18 Feb 2010 11.30am
As a huge follower of celebrity and popular culture since I can remember, award shows are the ultimate gig to get the inside scoop and hob nob with the who's who of the entertainment industry.
Award shows, whether they be the Grammys, Oscars, Golden Globes, Brit, Baftas and more, lets face it..who wouldnt want to be there in the flesh?
I have the fortunate oppotunity to actually go to one such event this coming Saturday at the State Theatre In Pretoria..yes people, its the SAFTA's, SA's own Emmys slash Golden Globes slash Oscars all rolled into one.
Why will I, a mere nobody (soon to be somebody) be attending you may ask? A certain somebody who Im very close to and involved with is in fact the set designer for this huge production and from what I saw backstage last Sunday...its going to be a spectacular spectacular! So in fact I cant help to feel a little excited as an a aspiring actor, who would not be to have an oppotunity to see SA's leading TV and soap stars in the flesh.
For a little boy who grew up pretending to be an actor, getting dressed up in whatever he could raid from the closet (isn't it a little funny how we finally fall out of that closet we were trying so hard to get in..anyway thats a whole other blog), and puttting on shows for family...this is my first little step forward on the infamous red carpet. Small step, but a step nontheless.
So my journey starts now ...
19 Feb 2010 10.20am
Well, I cant contain my excitement. Tomorrow is the 4th Annual SAFTA Awards, and I feel we should be proud of our industry, despite its ups and downs.
I will be at the State Theatre from tomorrrow morning, getting a inside glimpse of what the show has in store for us. Having already seen what the stage looks like, yet another spectacular job well done by the well known set and stage designer Michael Gill, we will be entertained by well known South African artists, dancers and more...South African style!
Beginning stages of the set being esembled, 14 Feb 2010 and the replica of Mandela bridge, a landmark in Jozi, finally goes up, 16 Feb 2010
Being able to be backstage, watching the final run throughs is going to be a highlight for me, a long day is in store, but SO worth it! Hopefully I will be able to meet and chat with a certain South African female girl power group...Im sure its in the cards. Everything else seems to be.
Lucky boy...I think thatsa huge understatement!
Now if I was a real fully fledged reporter/ presenter, it would be the icing on the cake...plus the cherry on top! Not to mention my ultimate dream come true.Wink wink nudge nudge.
I once heard someone say that "there is no time limit on your dreams",so never ever loose sight of your deepest desires and dreams, no matter what, through patience and persistence, it shall be a reality..ok that was Oprah Dr Phil inspirational quote for the day.
22 Feb 2010 2.30pm
Final Rehearsal prior to going live on air.
Well, one thing I can say for sure is that the air was definitely a buzz and electrifying with the screams of fans outside the State Theatre on the red carpet. I have never heard anything like that before in my life, I could hear them from the basement carpark. You always see award shows with faithful screaming fans, but I must say its totally different experiencing it live. I dont know how the journalist down on the red carpet could hear anything!
Although not on the red capet, I literally had a birds eye view of the red carpet and the arriving celebs. I was standing very comfortably, sipping my chamapagne in the VIP area overlooking the red carpet below, with celebs passing me left, right and centre.
Lights, camera, action. Final lighting rehearsal