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ZANews is a South African satirical puppet show first produced by Both Worlds in 2008, a Cape Town based production company. The show is a daily and weekly satirical news programme in the form of a mock puppet television newscast and features on both the web and TV. ZANews features key local and international political figures and celebrities, with the objectives to entertain, educate and inform its viewers.

Introduction

Inspired by the successful cult British television series Spitting Image along with the popular French equivalent, ‘Les Guignols’, ZANews has been aired on the web and TV since 2009 on a range of media platforms, the most prolific of these being the show’s online presence. The show’s motto of ‘Laugh about it. Talk about it’ has perpetuated the show’s portrayal of South African and international politicians and celebrities in its news format. The show is the only South African satirical puppet show, but very similar to the Kenyan produced ‘The XYZ Show’.

Outline

Genre: Political satire

Format: Puppet Show

Voices of: Nik Rabinowitz, Aggrey Lonake, Nikki Jackman, Adam Behr, Mamello Mokoena, Louw Venter

Country of Origin: South Africa

No. of seasons: 5

Media and Production House: Both Worlds Investments pty Limited

Executive Producers/co-creators: Jonathan Shapiro (aka Zapiro) and Thierry Cassuto

History and Development

The show started in 1997 when French producer Thierry Cassuto and South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro decided to produce their first puppet of former South African president Nelson Mandela. ‘Madiba’ then featured in a two minute clip along with guest-starring footage of puppets from Spitting Image and Les Guignols. This first rudimentary video was assisted by Jeffrey Fineberg, from the original Spitting Image team who assisted with the complex latex process and South African puppet specialist Gary Friedman who gave a hand to handle the puppet manipulation with Jonni Cohen directing the clip.

When Mandela left the Presidency in 1999, Shapiro was invited to the official garden-party that was given in his honour at Fernwood Estate in Cape Town. He managed to sneak the puppet in to the strictly VIP party, much to the horror of Mandela’s bodyguards. But the puppet elicited laughs from all parliamentarians and ministers in attendance. As Shapiro came close to the great man he stretched the puppet’s hand towards him. Without hesitation Mandela shook hands and said: “Oh, I believe I have met this gentleman before!”

A few weeks later, the Madiba puppet was stolen from the workshop and only ten years later the tiny face of Madiba was spotted in a photograph of a workshop specialising in mostly gore-ish creatures for feature films in the Johannesburg suburbs. A few weeks later, the head of Nelson Mandela was recovered and returned to its rightful place. In 2007, the producers decided to approach both e.tv and the SABC with the hope of the show being broadcast based on the original clip that had been produced. The positive feedback from some brave programme executives from the SABC who thought it was time for South Africans to have a good laugh at themselves managed to get their management to commission a full TV pilot from the show. Unfortunately, that is as far as it went. Even though ZANews seemed poised to become a success, it was veto-ed by the board (and a mysterious invisible hand) and sent back to obscurity.

From here, through the assistance of low cost airline Kulula.com, the show launched its first season on the ZANews website and YouTube. The unwillingness of national broadcasters to air the show’s content was incorporated into the script and the show’s slogan of ‘Why are we doing this? Because here we can!’, placed emphasis on the show’s perseverance to airing its content in the one space that would allow it the freedom to do so.

The first episode began with a clout in its featuring the prominent figures of Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema and Helen Zille and scored over 50 000 hits on YouTube to date. Seasons 1 to 5’s storylines have developed along the lines of current news stories and events, with the content diversifying as more characters are added to the show’s lineup. The fifth season of ZANews was launched in mid-2012.

Relevance of the Show

ZANews operates under the goal of promoting and developing an informed, democratic and open society through political satire and humour. The promoters of ZANews aim to provide a positive and constructive way of expressing frustrations that may build up in society thereby relieving social pressures and promoting values of democracy, accountability, transparency, good governance, human rights and national cohesion. The show is produced locally for a local audience with puppet caricatures of mostly local politicians, celebrities and the everyman with the aim of holding a mirror to their respective societies so that the audience can look, laugh and learn. ZANews keeps an ear to the ground, bringing our audience a mix of the latest and most controversial current events in a witty and unorthodox way, parodying the formulaic style of media broadcasting in order to remind people that it is possible to engage humorously with societal issues that can often be a source of tension and frustration. The secret to the ongoing ZANews success story has been to laugh at everything (and everyone) and relieve some of the often excessive pressure that builds up within our society.

Production

Shows are recorded and produced at the Both World’s studios in Cape Town. All departments, from management, writers, crew, and fabrication along with post-production and on-line management are found on these premises.

Characters

The puppet characters are based on Zapiro caricature sketches that are then moulded into clay marquettes to be set as latex heads. Each character’s distinguishing features are emphasized in the manner as they have been in Zapiro’s cartoons. The characters consist predominantly of South African politicians with a number of international celebrities and sports personalities, namely individuals that would be likely to feature in the general news, the show is therefore structured as such.

Tim Modise, as the news anchor, with the ‘ZA News team’ investigate the top stories of the day they interview and engage with number of prominent South African and foreign politicians, celebrities and sports stars as a news show would. The politicians and celebrities that feature:

•Benni McCarthy •Bheki Cele •Charlize Theron •Eugene Terreblanche •Helen Zille •Jacob Zuma •Julius Malema •Patricia de Lille •Mahendra Raghunath •Peter de Villiers •Robert Mugabe •Thabo Mbeki •Winnie Mandela •Zwelinzima Vavi •Gwede Mantashe •Blade Nzimande •Desmond Tutu •Sepp Blatter •Danny Jordan •Carlos Alberto Parreira •Trevor Noah •Nelson Mandela •Tim Modise •Barack Obama •Khanyi Mbau •Tokyo Sexwale •Gareth Cliff •Lady Justice •Bill Clinton •Donald Trump •Sarah Palin •Michelle Obama •Lady Gaga •Justin Bieber •Debora Patta •Steve Hofmeyr •Mitt Romney •Pravin Gordhan •Ninja (Die Antwoord) •Yolandi Vi$$er (Die Antwoord) •Thuli Madonsela •Mac Maharaj •Cyril Ramaphosa

Separated from the news show is the Tata and Tutu skit which involves a parody of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu discussing the events of the day but also offering their wise opinions on these current issues. Although equally light hearted, this skit is offered as a rather sobering afterthought to the deeper issues that are exposed in the news section of the show.

Special Features and Appearances

On a number of occasions, the puppet cast has been joined by well known comedians along with their real-life counterparts. Season 4 saw a number of these ‘in the flesh’ shows in which certain politicians and celebrities featured in the show along with their puppet counter-parts. Most striking of these episodes were those of Premier of the Western Cape and official opposition leader Helen Zille and, at the other end of the political spectrum, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)’s General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who interacted with their puppet counterparts. News anchor Tim Modise, radio DJ Gareth Cliff, sportsman Pieter de Villiers and comedians Riaad Moosa, Marc Lottering and Nik Rabinowitz also featured on the show.

The ZANews puppets have also been known to make public appearances at commercial and political events. One of the most pertinent events being the 2011 Right to Know campaign’s protests against the proposed Protection of Information Bill in Cape Town. Here the Jacob Zuma puppet symbolically handed the memorandum outside Parliament in Cape Town. The puppets are most effective in their role in bringing attention to certain issues owing to the individuals whom they represent. In these appearances, they have also been effective in bringing the lighthearted nature and message of the ZANews show to the public.

Broadcast Dates

Series

Season	Year	Dates	No. episodes
Season 1	2008 - 2009	6 Oct '10 - 18 Dec '09	44 Ep
Season 2	2010	23 Feb - 28 May	51 Ep
Season 3	2010	7 Sep - 26 Nov	48 Ep
Season 4	2011 - 2012	6 Sep - 9 March	70 Ep
Season 5	2012 - 2013	7 Aug - 1 March	100 Ep

Specials

Distribution

Since 2009 the show has been broadcast through a variety of media platforms. These are on certain television channels, Top TV and Cape Town TV. More predominant has been the growth of the show on the internet with the ZANews website, YouTube channel, Twitter and Facebook page.

In 2012 ZANews launched their new website, which featured satirical content from all around South Africa. The site became much more interactive, with fans being able to sign up as 'Bloody Agents' and featuring columns from 'Agent Provocateurs' such as Rebecca Davis, Andrew Donaldson, Chester Missing, Ndumiso Ngcobo, Marianne Thamm, Ben Trovato and Political Agony Aunt Zama Ndlovu. The site also featured satirical cartoons from Zapiro, Brandan and Gado.

Team

Media and Production House: Both Worlds Investments pty Limited (reg 1997/017437/07), trading as Both Worlds Pictures: Directors T. Cassuto; M. Cassuto

Executive Producers / co-creators: Jonathan Shapiro (aka Zapiro) and Thierry Cassuto

Production Manager: Nazeera Hartley

Lighting Cameraman: Tonga Isango

Writers:

• Season 1

Marc Verbaan, Stephan Frances,Thierry Cassuto

• Season 2

Tom Eaton, Andrew Donaldson, Thierry Cassuto

• Season 3

Tom Eaton, Andrew Donaldson, Thierry Cassuto (Season 3)

• Season 4

Tom Eaton, Thierry Cassuto, Andrew Donaldson

• Season 5

Marianne Thamm, Anne Hirsch, Andrew Donaldson, Ben Trovato, Thierry Cassuto

Voice artists:

Aggrey Lonake, Nik Rabinowitz, Nikki Jackman, Adam Behr, Mamello Makoena, Louw Venter

Manipulators:

• Season 1

Johan Vermaak, Annelie Fourie, Nicholas Dallas, Kim Kerfoot, Jacqueline van Meygaarden, Frances Marek

• Season 2

Lize-Meri Smallberger, Johan Vermaak, Annelie Fourie, Andrea Van Meygaarden, Kim Kerfoot,Jacqueline van Meygaarden, Catherine Channing, Danny Robertson, Geon Nel, Jason Potgieter

• Season 3

Lize-Meri Smallberger, Johan Vermaak, Annelie Fourie, Andrea Van Meygaarden, Kim Kerfoot, Jacqueline van Meygaarden, Catherine Channing, Danny Robertson, Geon Nel,Jason Potgieter

• Season 4

Johan Vermaak, Nicholas Dallas, Jacqueline van Meygaarden, Lize-meri Smallberger, Rouxnet Brown, Marika Els, Geon Nel, Stephanie Badenhorst, Tivan Bumstead, Chuma sepotela, Roshina Ratnam

• Season 5

Johan Vermaak, Nicholas Dallas, Lize-meri Smallberger, Geon Nel, Jeremeo Le Cordeur, Jason Potgieter, Gabriel Marchand, Stephanie Badenhorst, Beren Belknap, Roshina Ratman, Mandiseli Maseti

Wardrobe and Props:Hilette Stapelberg, Ilka Louw, Tamzyn Botha, Franci van den Heever, Alice Jacobs, Yolandi Schreuder

Animation Trainer: Cyprien Dugas

Sculptors: Lindsay van Blerk, Tania Lee

Fabrication: Matthew Sanna, Franci van den Heever, Geon Nel, Lindsay Van Blerk, Tania Lee

Production Assistants: John Chawinga, Reggie Tshijolo, Kunjuwa Kunene

Post-production and web: Aaron Naidoo, Rod Macleod, Hugh Upsher, Volo Ganca

Web design, media streaming, and development: Pierre Cassuto, David Potgieter

Marketing and strategy: Robert Gibralter

Accountant: Claudia Odunlaye

Advisory Board

- Janni Younge (Associate Director, Handspring Puppet Theatre Company)

- Ravi Naido (Founder and CEO, Interactive Africa and Design Indaba)

- Branko Brkic (Founder - Editor, The Daily Maverick)

- Dr Dario Milo (Partner, Webber Wentzel law firm)

- Aaron Gibralter (co-founder and COO urtak.com)

- Khaya Dlanga (blogger, columnist, social media “guru”) TBC

- Raenette Taljaard (University of Cape Town, Public Policy, Lecturer, Commissioner at The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa)

- Nomfundo Walaza (CEO of the Desmond Tutu Foundation), on behalf of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Awards

2010: Adfocus Newsmaker of the year

2010: South African Blog Awards: Winner, Best South African Podcast Video Blog 2010: Bookmarks: Best Online Video, Best use of Video/Audio (incl. podcasts) 2010: Handspring Awards for Puppetry: Best Design

2011: DMMA Bookmark Awards: Silver Winner in Category: Editorial (media- news, magazines, radio and TV stations/networks), Bronze Winner in Category: Podcasts and Videocasts 2011: South African Blog Awards: Runner up in Best Political Category Awards

2012: Bookmarks: Best Editorial Team 2012: Bookmarks: Bronze in Core Award for Websites/Microsites/Mobisites – Specialist Publisher Sites 2012: Bookmarks: Bronze in Integrated/Mixed Media – Multi-platform Publisher 2012: Bookmarks: Silver Craft Award for Editorial

Partners

TopTV

Department of Trade and Industry (South Africa)

Africa Technology and Transparency Initiative (ATTI)

Open Society Foundation

References

www.zanews.co.za http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitting_Image http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Guignols_de_l'info http://www.xyzshow.com/