gino talks about the remuneration for various job titles. These are further broken down into beginner's, medium experience and heavyweight salaries, as well as the diff...
We have all heard of speed dating, but did you know that Christian speed dating was a thing? This week we are joined by Chantel Andile who tells us all about an upcoming event; Christian Speed Dating brought to you by Kingdom Matters. Chantel takes us through what's involved, how to get tickets, what's expected and why it's happening.Chantel is also into movie fantasy, her favourite at the moment being the Marvel Cinematic Universe which she is busy revisiting, following the MCU's timeline as...