Baby steps......

Our most recent workshop with the performers of Egazini resulted in much excitement surrounding our up and coming drama series. I went to fetch the 4 of them from Extension 6 where Egazini is located and brought them to the Africa Media Matrix (otherwise known as the Journ Department) where Sipho and I held our second workshop. We started off by listening to a locally produced radio drama called Beauty and the Beats and chatted about it afterwards. The response was rater eye-opening! Most of the comments were critical of the drama, specifically surrounding its not-so-hot script and it’s equally as ‘chilled’ acting. I was quite chuffed about the fact that the performers were able to identify problems with a radio drama. This meant they would be able to bring their knowledge and skills to the table when it comes time to produce our first drama. Then it came time to chat about the issue they felt are most prominent in their community and feel is necessary to produce a drama about. The unanimous decision was ‘young parenthood’.

What makes such an issue great to create a fictional script out of (especially considering this is a series) is the fact that there are multiple roles to play. The teenage girl, the un-communicative/absent parents, the judgmental nurses, the ‘sugar-daddy’ older boyfriend- all of whom play an important role in the community with regards to teenage pregnancy. So after our minds were made up, Sipho and I gave the performers an opportunity to practice their roles through an impromptu skit which we recorded in the studio. Instantly we could see the acting potential they had and their eager attitude towards this production for social change.
The two most important things regarding this project, in my opinion, is the need to keep the drama series as authentic as possible. That means to allow the majority of the scripting to be handed over to these actors so that the lines and story lines are solid, believable and entertaining for our target market. Secondly, we understand the need to steer clear of making the show too formal and educational, but rather to tell the stories in such a way that creates laughter, understanding, knowledge and ultimately social change.