THE BEST OF THE GOOD LIFE AT TSWELOPELE PRODUCTIONS (2017 - 2018 INTERNSHIP)

In December 2017 and January 2018, I interned at Tswelopele Productions, a leading television production company representing multiple television productions (the most well-known being Top Billing and Pasella). I have been networking since I was about 13 and through these networks and different internships at other organisations, I was honoured to be accepted for an internship here. I specifically worked with the staff and the people in front of and behind the camera, and on scenes at Top Billing and Pasella.

Top Billing is considered to be one of SABC3’s flagship programmes and is the longest running entertainment and lifestyle television programme in South Africa. The shows target audience is successful South Africans who aspire to and who lead “the good life”, via their achievements. Top Billing showcases a lifestyle that focuses on style, quality and discernment. The programme aims to keep abreast with not only national, but international trends encompassing their focus on their core categories: fashion, décor, travel, celebrities, events, modern conveniences and luxuries to name but a few. It is an internationally renowned television show and has been around for over 25 years.

Pasella on the other hand, is an Afrikaans lifestyle show. It is one of SABC2’s flagship shows, exploring South Africa, through travel, food and décor. Each episode provides entertainment adventure value, such as bungee jumping. It is directed at a much broader South African audience than Top Billing, focussing on more everyday life. The programme tends to focus on South African celebrities and well-known house hold names in an attempt to get to know them better, for example, presenters share special recipes and handy tips with their audience, whereas Top Billing focuses on national and international celebrities.

During my internship, I went out to different shoots with Jeannie D, Nico Panagio and Jade Hubner, television presenters on Top Billing. I also worked behind the camera, delivering the memory card to the company where they would edit the footage and then hand over to the sound engineers. Once this was all ready, the crew would go into studio and add the voiceover guiding an audience throughout the episode. The footage would have to be finalised, checked, processed and then sent through to the SABC3 studios in order for them to play it on television. I also helped in terms of acting as a presenter in order to get a good shot to help the presenter. I helped with the sound, mic and videography as well as carrying equipment around. I experienced just about every angle and component that there is to making a television programme.

I also worked in the office, making phone calls to potential guests and celebrities, as well as processing the tapes that would need to be sent through to the studio. I helped come up with content as well as interview questions. I had to draft questions for athlete Caster Semenya and Viola Davis, Caster’s wife. I also had to do some tedious tasks like sitting and watching an episode of WinAHome presented by Danilo Acquisto, a TV presenter and radio host I have also worked with in the past. Every time one of the companies involved with building in WinAHome was mentioned, I had to clock in the time in and the time out, and record how many times it was mentioned. There were approximately five different companies, so it took me two days to complete this task! I had to ensure the data I recorded was accurate. The consequences of inaccuracy in journalistic environments can be very serious. This was also a job that ensured that certain people got paid a certain amount of money for every time they were mentioned. This was difficult and probably one of my least favourite experiences. I sat in with the editors of footage, sound editors, voice overs and producers.

I worked a 9 to 5 day for almost 2 months at Top Billing and Pasella, occasionally helping out at their other studios in Sea Point where Expresso and Afternoon Express is filmed.