African Couch Potato

It's almost Valentine's Day and you still haven't got anything for your beloved. Better get a move on. But can you afford it? In this episode Gino looks at what you could or should be earning in the Media industry.   The episode is divided into three categories: Creative, Marketing and Social Media. Within these categories, Gino talks about the remuneration for various job titles. T...

We have all heard of speed dating, but did you know that Christian speed dating was a thing? This week we are joined by Chantel Andile who tells us all about an upcoming event; Christian Speed Dating brought to you by Kingdom Matters. Chantel takes us through what's involved, how to get tickets, what's expected and why it's happening. Chantel is also into movie fantasy, her favourit...

Gino opens up about his biggest heartbreak and how he has since turned to soppy love movies when he faces tough times. Our story takes us back to 17 years ago with a boy who was cool in his school marimba band. At the same time there was a girl who was hot in her school marimba band. Like Romeo and Juliet they came together, although not in Verona, Italy, but at the National Marimba Competition he...

Are you sitting comfortably? Because this episode is really three seperate sections  all joined together by the supernatural. The first part tells the strange story of a young Emalahleni (Witbank) girl who kept appearing to strangers on the anniversary of her tragic passing. The second part is the story behind a documentary Gino discovered on Apple TV, about a poltergeist in north London, UK. And...

Ok, enough of 2023, time to look ahead, but ask yourself, has Hollywood run out of fresh ideas? 2024 looks like a year of many familiar titles. . .  This week Gino singles out some of the hot new releases coming at you in 2024.  1. Mean Girls , a remake of the 2004 comedy, came out just recently. 2. Argylle with John Cena, Dua Lipa and Samuel L. Jackson comes out in February. 3. Madame Web is from...

There's nothing better thank kicking back and settling down with a great comedy, and so this week Gino runs through 20 of the greatest Black Comedies of All Time. And if that doesnt tickle your funny bone, there's two extras to get you laughing into 2024. Here we go!   1. Friday (1995) - Ice Cube, Chris Tucker and Nia Long 2. Coming to America (1988) 3. Barbershop (2002) - Ice Cube, Cedr...

Welcome to the first podcast of the year, on the first day of the year. 1 January 2024. Happy New Year to all of you, wherever you are. Let’s take a look at 2023. Episode 01 of African Couch Potato - the Mash-up entered the digital arena on the 18th of July, Nelson Mandela's birthday. It is now listened to from Johannesburg to San Francisco, from Toronto to Tokyo, Across Africa, the United St...

 Welcome to the Christmas Edition of African Couch Potato: The Mash-up. Today is our 25th episode… on the 25th day of December! When Christmas lunch is done, and all the presents have been given or received, what better way than a movie to round off the day. So, to celebrate this time of year, Gino has selected a list of 25 feel good Christmas movies to snuggle up to with your loved ones. Chapter...

Zola Hashatsi is no stranger to controversy and the tabloids and he has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. This household name was recently accused of impersonating a medical practitioner at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital but the case was later withdrawn.   Coincidently, In 2022, Zola revealed that he had decided to answer and accept the call to serve as a healer. Zola's performing ca...

Another episode, another Masterclass. This time we turn our attention to the frantic world of television promos, those mini promotional videos that get squashed in between the adverts.   This episode finds Gino talking to Pearl Shozi, Executive Creative Director at Birthmark Agency, where he gets the lowdown on what it takes to produce those short trailers for all those TV shows.  Originally from...

Gino first met Mfanelo Njoko in 2013 at Tulip High School where he was one of the participants in Gino's community journalism programme. Fast forward 10 years and Mfanelo is the proud founder of Film To Kasi - an initiative that screens films in townships across South Africa.  In this episode Mfanelo speaks about the determination it took to get this project off the ground as well as the peop...

In this episode, Gino chats to multi award nominee Chad Pop about editing, from his early days at AFDA to a six year stay at one of South Africa's top advertising agencies to finally stepping out into the big wide world with his own company. Chad was privileged to be nominated for Best Editor at the AFDA graduation awards as well as for the Rocket award at the 2017 Promax Africa Awards. In 20...

Gino takes a quick look at South Africa's streaming platforms and gives us a review on one production from each platform.  1. Spinners (Showmax) Ethan is a 17-year-old driver working for a local gang. Disgusted with gang life, Ethan discovers a possible way out via spinning, an extreme motorsport. But the looming gang war jeopardises that hope. 2. The Burial (Prime Video) Inspired by true eve...

Bringing a list of even more films that Gino has not yet seen, Banele P. Mtebele runs several film clubs and a post-production suite called The Village Post Office.   Banele talks of the importance of screening films to the community through his film club in Alex, as well as weekly film classes to inspired young would-be filmmakers. He also takes us through some of the films that have shaped his l...

Gino first met Siphiwe Hlabangane in 2017, so now is a good time for a catch up. Join us as Siphiwe unpacks his career.  A seasoned film and series producer, Siphiwe is best known for iNumber Number (series); Single Guyz (sitcom); Diamond City (drama); Lithapo (telenovela) and Shaina (film). More recently, he produced the critically acclaimed Savage Beauty on Netflix and is currently working on a...

Today's episode counts down GIno's top 5 shows for the week on all video streaming platforms. Netflix: Nowhere -  A young pregnant woman named Mia escapes from a country at war by hiding in a maritime container aboard a cargo ship. After a violent storm, Mia gives birth to the child while lost at sea, where she must fight to survive.  Beckham -  With never-before-seen footage, this docus...

Nolwazi Shange is an actress who is equally comfortable both in front of the camera as talent, as well as behind it as a casting director. Gino chats to her about the fulfilment of both roles. She played the role of “Nandi” on Outlaws which is currently streaming on Showmax.  You may have also seen her in Scandal! on eTV,  in Mzali Wami on Showmax as well as in Intersexions: A Place Called Home, a...

Gino gets to chat to one of his childhood heros in the shape of Jack Devnarain. Jack studied Drama while completing his Law degree at the University of KZN, Durban. He joined the Police Force after completing his studies and spent 10 years as a cop,  while continuing to accept acting commissions, as and when his schedule allowed. In 2002 his second career, as an actor, took off and he had to make...

Today's episode lists Gino's top 50 South African films you have probably never heard of. Time to explore the incredible variety of home grown productions that are well worth watching.  Here they are in no particular order: 1. Mia and the White Lion (2018) 2. Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015) 3. The Color of Friendship (2000) 4. Poena is Koning (2007) 5. Storm Riders: The Story of Racheltjie...

In this episode Gino is in conversation with award-winning director Sanele Zulu, talking about work behind the camera and just what it means to be a director.  Sanele started his directing career on hit SA soap lsidingo "The Need", where he worked his way up from director’s assistant to director.  Later Gino and Sanele chat about home life and how work and home are two separate things, a...

Kgabang Sekhabi, popularly known as Shalate Sekhabi, is a South African actress and singer. She is best known for the roles in the television soap operas, The River, and House of Zwide. Shalate has had a passion for music, drama, and modelling from a tender age. When she was only eight, she joined her school’s choir and was active in the drama club. At 11 years old, she got into children’s modelli...

In today's episode of African Couch Potato - The Mash-up, Gino continues chatting to Shonisani Masutha focussing on her 26 years in theatre, among all her other commitments. Shonisani first hit the boards aged only 6 years old.  Theatre, unlike TV or Film doesn't give you a second or third take, you have to hit it first time around as your audience is only a few meteres away. No pressure...

Today's episode of African Couch Potato - The Mash-up is the first of two parts with Gino chatting to Shonisani Masutha. Shonisani is the first African actress to star in a Bollywood series, where she played Norah in Mehek.  Her first casting was for a children's game show called Small Talk, followed by a Mzansi Magic movie, titled On The Ropes, as the character Nandi. In her Masterclass...

In this episode of African Couch Potato: The Mash-up, Gino continues chatting to Jefferson Tshabalala: renowned writer, director, theatre and screen performer as well as the 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre winner.  In this second Masterclass, Jefferson discusses performance and how to truly get the best version of a script, a play or a character - both on stage and on-screen.   The fir...

This episode of African Couch Potato: The Mash-up puts Jefferson Tshabalala in the frame. Jefferson 'J Bobs' Tshabalala is a renowned writer, director, theatre and screen performer as well as the 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre winner.  In this Masterclass, Jefferson talks about the process of writing and provides personal insights into the world of performance - both on stag...