The WORD is out that auditions for the next instalment of MTV Shuga will be held in Joburg and Quizzical Pictures will be handling the production of the show. We spoke to their producer, Karima Effendi, who shed light on how the company will approach this task.
“I hope to produce a captivating and exciting drama series which will be visually and musically intriguing for young people. It also has to have good and informative sexual messaging,” she said.
Although she has been in the TV, film and advertising game for a while, Effendi could not deny that taking on this project had its pressures.
“MTV Shuga has a history and this is now the fifth season. Obviously, it does come with a lot of expectations to live up to. We are, however, confident that we will be able to bring out something that will be well received by our audiences. These include our Pan-African and international fans of the show, too,” she explained.
However, given that the show is coming home, Effendi feels that the scenery alone will give the viewer something memorable that will separate this season from the other instalments.
“I think the fact that it is being shot in South Africa, Joburg in particular, is going to make it unique and different from the Lagos or Nigerian versions,” she said. Despite our efforts to get her to tell us about the storyline, Effendi remained mum for the most part, only offering titbits of information.
“I can’t say too much about the story, but I can confirm that it will be set in Joburg. We will get a feel for the city, which is big, so they will get a sense of it. The script is still in development and it is going very well,” she said.
With the series being shot locally, most of the principal characters will be South African with the inclusion of returning cast members like Mohau Mokoatle Cele, but actors from the rest of the continent will also feature.
“This version has a predominantly South African cast. However, there are other characters from the former Shuga seasons who will join this season so there will be a mix of local and continental actors,” said Effendi. With production just over a month away, Effendi can already see what the show is likely to look like and is making sure it is in line with Quizzical’s award-winning standards.
“We are hoping to start shooting from December until February. I think, from a producing point of view, we want to maintain the visual look and feel of Shuga, combined with an excellent message for young people. The message should be put across in a way young people can relate to and not feel as if they are being preached to. They have to become immersed in the drama of the story. Educational entertainment can encourage young people to make good choices when it comes to sexual health,” she said.
This is not Effendi’s first edutainment job. She comes from a successful background in that regard, so the fifth season of Shuga is in the right hands.
“I produced the first season of Intersexions and that went well. I really don’t know scientifically if it was well received because it is very hard to measure that. What I do know is that Intersexions was the most watched drama on SABC1 and it only came second to Generations which is a soapie. After each episode of Intersexions we picked up that young people would talk about it through social media,” she said.
“There is a lot that can be done with educational drama. I can see the impact on people on the street,” she added.
Open auditions for MTV Shuga will be held next Saturday, 9am to 5pm at Bassline, Newtown, Joburg. Scripts and details: www.mtvshuga.com.
