Hlomla portrays Jacob on Jacob’s Cross, a South African television drama series made by M-Net Original Productions, about powerful oil magnates battling for Africa's rich off-shore oil resources. The series can only be seen in the U.S. via The Africa Channel, the first mainstream television network in the U.S. fully dedicated to showcasing the richness, diversity and beauty of modern Africa.
Hlomla will be in the U.S. accepting The Africa Channel Creative Achievement Award at the Pan African Film Festival's (PAFF) “A Night of Tribute” awards on behalf of Jacob’s Cross. The ceremony will take place at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles on February 17. During Hlomla's visit we are arranging media interviews for him with outlets that include 94.7 The Wave's Pat & Kim's Morning Radio Show;Hollywood Official; The Africa Channel’s "Conversations With…” series; various red carpet appearances and receptions (including South Africa Airways, and SA Tourism, among others); plus a visit to the Los Angeles City Hall at the invitation of Councilman Tom LaBlonge. Hloma will also participate at PAFF’s Director’s Panel (held at the prestigious Director’s Guild of America). Additional appearances for his four-day visit are still being confirmed.
Hlomla Dandala is a well-known, critically acclaimed South African actor, presenter and director who has been featured in many local and international productions. His impressive portfolio includes playing Support Lead Oliver Tambo with Jennifer Hudson and Terence Howard in the soon to be released feature film WINNIE (2010), which portrays the life of Winnie Mandela. He has also played Support Lead as Sgt. Charlton in the 2010 production of SNIPER III (feature film), and as Lead Detective, Joe Tau in the vampire feature film, ETERNITY. From 2007 to date, Hlomla has played the lead in JACOB'S CROSS, now in its 5th season - a production that has gained unsurpassed popularity throughout Africa and on international platforms.
Chris Chameleon back with BOO!
This bi-lingual performer is an avid farmer – cultivating his strengths in acting, musical composition and writing.
We know him as the character, Liam in Sewende Laan. Recently he appeared as the eccentric doctor, Thomas, in Binnelanders.
His fan base has been extended to include the resurrection of the band Boo! of which he is the founder member and lead vocalist.
Watch Lindani Nkosi and Zandile Msutwana in this movie to be released soon.
DIRECTOR: Jahmil X.T. Qubeka
COUNTRY: South Africa
YEAR: 2010
A heinous crime is committed
against the backdrop of
xenophobic riots that have swept
through the country. When one
man is killed, and his brother and
girlfriend violently assaulted and
left for dead, three Scorpions
investigators from the big city are
sent to the small, remote town of
Descent to solve the case. There
they are faced with the hostility of
the townspeople as well as their
own unresolved issues.
SAGA
South African Actors, this is it! You wanted a union ... we got it. Find out how you can officially become a member of the SAGA actors union. This is your chance to stand together and insist on standards in your industry.
Do not miss this opportunity to sign up.
Thysnywerheid
In this Sitcom which starts 14 October 2010 at 20h00 on Kyknet you can see 8 Thespians: Richard van der Westhuizen, Amor Tredoux, Albert de Villiers, Vicky Kente, Ryno Hattingh, Anthony Wilson, and introducing Irvine van der Merwe and Liesl Ahlers.
Welkom by die wonderlike ‘whacky’ lewe van die Thyssen-gesin en hulle ‘Thysnywerheid’.
Ons ontmoet die Thyssens van Meiringskloof: Thys en Marina, Marike-Marie, Klippies en Cola, en malkop Ouma Tilly.
Thys besluit dis hoogtyd dat sy geliefde ‘Kwaaibabatjie’, Marina, haar eie Tuisnywerheid oopmaak. Hy bederf haar deur die tuin langs hul huis te omskep in haar eie winkel, wat sy met liefde na Thys vernoem, as ‘Thysnywerheid’. Tot die misnoeë van Thys se ma, maltrap Tilly, want sy was vas oortuig dat hy van plan was om vir haar ‘n tuinwoonstel langs die huis te bou ...
Die openingsdag van Thysnywerheid is vol verassings - van ‘n oulike dame van Mosambiek tot ‘n rugbyheld met ‘n groot probleem!
Klippies doen sy bes om elke week te kan spog met ‘n nuwe werk om tog uiteindelik ‘n inkomste te kan genereer, wat natuurlik lei tot baie verassings vir die gesin.
Tilly druk haar eie merk af op ‘Thysnywerheid’ – iets wat Marina grief.
In ‘Thysnywerheid’ ontmoet ons die ander belangrike inwoners van Meiringskloof wat verlief raak op die gebak: Antonie – die kamp outjie wat by die veearts werk, Taxirank Ambition Molefe wat die sekuriteit doen, en Giel – Meiringskloof se statige heer, en dan Marike-Marie se nemesis ... Ransjama Naidoo. Natuurlik daag Marina se beste vriendin uit haar verlede op ... ‘n oulike dame van Mosambiek wat Portugees magtig is, en presies weet hoe om Tilly se skerp tong stomp te maak.
Geniet die intriges van dié eksentrieke gesin. ‘n Aweregse sitkom met ‘n ‘Thysnywerheid’ tertjie, of ‘n soetig- of stoutigheid vir elke kykNET kyker, selfs al is dit ‘n ‘Zuma-tertjie’ in plaas van ‘n ‘Hertzoggie’ ...
Isidingo's Prada
ASHISH GANAPERSAD appears as Prada:
This article appeared in the Sunday Tribune and written by Collin Roopnarain:
If you’re reading this, then there’s pretty much one thing you want to know upfront - is he or isn’t he? To which I’d like to pose the question: does it really matter?
At the end of our conversation, he asks me what I honestly thought when I saw him on TV. I told him that based on subtle mannerisms, yes, I assumed he had to be gay.
“Thank you,” he says, “I know it sounds weird, but that’s what I want to hear. It means I’ve done my job.”
Don’t worry - this isn’t one of those pieces where we allude to revealing his sexuality and then ultimately wimp out with a “does it really matter?”
So is he? No. Ashish Gangapersad is a happily involved heterosexual male. But he’s also acutely aware of the consequences of taking on the role of Prada on Isidingo. After all, many soap stars still find themselves typecast by their characters years after they’ve left the show.
Ashish, having been in the acting industry for just a year, is a newbie, and Prada is his first major role. So is he at all afraid of being typecast or being publicly identified as gay?
“Yes and no,” he says, with a pause. “I didn’t have an issue with playing a gay guy, but when I got the part, I did have to sit down and ask myself if I was ready for this.
"Not for fear of being associated or stereotyped, but because if I took this role and messed it up, that would be the end for me, as an actor. But the upside was the opposite. If I could make people believe it, then I’d be doing my job as an actor.”
He’s not talking out of his ass, either. His understated portrayal of the sensitive and somewhat outspoken Prada is a lesson in restraint. Prada is not blatantly gay. He is also not effeminate, fashion-obsessed or limp-wristed. He never ogles men, openly flirts or talks about them as if they were meat. But the signs are there and, at the same time, he never hides who he is.
I ask him what influenced his portrayal. Did he do a lot of research, and if so what kind?
“With Prada, I thought, you know what, the character is based on me, the only things that’s changed, okay, the only two things that changed, were his sexuality and fashion sense. And that’s where I started.
"Why does Prada have to be a concoction, why can’t he just be a regular guy - just like me - who simply happens to be gay? In terms of research, I watched a lot of Will & Grace - and observed the differences between Jack and Will”.
