Season 1
Isidingo Talent Search is a South African television special linked to the SABC3 soapie Isidingo, in which five finalists from a countrywide search attempt to win public favour and a leading role as Ace, a sports anchor on Isidingo.
The special aired on SABC3 on Thursday 11 March 2010, at 21h00. It is an hour long. After the special phone lines opened for public voting and the winner was announced on Friday 12 March, live on 3Talk with Noeleen.
The competition was won by 27-year old Sisa Hewana from Port Elizabeth. He joined the show on Monday, 15 March 2010 and started filming scenes immediately.
Synopsis
The special saw the five finalists, who were picked from more than a thousand aspiring actors across the country, outwit and outperform each other in the hope of winning the hearts of SABC3 viewers as well as those of the panel of judges.
The hour-long special featured the finalists acting out the part of Ace. They were tasked with delivering their best performance thus far at the soapies' set, dressed by the casts' stylist and acting along side some of the soapies' leading names.
SABC3 viewers experienced the finalists' journey from their first audition to the final crunch-down where the rightful Ace will claim the hearts of his fans.
The show was hosted by Chris Beasley, popularly known as Len Cooper, who went on a behind the scenes journey and unveiled some of the hopefuls' dirt and flaws.
When the winners were announced 3Talk with Noeleen, they were all interviewed on their experience and hopes for the future.
The finalists were:
Ace1: Sisa Hewana – Port Elizabeth
Ace2: Mothusi Letlaka – Durban
Ace3: Solomon Ngapi – Port Elizabeth
Ace4: David Bule – Johannesburg
Ace5: Wild-Card finalist, Bonga Dlamini
The panel of experts who critique'd and encouraged the finalists were:
Kuli Roberts: columnist, TV personality and style guru
Hlomla Dandala: actor and director
Karin van de Laag: Isidingo casting director and actress
The auditions were judged by Tshego Monaisa (SABC Commissioning Editor), Mpotseng Lebentlele (SABC3 Brand Manager), Gray Hofmeyr (Isidingo creator) and Debashine Thangevelo (journalist).
Auditions began in Bloemfontein on 8 February, 2010. They also took place in Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The new character's name is Ace - a sports anchor. This is what the judges looked for in auditionees:
Fluent in English
An accent is no problem at all, even if it is strong, so long as viewers are able to understand his English with no effort.
Acting Ability
Criteria include: understanding of content, variation in pace and pitch accordingly, good articulation, has a warm, rich voice. The role requires high energy, a sense of humour and intelligent delivery.
Must sound completely natural when speaking pre-written script learnt off by heart. No deviation from the script is allowed. Auditionees should have the ability to sound completely credible, even speaking dialogue different from his speakng style.
The X-factor
Someone with presence. The guy men want to be and women want to be with.
The size of the role
Big. A main character, someone who's gonna have a lot to say, which means that whoever wins the role must be able to act.
Links
Isidingo Talent Search: The Latest & Pics
Isidingo Talent Search: Top 5 Revealed!