Author: Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB, Andrew has worked full time in the film industry since the early 2000's. He has trained as an actor, completing his LAMDA Gold Medal, and attending many courses in Cape Town acting studios, with masterclasses with some of the international industries top directors, producers and filmmakers.

Working as an actor and armourer in the film and television industry have given Andrew a great balance of skills across the board when it comes to the entertainment industry.

Catch him on Twitter: twitter.com/andrewgerm_za
And IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm5390453/

Categories
Television

History Africa Highlights – October 2020

UNIDENTIFIED INSIDE: AMERICA’S UFO INVESTIGATION S2
Brand New & Exclusive

9 October – 27 November, Fridays 21:05 In 2018
The New York Times ran a front-page story on a secret government program that studied UFOs and the threat of alien invasion. Championed by American senators and shadowy billionaires alike, the program ran from 2007 to 2012 and allegedly compiled a trove of evidence into a 600-page report. Exclusive to HISTORY, this explosive special presents the report’s classified contents including startling video analysis that has never been released, until now.

MOUNTAIN MEN S9
Brand New Season and Exclusive

15 October – 17 December, Thursdays 20h15
There are men in America who must still make their living off the land; hunting and trapping to provide for their families. They are MOUNTAIN MEN. Their very survival is predicated on utilising ancient skills perfected over hundreds of years. This series features a variety of men from Appalachia to the Rocky Mountains to Alaska and follows them as they race against winter to obtain the sustenance and money needed to make it through the coldest months of the year. Together, they represent America’s true MOUNTAIN MEN.

PRESIDENTS STUNT
4 October – 15 November, Sundays from 19h25

In the build up to the intense race for the 2020 US Presidential elections, HISTORY unpacks the legacies of Presidents past and present and unearths secrets of the White House and Air Force One, with the Presidents Stunt. Featuring exclusive premieres and leading titles such as Presidents at War, The Trump Dynasty and the epic mini series Grant which premieres on November 1.

BIOGRAPHY: THE TRUMP DYNASTY

4 October- 8 November, Sundays 19h25
From the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s to the origins of a New York real-estate empire, this provides an all-encompassing view of the Trump family that has rarely been seen. The series delves into Donald Trump’s childhood in Queens, his risky move into the world of Manhattan real estate, his notoriety as a best-selling author and reality television star, and the lead up to his 2016 presidential campaign. Drawing from first-hand accounts and never-before-seen archival footage, The Trump Dynasty examines the life and heritage of the 45th President of the United States.

AMERICA’S GREAT DIVIDE: FROM OBAMA TO TRUMP

4 October- 25 October, Sundays 20h15
An investigation into America’s increasingly bitter, divided and toxic politics. Episode one traces how Barack Obama’s promise of unity collapsed as increasing racial, cultural and political divisions laid the groundwork for the rise of Donald Trump. Episode two examines how Donald Trump’s campaign exploited the country’s divisions and how his presidency has unleashed anger on both sides of the divide.

THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE WHITE HOUSE

4 October, Sunday 21h20
Piecing together information from secret sources and a two-hundred-year evolution of the White House, investigative journalists and government insiders weigh in on the mystery of an unusual white box and a top-secret construction project dubbed the “Big Dig” that took place outside of the West Wing from 2007-2012. Using little known images, previously classified material and detailed graphics, the search for truth reveals not only what secrets might lay below the White House, but how their existence could affect democracy as we know it.

THE SECRET HISTORY OF AIR FORCE ONE

11 October, Sunday 21h20
This one-hour special utilises exclusive footage to bring audiences inside Air Force One like never before. Gripping archives paired with insider interviews will illuminate the hidden history of presidential flight and unveil the incredible history of America’s most famous plane.

PRESIDENTS AT WAR

18 October – 25 October, Sundays 21h20
Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Eight remarkable men who served in World War II and went on to become Commanders-in-Chief. This is the story of how their war experiences changed them, how they emerged from conflict as leaders, and how the crucible of war shaped the decisions they made when they ultimately reached the White House.

GRANT

1 November – 15 November, Sundays 20h15
Grant tells the remarkable story of a humble man who overcomes incredible obstacles, rises to the highest ranks of power and saves the nation not once, but twice. With a seamless blend of dramatic scenes, expert commentary and enhanced archival imagery, this three-part miniseries uncovers the true legacy of the unlikely hero who led the nation during its greatest tests: the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Categories
Uncategorized

Ten Nonfiction Films Combine Art, Science, Storytelling: Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund Grantees

The nonprofit Sundance Institute and Sandbox Films, a new mission-driven documentary studio, selected and announced their latest cohort of filmmakers and projects supported by the Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund, an initiative that elevates the voices of independent artists working at the intersection of science and nonfiction storytelling as they produce and promote work and discourse that highlights the overlap of science and art.

The ten selected project teams will receive non-recoupable grants and access to Sundance Institute’s year-round continuum of support, which can help address creative, financial and production issues. In addition to this tailored project support, the grantees will receive opportunities for engagement events where they can connect with Sundance’s network of alumni and creative advisors and Sandbox Films ’s roster of renowned scientists, as well as enthusiastic audiences.

Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Fund Director, said, “These visionary storytellers are working at a crucial intersection in this moment — one that centers artful nonfiction storytelling and scientific exploration and thinking. We’re pleased to champion their works, and look forward to leveraging our collective expertise to help them develop, shape and uplift their stories as they come together.”

Jessica Harrop, Head of Production, Sandbox Films, said, “We are thrilled to announce this new cohort of Sandbox Fund awardees, each of whom is expanding the boundaries of science storytelling in their own way. It is so important to us at Sandbox Films to reimagine what science stories can look like. We could not be more excited to see what this diverse group of artists creates.”

The 2020 Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund Grantees are:

DEVELOPMENT

The Age of Loneliness (USA, Canada, Germany)
dir. Jenni Morello
prod. Leslie Norville and Bennett Elliott

It is estimated that over 40% of the planet’s insect species are flying towards a catastrophic demise. As the world enters the 6th wave of extinction, we need to prepare ourselves to live in a flowerless world, with silent forests and the collapse of functioning ecosystems. If we lose insects, who is to say humans aren’t next? The Age of Loneliness is a look at the global fight to stop the impending insect apocalypse.

Darwin’s Baby (Spain)
dir. Shenny A. Madrigal and Daniel B. Arvizu
prod. Shenny A. Madrigal and Daniel B. Arvizu

Darwin’s Baby follows the venture of an illustrator and a science-philosopher in their pursue to draw a user’s manual for the human mind. A map of where the inbuilt program ends and the self begins.

End of Land (USA, Russia)
dir. Sara Dosa
prod. Shane Boris, Anna Fitch, Elijah Stevens

End of Land is an observational portrait of apocalypse, myth, and the human relationship with non-human nature, told through the explorations and interpretations of a mysterious new phenomenon: exploding methane deposits that open portals to the past and leave vast craters on Siberia’s Yamal Peninsula.

Finding Your Voice (USA)
dir. Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana and Daniel Chein
prod. Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana and Daniel Chein

From vocalists to emcees, educators to artificial intelligence, our voices are something that define much of who we are, but which we often take for granted. Finding Your Voice explores our unique identity rooted in voice through the lens of science, technology, and culture, and the universal journey to find it.

Red Moon (UK)
dir. Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian
prod. Luke W. Moody

Old worlds decolonise future worlds, migrant bodies prepare to settle on the moon. Through role-play, magic, and doppelgängers, Red Moon offers an experimental vision and template for future diasporas beyond Earth. How will the first children of the moon understand origins, borders and territories?

Testosterone: The Movie (USA)
dir. Kimberly Reed
prod. Louise Rosen

In an eye-opening exploration of the gender spectrum, humans increasingly defy binary categories, while science has learned to measure biological sex by myriad factors. Is it time to socially redefine gender in more complex ways, beyond our narrow ideas of chromosomes and testosterone?

Wilfred Buck (Canada)
dir. Lisa Jackson
prod. Lisa Jackson, Alicia Smith

Wilfred Buck is a hybrid feature centering on a Cree elder who’s been called the Indiana Jones of Indigenous star knowledge. Weaving together his harrowing past and his present life with sky stories, we’ll move between the gutter and the stars to unpack colonization’s impact on Indigenous ways of knowing.

PRODUCTION

Brigidy Bram: The Kendal Hanna Story (Bahamas, USA)
dir. Laura Gamse, Toby Lunn
prod. Kareem Mortimer, Bernard Myburgh

Bahamian painter Kendal Hanna endured years of 1950s-era electroshock therapy before emerging to create a body of work described as “a gold mine.” Artists and scientists collaborate to explore Hanna’s story and the forces that threatened to erase his memory, his work, and his name from history.

Nocturnes (India)
dir. Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan
prod. Anirban Dutta

In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, a young woman scientist studies moths. A young man rediscovers the forest he has grown up with. The film follows their fascinating journey into the secret world of moths, inviting us to witness their beauty, their fragility in the face of rising temperatures and our own hidden connection with them.

Planet Nine (USA)
dir. Daniel J. Clark
prod. Caroline Clark, Nick Andert

The world’s greatest astronomers have recently calculated that a new planet, never before seen by human eyes, lurks at the edge of our solar system. Now, the race is on to find it, and whoever succeeds will be responsible for one of the most momentous discoveries in history.

For more information about the partnership go to www.sundance.org/sandbox-fund. For more information about Sandbox Films go to www.sandboxfilms.org

Categories
Awards

Academy Reveals 2020 Student Academy Award Winners

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted 18 students as winners of the 47th Student Academy Awards® competition. This year, the Student Academy Awards competition received a total of 1,474 entries from 207 domestic and 121 international colleges and universities. The 2020 winners join the ranks of such past Student Academy Award winners as Patricia Cardoso, Pete Docter, Cary Fukunaga, Spike Lee, Trey Parker, Patricia Riggen and Robert Zemeckis.

The winners are (listed alphabetically by category):

Alternative/Experimental (Domestic and International Film Schools)

  • Curry Sicong Tian, “Simulacra,” University of Southern California

Animation (Domestic Film Schools)

  • Pilar Garcia-Fernandezsesma, “Ciervo,” Rhode Island School of Design
  • Daniela Dwek, Maya Mendonca and Chrisy Baek, “Hamsa,” School of Visual Arts
  • Kate Namowicz and Skyler Porras, “Mime Your Manners,” Ringling College of Art & Design

Animation (International Film Schools)

  • Pascal Schelbli, “The Beauty,” Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

Documentary (Domestic Film Schools)

  • Allison A. Waite, “The Dope Years: The Story of Latasha Harlins,” University of Southern California
  • Laura Zéphirin, “Making Waves,” New York University
  • Yucong Chen, “Unfinished Lives,” University of Southern California

Documentary (International Film Schools)

  • Maren Klakegg, “Dear Father…,” Westerdals Institute of Film and Media, Kristiania University College (Norway)

Narrative (Domestic Film Schools)

  • Karishma Dube, “Bittu,” New York University
  • Rommel Villa Barriga, “Sweet Potatoes,” University of Southern California
  • Talia Smith, “Umama,” New York University

Narrative (International Film Schools)

  • Percival Argüero Mendoza, “Crescendo,” Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (Mexico)
  • Marie Mc Court, “I Was Still There When You Left Me,” Institut des Arts de Diffusion (Belgium)
  • German Golub, “My Dear Corpses,” Baltic Film & Media School, Tallinn University (Estonia)

First-time honors go to Baltic Film & Media School, Tallinn University, Estonia, and Institut des Arts de Diffusion, Belgium.

All Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible to compete for 2020 Oscars® in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Subject category. Past winners have gone on to receive 64 Oscar® nominations and have won or shared 13 awards. The medal placements – gold, silver and bronze – in the seven award categories will be revealed in a virtual program highlighting the winners and their films on Wednesday, October 21.

The Student Academy Awards were established in 1972 to provide a platform for emerging global talent by creating opportunities within the industry to showcase their work.

Categories
Television

Local Celebs Celebrate Lifetime’s Shamelessly Outrageous Movies

Lifetime (DStv 131), the leader in made-for-TV movies, is proud to bring you a full slate of shamelessly outrageous new movies every month and we’ve got some of your favourite local celebs coming along for the ride. From Shocktober thriller-style movies in October with Natasha Thahane to Wild Love movies in November with Ayanda MVP and Christmas movies in December with Lynn Forbes; tune in to Lifetime and stand a chance to win your share of prizes.

Hold on tight as Actress Natasha Thahane brings you all the nail-biting suspense of our October movie of the month, My Nightmare Landlord (Saturday 24 October at 19h20). In the movie, Lydia moves into a new apartment after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. She finds herself more and more isolated as her apartment manager becomes obsessed with her. Other thrillers to catch during “Shocktober” month include Psycho Yoga Instructor (Sunday 11 October at 19h20) and The Wrong Daughter (Saturday 3 October at 19h20).

Then in November, you can catch radio personality and TV presenter Ayanda MVP on the channel for a month of Wild Love. The movie of the month, Looking for Mr. Wonderful (Saturday 21 November at 19h20) sees Lisa create a bogus profile of her perfect guy on social media to make her mom and friends stop bugging her to get a man in her life. You’ll be gripped when the perfect guy comes knocking on her door and everything in Lisa’s life is thrown upside down. Other Wild Love movie titles include Perfect Wedding (Sunday 1 November at 19h20) and Suburban Swinger’s Club (Saturday 14 November at 19h20).

Also in November, Lifetime brings you brand new and exclusive new seasons of hit Wild Love reality shows: season 10 of Married at First Sight US and season 2 of Marrying Millions.

Megastar AKA’s mom, Lynn Forbes (also known as Glammy), will wrap up the year and bring you all the feels (and the glam) as she and her family host December’s movie of the month, Merry Liddle Christmas (Saturday 19 December at 19h20). In the movie, superstar Kelly Rowland plays Jacquie – a successful single entrepreneur whose messy family descends on her gleaming new dream home for the holidays. She struggles to keep her house together in time for a glossy video shoot of “the perfect Christmas.” And what would a Lifetime Christmas movie be without some romance thrown into the mix? While it isn’t be the Christmas Jacquie envisioned, it might just be the most magical one yet. Other heart-warming and star-studded holiday titles include; A Family Christmas Gift starring Patti LaBelle and Holly Robinson Peete (Sunday 20 December at 19h20) and A Very Vintage Christmas starring Tia Mowry (Sunday 6 December at 19h20).

Lynn Forbes says, “Shamelessly outrageous TV viewing gives us a way of escaping the unrealistic expectations of society, let down our hair and just be. The rebel inside me loves the shock factor.”

Since launching in the US 30 years ago, Lifetime Original Movies have solidified their place in pop culture. The movies have garnered over 63 Emmy® nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations and 20 Critics Choice nods.

Lifetime’s edgy, high energy and totally original movies are famous the world over and if you haven’t yet tuned in, now’s the time to do so – every Saturday and Sunday from 19h20 and weekdays from 14h35.

Lifetime Highlights – November 2020

01 November – 29 November
Wild Love Movies
Saturdays and Sundays from 1920

Lifetime brings you a full slate of shamelessly outrageous new movies every month; from Shocktober thriller-style movies in October with Natasha Thahane, to Wild Love movies in November with Ayanda MVP and Christmas movies in December with Lynn Forbes.

This month radio personality and TV presenter Ayanda MVP is bringing you all the Lifetime ‘love vibes’. Our wild love movies have it all from feel-good romance and beautiful wedding ceremonies to heart-racing drama and a deadly arranged marriage. Catch Ayanda MVP on Lifetime and across our social media during November and be sure not to miss out! Lifetime Movies air every weekend from 19h20 CAT on DStv 131.

LOOKING FOR MR. WONDERFUL
Saturday 21 November 19h20

Lisa is bright and attractive and adores her job which is closely related to her passion: extreme sports. To her mother and friends, she’s only missing a man in her life. To make them stop bugging her, Lisa creates a bogus profile of her perfect guy on social media and everybody is happy to hear she’s dating someone. But when the perfect guy knocks on her door looking handsome and adorable, everything in Lisa’s life is thrown into turmoil.

THE WRONG WEDDING PLANNER
Saturday 7 November 19h20

Detective Jones arrives at the house of a young couple, Ashley and Brad, blissfully engaged and preparing for their upcoming marriage. They had a mysterious break in at their home. While Det. Jones discovers nothing at the scene, we later find out it is their wedding planner, Mandy, who starts stalking them. She goes as far as
sabotaging Brad at work. Ms. Johnson, his boss, has no choice and places him on permanent leave as this Wrong Wedding Planner will stop at nothing to exact revenge. Vivica A. Fox, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Steve Richard Harris, Kristin Booth, Jackée Harry. (2020)

PERFECT WEDDING
Sunday 01 November 19h20

Jessica, a single mom and by-the-book wedding planner, and Adam, a rival event planner who can’t remember the last wedding he attended, are forced to work together on the same wedding by the mother-of-thegroom. Jessica’s a traditionalist, while Adam thinks outside the box, making it difficult for them to agree on anything. But as they struggle to co-plan the perfect ceremony – the music, caterers, the dress, the flowers – they realise that they actually complement each other perfectly. Between being a devoted mother and a hardworking wedding planner, Jessica worries that there is no room in her life for a relationship, but Adam and her son, Luke, think that this might be the most perfect match yet!

LOVE AT LOOK LODGE
Sunday 22 November 19h20

Lily (Clark Backo) dreams of being a successful hotel event coordinator and is thrilled when she’s given the chance to do so by helping Noah (Jonathan Keltz), a hotel guest, finish planning his sister Justine’s (Kathryn Kohut) wedding at a remote picturesque lodge. As she gets to know Noah, Lily realizes he is a workaholic and wants nothing more than to be at his office. Determined to make Justine’s wedding a success, Lily spends more time with Noah and encourages him to live in the moment and be more supportive of his sister’s big day. As the wedding day approaches, Lily and Noah learn to appreciate each other and what really matters in life and ultimately fall in love.

MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT S10
Brand New Season and Exclusive
13 November – 26 March
Fridays 20h05

In Married at First Sight singles who have failed to find love put their hearts in the hands of a team of experts, who select their perfect partner. The couples then meet for the first time at the altar. After the wedding and honeymoon, the married couples move in together and start their new lives. From the first kiss to the first tears, cameras document every moment as experts analyse the relationships. Six weeks of marriage later, the couples must make a decision: stay together or file for divorce.

MARRYING MILLIONS
Brand New and Exclusive
17 November – 12 January
Tuesdays 20h05

For love or for money? Marrying a millionaire may sound like a modern-day fairy tale, but it’s not all champagne and caviar. Before saying “I do,” six unlikely couples, each with one wealthy partner, will confront their differences as the regular partner is plunged into the rich
partner’s lavish lifestyle. Will extravagant trips and gifts bring these lovebirds closer, or will they lead to questions of compatibility?

THE BIG FAT WEDDING WALK
Brand New and Exclusive
24 November – 8 December
Tuesdays 21h00

Everyone wants to look their best on their wedding day. But for people with serious weight issues, losing the pounds isn’t just a matter of looking amazing in pictures; it’s a matter of life or death. The Big Fat Wedding Walk follows the raw and authentic journey of couples desperate to lose weight before their big day.

Categories
music

Rinél Day Is The Heroine Of Her Own Music Video

“In real life, there is not always a hero that charges in to save you. Often, you need to hold onto faith and prayer, which gives you the strength to save yourself. The hero usually only comes in after all of the sadness, self-examination and healing have already taken place. That is when your ‘Happily ever after’ starts,” says Rinél Day about the message behind the music video of her popular single – EK HET OPGESTAAN – which has just been released.

This magical tale, which is set in Medieval times, was filmed by the Coolerbox Brothers at Greensleeves Medievel Kingdom in Johannesburg. The idea was to create contrast between light and darkness by showing how the heroine escapes from the dark and finds a new life in the light.

According to Rinél, who can be seen wearing the most beautiful Hans Vosloo Du Toit creations throughout the video, the end-result surpasses her greatest expectations: “George from the Coolerbox brothers took my idea and created a remarkable fairy tale that shows viewers that they are able to be the hero of their own story. Each one of us deserve happiness and you can make the choice to find it yourself and to save yourself.”

The music video follows in the successful footsteps of the single, which claimed the number one spot on Pretoria FM’s Top 10 and is also currently featuring on the charts of various other radio stations nationwide. EK HET OPGESTAAN is the title track of her upcoming album, which will be released on 30 September 2020. The song was inspired by a difficult time in her own life. The strong message relates to audiences of all ages and the catchy tune is already a firm favourite on the dance floor.

Rinél was born in Vryheid and grew up in Richards Bay and Swartruggens. She is engaged to the love of her life, Shaun Walker, and has been working in the music industry for more than a decade.

This talented singer won her first singing competition at the age of ten and released her first self-titled Ghoema-nominated album (Best Pop Album by a Female Artist) in 2012. Her second album, Dit Staan in Die Sterre, was released in 2014 and was equally successful. It received a Ghoema nomination for Best Contemporary Album by a Female Artist and features well-known songs and music videos, such as Dit Staan in die Sterre, Ligjare Weg, Maak My Joune, and more.

Over the years, this versatile artist has achieved various career highlights: in 2012 she came sixteenth in the international World Peace Song Contest, with her song Vuur Met Vuur Veg; from 2014 to 2018 she acted as Guardian Angel of the Jacaranda Children’s Home; in 2015 she featured in the Leon Schuster’s blockbuster, Shucks! Pay Back The Money; and lastly, she was also part of the group JANEDUKE that reached the top 26 of the Afri-Visie song writing competition.

When she’s not busy conquering hearts on stage, she is busy writing songs and creating content for her blog, My Millennial Blog, which aims to provide beauty tips and advice on how to look good on a limited budget.

Rinél Day is always up for a new challenge and likes including new and interesting things in music videos. With the beautiful costumes, emotional acting and impressive fire related scenes, she has succeeded in creating a Hollywood standard video, with a very strong message for her fans.

The song is now available on all digital platforms here:

Google Play Music Link play.google.com/store/music/album?id=B3wkol4s44y2k2jdpy6hzklgd2y

Apple Music Link music.apple.com/us/album/ek-het-opgestaan-single/1520282208

Deezer Link www.deezer.com/en/album/156796872?deferredFl=1