LATOYA NEWMAN
SOUTH Africa's first ever awards to honour those involved in the world of TV soapies, The Royalty Soapie Awards (RSAs), launched yesterday at a star studded event at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort in KwaZulu-Natal.
The whose who of the SA television industry came out in support of the Awards by making a presence at the launch.
Founder of the RSAs, Winnie Modise, also popularly known as Khetiwe in Generations, said: "We are not competing with the SA Film and Television Awards.... just like you have the Crown Awards (gospel) and the SATMAs (SA Traditional Music Awards) which do not compete with the SAMAs (SA Music Awards)...soapies as a genre is big on its own. We do not have even one awards that is specific to the soapie industry."
Modise said besides the fact that she is from KZN, choosing to host the Awards in the province in November was largely due to KZN proving to be a powerhouse host of similar events. Also the eThekwini Municipality and the national and provincial departments of arts, culture and tourism have supported the concept.
As for the name Royalty Soapie Awards, Modise said it was because that's how the public treated soapie stars, like Royalty: "It's high time we honour the people behind the scenes in creating these stories," she said.
Echoing similar sentiments industry stalwart said in South Africa soapies are prime time family shows that possess the largest viewership- in excess of 20 million viewers per day. "Soapies in South Africa employ the largest chunk of the industry... so to create a platform to acknowledge soapies is an important step... I love history in the making. I love to see things that are creating history and I think this (the RSAs) is it."
Writer/director/producer Angus Gibson, who is also originally from KZN and currently busy with his latest TV project, the telenovela iSibiya on Mzanzi Magic, welcomed the idea of bringing more the industry to KZN: "Part of the reason we shoot in Joburg is because of the economics of the industry...We need to spend time in KZN, not just a small amount of time like with iSibiya but we want to come down here (KZN) to join you. I hope this is the beginning of something incredible."
Deputy Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa said through the arts, music, film and television, South Africa can project our culture and local talent to the international market. "We have a vibrant and growing industry and we want to see it being competitive internationally."
eThekwini Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said they were exited to host the Awards, a first for South Africa. She urged more practitioners in the industry to come to the province to film their projects, adding that a recent bi-lateral agreement between the City of Los Angeles and Durban would further compliment the existing infrastructure support for filming and other opportunities in the city.
The RSAs will take place in November. The public are invited to nominate and vote for their favourites in a host of catagories including best actor and actress, best new comer, best villain and others. A panel of judges will judge categories like best costume, best set design, best storyline, best direction and more.
*For full details visit www.royaltysoapie.co.za