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 romantic comedy for the same streaming platform that will come out next Valentine's Day. Siphiwe, fon...
Nov 06, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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 docuseries follows David Beckham's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom. Fair Play - An une...
Oct 30, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 17
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, and in one of Gino's favourite films, Otelo Burning which came out in 2011. Nolwazi also talks about ha...
Oct 23, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 a tough choice. Happily for his thousands of fans, Jack left the police force and joined the cast of ...
Oct 16, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 15
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 De Beer (2019) 6. Flatland (2019) 7. 204: Getting Away With Murder (2014) 8. Max and Mona (2004) 9. Stander (20...
Oct 09, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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, as well as why Sanele didn't become a firefighter. Sanele's television credits include long-running South African...
Oct 02, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 13
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 modelling and launched her modelling career. Shalate made her acting debut in 2014 in short films, Making a...
Sep 25, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 12
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! Shoni also talks about her early experiences, touching on how to deal with corpsing (this is where actors on-...
Sep 16, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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, Shonisani opens up about her roles in Ring of Lies, KwaMamazala, Omen, Isithembiso as well as a feature in Ro...
Sep 10, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 first part kicks off with sex scenes and how to handle them, then, completely separately, a look at how im...
Sep 03, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 stage and on-screen. The first part focuses on workshopping and collaboration when it comes to writing performance ...
Aug 27, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Today’s show continues the conversation between Gino and Podcast Producer + Host of Art As Culture Podcast, Creative Entrepreneur, Facilitator, Thought Leader and Content Creator, Amo Helang. Throwing the format out of the window, the episode rolls like this: Picking up from the last episode. If you missed last week's chat, go back and listen to episode 06 of African Couch Potato: The Mash-up Avatar, Acting, Analysis and Aliens A quick recap of Amo's Top 5 Amo's Golden Oldie The award-winning Se...
Aug 21, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Today’s guest is Podcast Producer + Host of Art As Culture Podcast. Creative Entrepreneur, Facilitator, Thought Leader and Content Creator, Amo Helang. Top 5 Amo's Top 5, in no particular order. Succession : The Roy family is known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world. However, their world changes when their father steps down from the company. Avatar 1 & 2: Those blue people. She's Got To Have It : The story of one woman and her three lovers. TV series bas...
Aug 13, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Our guest, Sparky Xulu, is an award-winning screen actor who attributes much of his success to his background in theatre. Having won a Royalty Soapie Award for the character of "Siya Phakathwayo" in The Estate (SABC Plus), other productions he has been involved in include: Redemption (BET) The Herd (Showmax) Supa Team 4 (Netflix) iNumber Number Jozi Gold (Netflix) Good Men (SABC Plus) Isono (BET) Isipho (eVOD) Top 5 This episode's Top 5 are films or TV series that Sparky Xulu has been a part of ...
Aug 06, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 5
The weirdest movie you have ever seen. And, what in the streaming services is SABC Plus? Top 5 Our Top 5 for this episode is from SABC Plus, South Africa’s newest video and audio streaming service, a nd they are. . . Yizo Yizo, all three seasons The original Shaka Zulu series with Henry Cele. The Estate, now in its third season, having launched in 2020. Mbau Reloaded: Always Rise Side Dish with Thuso Mbedu, Refilwe Madumo, Matshepo Maleme and Joanne Reyneke Main Review In Jordan Peele's Nope, af...
Jul 31, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Sex, sex, sex, and… Spud. Top 5 Our Top 5 for this episode is from Prime Video and they are, in no particular order… Proof of Payment with my favourite actor Thabo Malema and Mandla Gaduka who used to play “Chopper” on Generations. Yep, that’s how old I am. The Underground Railroad with Thuso Mbedu. The episodes are extremely long but I suggest watching it as a marathon otherwise you won’t get back to it. Make sure you watch with your significant other. This one needs team effort. Kleva’ish. Thi...
Jul 23, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 3
From Rosemary’s murder cases to a comedy drama that celebrates plus-sized women, we’ve got you covered. Top 5 Our Top 5 for this episode is from Showmax. These are suggestions of what to watch and in each episode your host, Gino, will feature titles from various platforms such as Showmax, DStv, Prime Video, Disney Plus and SABC Plus. Rosemary’s Hitlist tells the story of how Rosemary killed 6 family members, including her child and partner, to get payouts from life insurance houses. Steinhest pr...
Jul 19, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to African Couch Potato: The Mash-up… Top 5 Our Top 5 for this episode are all from Netflix. These are suggestions of what to watch and in each episode your host, Gino, will feature titles from various platforms such as Showmax, DStv, Prime Video, Disney Plus and SABC Plus. Survival of the Thickest, created by comedian and actress Michelle Buteau. Unseen with Gail Mabalane. iNumber Number: Jozi Gold . Country Queen - set in Kenya. Trees of Peace explores the lives of four women trapped i...
Jul 18, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1
