buhlebonga-blog

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hahahahaha

“It’s Ferguson brain-dead”

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Being Nervous...

... Can mess you up, hey? It's sometimes the one thing between a good interview or an audition. 

It happened to me today. You know when you prepare for something, making sure that you know what's what and you're confident that you are prepared? Well you can never be fully prepared.

So I went to a smallanyana interview today. I prayed hard and long about it and I honestly believe that this is the time to make a move in life. But after leaving the room, I kinder felt like the worst. I felt like I didn't articulate myself clearly, I had open ended responses, and sometimes I was vague. But then, there were good moments too and Lord, I am praying those good moments carry me through. 

I once auditioned for Idols South Africa. It was for work purposes and it was fun. But then the fun left the room when I was in front of the judge. He basically told me to stop singing, change my song and sing again. I broke down. I literally said "I can't do this, and I walked away." I was doing it for an article and I was still freaking out. Imagine those who were serious?

How does one control nerves? Rescue drops have never really worked on me. I like took so many during exams, family deaths and my driver's licence test, but it was kinder pointless. 

Did I mess up? Maybe. But then, as my friend always says whenever I'm about to go live on radio every Friday- "Once you stop feeling nervous, you've lost the passion and it's become too easy. Rather leave." 

Nerves are bad. Terrible. They make you second guess yourself, but man, I'm not going to allow them to dictate how I fee about things. As nervous as I may be about them.

PIC: Source

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The last five months...

... Have been really difficult. Like really difficult. 

As most of my friends know, I'm super dedicated to my spiritual life. So naturally I'll always make sure that I'm good with God. And I'm active in all church activities. Even the choir. I don't really have that good a singing voice, but I know which songs work, who should lead a particular song and which song we should never, ever sing. So that's why I'm in teh choir.

But that aside, the last five months have been really difficult for me and they've taken a toll on me. I was going through my Facebook statuses and man, have they been bleak. I'm kinder ashamed that I went through a period where I asked God: 'Where are you? Have you forsaken me? Like I thought we were cool? Oh was I just kidding myself?" The worst just has to be the fact that I didn't realise I was being through a test of fire and did I pass? I don't know. 

I have a spiritual big sis, my confidante in all things that have to deal with my spiritual life and she's been a joy. She's made me hold on and not to give up. She's made me realise that praising God instead of always moaning is the only way to get through a slump like the one I was in.

Everything was going wrong. My job. My flat and relationship with my flat mates. My car got broken into and I had no car for a month. Finances. I even hated where I worked. But then she made me realise that someone else is going through worse and that God wouldn't give me something I couldn't handle. 

When I realised that, I stopped moping, got my act together and I prayed. As much as I don't the word that much- I don't read the Bible as much as I should, I found solace in it and it just goes to show that even when all is going south, there's really a light at the end of the tunnel and you need to just believe. 

I got my car back last week. I got an interesting message from someone  who may want to work with me. See? It all works out in the end. 

Now if only I had started praising God instead of complaining... 

Six weeks left before the year is over and I want to close it off with a bang! So more positivity and good things. 

I'm now counting down to 2014 which has NO choice but to be awesome. I command it to be awesome! 

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Neglecting my Tumblr

*sigh* So I've decided to come back after nearly six months of ignoring my Tumblr.   Okay. it feels like six months. It's only been five. But still. You know what I mean. 

It's weird. I haven't even logged on to a Tumblr website in more than six months too. (five) I've been that busy, plus work has me down. 

But it's all good. I'm good. Life's not so rosy, but hey, if you don't have problems, is life really worth living? But that being said, I'd rather have rich people's problems. They are so much better. Except running away from the tax dudes. Now that aint cool.

So this is just a lil small post to say I have returned and I have so many awesome experiences to share. 2013 has been a really nasty year for me, but I've grown and it looks like the last six weeks are going to be amazing. I command them to be!

Okay. That's enough.

Later

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Dear Elle, Cosmo, GQ & Marie Claire: Thank You

I guess I'm always going on about how our local magazines should feature more local stars in them. Hell, I give them a pretty hard time about ignoring our local, homegrown stars. I've been pretty hard on GQ for a couple of years now. And who can blame me? There's so many local stars to profile. Many models, actors and sports stars who are cover worthy!

So July/August has been a great month, mainly because these magazines have featured local faces on their covers. 

Elle had Tarina Patel for their July issue and for August they have Oluchi Orlandi. While Oluchi is Nigerian, I still claim her because she's an African lass who rarely ever features in African versions of International glossies! For that, well done Jackie Burger and team. 

GQ had model, Nicole Meyer on their July issue. Pity about the JGL cover story which is a year old. But Piet Smedy did an okay job with Nicole's story. And the pictures were perfect for GQ and the cover as classy as GQ could go. For that, thanks a lot Craig Tyson. Now may we have some more local stars? 

Cosmo had media darling and one of my favourite TV personalities, Bonang Matheba on the cover for July. The only local mainstream cover Bonang now needs is GQ, Marie Claire and Women"s Health. She's done them all, with the exception of the Afrikaans titles, which I suppose, are very niche. So well done Cathy Lund and team. 

Marie Claire surprised me the most. I love these covers with HSH Princess Charlene, Ryk Neethling and Chad le Clos. It's beautiful and it's even better because it's for a cause. Thanks Aspasia Karras and team! 

I've got the GQ, Elle and Cosmo covers. I've going to get Elle and Marie Claire next week.  So please, let's support local cover stories. You DO know that if the sales are great, then that means that local editors will start having more local stars on their covers? 

I'm happy. I really am and it's about damn time! We can't just rely on RollingStoneSA alone now, can we? 

PIC: Mosaic using Fotor.com 

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Bonang for Cosmopolitan July 2013. 

Beautiful cover. I haven't read the story, doubt I will. Cosmo was banned at home when I was growing up and even when they have a cool person on the cover, I've never wanted to buy it. 

But Kudo's to Bonang for getting another milestone cover.

Speaking of milestone covers, Kerry Washington is on the cover of Vanity Fair August 2013. DOPE!!! This is a big one too and about damn time! That last black cover was six years ago with Beyonce, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx. 

Nicely done Kerry and congrats on the marriage!

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Vanity Fair's Fold Out Covers are DOPE

I'm a huge fan of Vanity Fair magazine. Like I love that magazine. 

So I love it when they have those special foldout covers, either for the Oscars, the models or Hollywood's young starlets.

I've always wanted to do a spread like these ones above. A South African version would have people like:

Minnie Dlamini, Boity Thulo, Samkelo Ndlovu, Pearl Thusi, Jay Anstey, Lerato Kganyago, Lalla Hirayama, Jenna Dunster, Mbali Mlotshwa and Carina Nel. 

I'm actually going to design one this weekend, if and when I get the time and then put it up here. 

So if any local magazine wants to profile it's young stars, come on- do it! There's so much fun to be had in the design! 

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Good TV is back- Strictly Come Dancing 6

I watch TV for a living. It's something I used to hate, but now I love it. While I'm still a radio person (always will be a first love) I now appreciate great TV. I can tell between nonsense and great TV. It's irritating to many, but they've learnt to deal with it. 

So The sixth season of Rapid Blue's local version of the British classic, Strictly Come Dancing is coming back in a weeks time and I'm so happy. It's been five years since Rob van Vuuren surprised many with his excellent dancing and when he won, I was on my feet clapping.

I've always had an interest in ballroom dancing, but I never took it up because where I grew up, it was only for adults. Something about it being too sensual for kids. As if. So when the show premiered in the early 2000s on SABC 2, I was addicted to it. I threatened to quit watching the show when Zwai Bala left in season 1 and the same when Tamara Dey left in season 2. I laughed at Uyanda Mbuli, Hezekiel Sepeng, Lischen Botes and Judith Sephuma's terrible dance moves. I loved it when HHP and Emmanuel Castis won. It was a great show and we got to know a bit more about our celebs and this enabled everyone to see them failing or triumphing in something, making them human. 

Now SCD is about celebrities and honestly half the cast of this years' edition are not really celebrities. Especially Damon Kalvari, who's only a producer on Gareth Cliff's 5fm show. This show is supposed to be about people the whole country knows. No one knows Damon. Hell, my gran, who's a huge fan of the show, doesn't listen to 5fm. So how is she going to know that this dude is a 'celebrity'? 

Anyway gripe over, I'm really looking forward to this season and I really hope that this season delivers! Blood on the dance floor!!! We need it! 

Oh and my money is no Durban Kwaito maestro, Lvovo Derrango and defending champion, Mary Martins!!! 

Here's a list of the celebrity contestants and their dancers:

Damon Kalvari  and Hayley Hammond Thapelo Mokoena and Hayley Bennet Mpho Popps  and Nombulelo Hlathi L’Vovo  and Mary Martins Graeme Richards and Lindsey Muckle Kuli Roberts and Sylvester Sefotlhelo Llala Hiriyama and Grant Esterhuizen Connie Ferguson and Brandon Eilers Zakeeya Patel and Ryan Hammond Jay Antsey and Tsholo Moholwane

So thank you SABC 3 for bringing it back! Some good, lighthearted TV to look forward to! 

PICS: Total Exposure

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Rihanna rocks Chanel Haute Couture

Ja, no. We should all just accept that Rihanna will always school people in how to take fashion as far as possible. I mean that girl can be as risque as possible, hell, even look trashy, but she always makes sure to give it a hint of class that one can't help but love it. 

I'm a huge fan of Rihanna's personality. Her music is ayt, I'm bored with it actually. But man, when it comes to style, this girl has it in bucketloads! 

So her outfit at the Chanel Haute Couture SS14 showcase this morning, is, as her stans are most likely to say, giving me life! Simple, edgy, risque  yet those pearls add a touch of class!

Come on Karl! Make that girl the face of Chanel accessories already! 

PIC: Reuters 

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JGL covers GQ South Africa July - uses same cover image (and story) from a year old interview for GQ USA

So maybe I should just stop moaning. Actually I will. 

All I'm saying is that cop a gander at GQ South Africa using the same picture and story that was done a year ago... Boy Wonder, written by Amy Wallace. It was for the August 2012 issue of GQ US and the story was done as a promo for The Dark Knight Rises... 

I don't know hey. Like, I understand that some magazines use the whole syndication thing, especially for MNC type magazines, so I understand, but man, this story is old. Couldn't they have rather gotten the Henry Cavill cover story (YES, I know they profiled Superman in that Bradley Cooper cover, but they could have held back) or even Andy Murray's British GQ cover story- which is timely, with it being Wimbledon on Sunday. 

The only great thing about this issue- cover wise- is that they have a local lady on the cover: Nicole Meyer. I am happy for her and this is great! Now feature more local models and famous actresses on the covers, please? 

And our sportsmen? You mean that none of our sportsmen can clean up nicely for a GQ cover? 

Anyway I'm still going to get it. Or rather, I'm going to receive it in the post because a dear friend of mine subscribed to the magazine for me as a birthday gift. 

I stay hoping for more local stories. 

PICS: GQ South Africa Facebook Page

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BREAKING NEWS: GAME OF THRONES EPISODE FORCES PLANE TO MAKE EMERGENCY LANDING

A plane on route to the San Francisco International Airport tonight had to make an emergency landing when passengers watching pirated versions of the HBO series Game of Thrones began hyperventilating, screaming hysterically, and violently damaging their tray tables. The situation turned more volatile when an airline stewardess unintentionally spoiled the ending of the episode for the captain, after which he stormed out of the cockpit shouting obscenities, forcing his co-pilot to land the plane on his own.

“I’ve never seen something like this before,” said one passenger on the flight. She was sitting next to one of the victims. “One minute, the guy next to me is just watching a show on his laptop, then all of the sudden, he starts shouting ‘No way! No F**king way!’” According to the witness, the man then slammed his laptop shut and violently kicked the chair in front of him. “He just wouldn’t stop screaming. He wouldn’t stop shouting cuss words.”

Another witness reported a similar incident at the front of the plane. “This chick next to me just started freaking out” says Martin Lodge, 39. “She was sobbing and kept saying ‘why, why, why’. At first, I thought maybe her boyfriend had just broken up with her by email or something, but then I heard this guy at the back of the plane yell ‘no way! no f**king way!’ and I knew something was going on. But what really tripped me out was the lady behind me. She started laughing!”

That lady was Angelica George, 32, who says she would have given anything to have had a video camera. “This was one of the most hysterical things I’ve ever seen. I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan and I’ve read the books, so I know exactly what happened in tonight’s episode. I just couldn’t help but laugh at their reactions, especially when the captain ran into the cabin shouting “f**k you George RR Martin!”

After landing, the plane was unloaded quickly and the affected passengers and captain were rushed to a nearby emergency room where they were treated with oxygen, heat blankets, and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Rocky Road Ice Cream.

There is no word yet on their condition.

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Pajiba's "Rain of Castamere" recap made me cry.

I've been so busy lately that I haven't been on tumblr for like more than three weeks. Well, that and the fact that I had so much to say, that I didn't know HOW to write it without it being a rant. Again. I've been ranting a lot lately and as much as Buhle Bonga is MY tumblr site, I'm sure I have people who read it and there's nothing as boring as someone who whinges all the time. Even when those whinges are actually warranted. 

Okay. So I'm yet to watch the penultimate episode of the third season of Game of Thrones. As we all know, the ninth season is always shockingly awesome and a major game changer. And I expected The Rains of Castamere to be JUST that. 

I could't help myself. I read TK's recap of the episode and my word- it was beautiful! I only realised when I had finished reading it, that I had tears streaming down my face. That's just how awesome it was. Weird, you may say, I know. I surprised  myself too. The thing about that recap wasn't just a write up of what had happened on the show, but it was a tribute to the Starks- Robb and Lady Catelyn Stark. 

I may not have seen the episode (I'm watching it tonight, Tuesday 4/06/2013), but I'm going to watch it like I haven't even heard what will happen!

Read the recap here and if you want, you can weep. Aint no judgement! 

PIC: HBO

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For the love of the Festival de Cannes

I love the Cannes Film Festival. Interesting mix between great films, odd films, crap films and of course the glamour associated with the south of France. 

It's my favourite time of the year, especially since it takes place a few days after my birthday, so as people who know me, I love film, TV and great fashion.

Already I'm happy with what I've seen, style wise. The ladies have started looking great in couture i.e Carey Mulligan, Nicole Kidman (she's killing it like Diane Kruger), Fan Bingbing and Audrey Tatou. 

The gents haven't been anything to write home about. I miss Jude Law and Ryan Gosling's style, so I can't wait until they get to Cannes.

The L'Oreal girls have started already, Freida Pinto, Julianne Moore and Sonam Kapoor making sure they are photographed like never before. I wonder when Eva Longoria, Aishwarya Rai Bachan and Jane Fonda are arriving. A question- why isn't Terry Pheto ever invited to Cannes? I mean she's the only African L'Oreal spokesmodel...

Anyway I'll be bring you cool pics, courtesy of the wires of AP and Reuters, as always. 

Here's to two weeks of great films, great fashion, parties and the South of France 

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Being a TV writer is tough in SA.

*This is a rant about my feelings being a TV writer in SA*

I'm just going to come out and say it: being a TV writer is damn hard in South Africa.

I watch a lot of TV, not for my enjoyment, but mainly to keep abreast of what is happening in TV, locally and internationally. However when it comes to South African TV, I've stopped watching. 

Not all the TV shows are bad. There are some really good productions, like Isibaya, Highrollers, Scandal and even Skeem Sam.

Isibaya has impressed me a lot and just goes to show that we DO have excellent writers, directors  producers and actors in this country. To produce a show that good is a triumph for local TV and I'm really happy for The Bomb Shelter for the success of the show. Also the talent on the 

But dammit man, that's all there is. No other local show is doing great.  I never want to be negative in my writing as that never helps anyone and that's the reason why I stepped away from news reporting. However, I don't ever want to write fluff pieces. I'm not saying I'm a perfect writer, God knows I'm far from where I want to be and should be, but I try. I try my best. But I've asked myself whether it's time I started calling out some people for the ridiculous shows they commission on my column, The TV Snitch, published every Sunday on the Sunday Tribune. 

I always ask myself after speaking to a certain actor and they give me crap answers, whether it's my questions or he just wasn't interested in the interview. Either you get vague answers, or they say they are the best thing that's ever happened to the production. They may be, in their mind, but it doesn't translate well on screen but you don't see that on screen. I've had people come with their ego and act all high and mighty and then when the interview starts, I realise they don't even know a thing about their character. 

I read industry publications like THR, Variety, Collider, NYTImes, Vulture etc and I always make sure that my method of questioning is never the same. I study works by Tim Goodman and the THR team, Maureen Ryan and the HuffPost TV staff and even Dalton Ross of EW. I always want to make sure that I don't cheat my interviewee or the readers. Yes, sometimes I have crap, generic questions, which happens to the best of us and I'm not defending myself, but I'm being honest here. Sometimes I don't even bother asking THOSE questions because judging from the actors' previous interviews, they've been nonsense. 

Sometimes I ask myself why I should bother thinking my questions through when I know I will get crap answers that bore me to death. Worse is when you push the actor to say what he really wants to say, he backs off. And then one is left with a damned puff piece which tells you nothing about the characters and nothing about the actors' opinion about the character. I can't with that. It helps on one. No one benefits. By doing it, I feel like I'm aiding in this mediocrity. 

I'm very critical of our local industry because I believe that we have so many talented people. Yet we keep seeing the same faces all the time. And it's not because they are so good, no. It's more a case if they are pretty or handsome and look great on TV, but when it comes to talent I'm left wanting. Which is why I've stopped watching. Which is bad. I dedicate one day a week for local shows, and sometimes I don't even finish the episode. 

I'm not saying that international TV is amazing. There are some really great shows with a great premise and cast, but the writing staff fails them. Or the acting. I was so disappointed with the second seasons of Homeland and Revenge. Don't get me started on anything that's on The CW. 

There are some great UK shows like Broadchurch, that I loved watching and I was invested in the story line. May Day was also great, but the ending sucked and there were so many things I could have done differently. I'm currently loving The Killing on AMC. So much character development, it's impressive. 

These past few weeks I've been trying to get an interview with a rising star (not because she's so talented, but more because she's hot) and it's been so difficult. It's taken me three weeks to try and speak with her, while it took ONE weekend for Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, to reply to my email. 

It's damned tough being a TV writer in SA and I really wish that it was easier. I wish our local stars weren't so touchy about critique. I wish when one asks intelligent questions, we get intelligent answers. Is it because they are scared of speaking the truth and maybe upsetting the producer? I don't know. But oh do I wish I could do something about it. 

PS: Shout out to Thinus Ferreira for trying to uphold the standards in TV reporting in South Africa. It's appreciated. Keep at it man. 

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Dear SA TV Publicist

I've had this conversation with many of our local TV publicists and I think I've given up. 

I write about TV, review shows and have interviews with various actors. But it's with great difficulty doing stories on local TV shows because I have to watch the shows and major story lines at almost the same time as the viewers, meaning that if I DO get a preview, it's stuff I would have read from their episode snippets and not a proper screener. 

Is it too much to ask for local TV shows to supply TV critics and writers screeners of their shows? Yes, I understand that the local TV industry is SO sensitive to any form of criticism, but sometimes we have nothing to go on with and that's why you'll find that it's difficult to do pre-interviews with cast members of any show. 

All I'm asking is that we get a proper press pack with info about a particular story line. I watch so much TV, it's hard to keep up with it. Really. I can't keep up with local TV as I can't keep up with US and UK TV (even though my tweets may say otherwise). 

I want to produce better work and that also lies in the publicists and channel heads meeting us halfway. Not only will I get a better story, but your star gets much better coverage and the viewers get to know more about that particular character, story line and TV show.

PIC: gregarnette.com 

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Iron Man drives an Audi R8 e-tron

Take THAT James Bond. Tony Stark is coming for that ass.*

Iron Man, which opens in cinema's soon, sees Tony Stark played by RDJ drive one of the hottest cars I've seen in a while, the beautiful and super fast Audi R8 e-tron!

All I'm saying is I can't wait to see it in action, especially since, according to Audi:

With a lap time of 8:09.099 minutes, the R8 e-tron has just become the fastest production vehicle with an electric drive system around the fabled Nürburgring in Germany.

While Iron Man gets people talking, the Audi R8 e-tron is all about torque: 4,500 Nm to be exact courtesy of four electric motors mounted to each wheel. 

I'd love to drive one! Really. But then I will never, so I've stopped dreaming of ever driving one. 

*This is from The Boondocks Season 1 Christmas episode where Riley Freeman talks about coming for Santa Claus' ass. I don't believe in coming for people's asses. #Thatsall 

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Rita Ora is an Elle Cover Girl... And I love it. :(

I'm not a Rita Ora fan. I just don't get her and her music. Yes, she has a decent voice, but she's not bringing anything to the pop music circuit.

But she takes a damn good picture. In couture even. Impressive. 

She's one of three musicians on Elle USA's music issue. Her, Adele and Alicia "I Broke a Home" Keys. 

Love her spread.