AMSTEL CLASS ACT 2010

Another reality TV show.
Amstel Lager sponsored an initiative in search of South Africa's leading man for the big screens. They ran a succesful advertising campaign for this project, South Africa's toughest film audition as its tagline. The audition venues and dates were announced.

It came onto our silver screens, courtesy of SABC1, on the 13th March 2010. I had front row seats, at home. I cant miss an opportunity to watch chancers make "fools" (lack of a better word, askies) of themselves, this is how the first episodes of reality show auditions go. If you've watched Pop Idols, then you'd know what I mean.
Countless acting hopefuls came in droves, the queue meandering to infinity.

The three judges sat on the casting couch with a full day of either ecstacy or frustration ahead.
The judges were, actor, Rapulana Seiphemo (Generations, Jerusalema). Producer, Tendeka Matatu of Ten10 Films (Max and Mona). And casting agent, Moonyeen Lee of MLA.
During the taped auditions you saw the mood shifting from that of joy to annoyance, depending on the acting quality, or lack thereof amongst those who saw themselves as potential leading men.

With the judges, you have the pragmatic one, the sympathetic one, and the tyrant. Tendeka Matatu was the pragmatic, usually being the referee between Rapulana and Moonyeen.
Rapulana filled the role of the sympathetic judge, with Moonyeen Lee being the fiery, tyrannical judge. I enjoyed each time she had to make her comments to the auditionees and to fellow judges. The judges weeded through the aspirant actors to separate the chancers from the gems.



The Top Ten was chosen and the show was on the road. The guys had to perform in screen tests and the judges chose who was the best, the winner receives the Class Act of the Week award- the immunity award. These screen tests were directed by Tim Greene, of a Boy called Twist fame.

I had no clear favourites from the onset, I missed a few of the episodes when I was out.
The comedy (Class Act of the Week, Danny), the film noir (Class Act of the Week, Greg)and (the romance???)were amongst those episodes I had missed.

The first task the top ten guys had to face was acting out the role of a smooth, suave detective, bursting through police tape, rescuing women in distress and basically saving the day.
Muzi Clive won the challenge, receiving the Class Act of the Week immunity.

The following week's challenge was a heist scene, inspired by the Quintin Tarantino movie, Resevoir Dogs. Since Muzi had won the first the first challenge, all eyes were on him, but his perfomance was lacklustre.

I thought Malusi Mbele stood out as a supporting actor. He had to "die" in his scene as the main actor, I had a tear in my eye, but the judges felt differently. They shred his dying scene to pieces. He wasnt by far the judges favourite, and I supported him for that fact. He managed to garner up support from the the public voters to keep him in the running.
I also liked him during the buddy scene with Greg Parvess, it was very enjoyable and comical! But his time to go had come.

Then came the villain scene, Sdumo Mtshali (Class Act of the Week: Heist movie)was the second villain shown in that episode (after Danny Ross). Sdumo was electrifying! Unkempt hair, sculpted muscles, and a menacing pair of jumper cables! I was scared. I was scared not to vote for him. Even the feisty Moonyeen admitted that performance had terrified her too.
Greg and Muzi did well too, and Greg walked off with the Class Act of the Week immunity. Yonda Thomas received the least viewer votes, and South African ladies lost the eye candy of the show.

I usually do not vote in these sms shows, its a known gimmick to increase profits, but I had to vote for Sdumo. And that's what I did, all the way. Even if he didnt get the Class Act of the Week immunity, he was going to have our votes. This was the sentiment echoed on the walls of the Class Act Facebook page.

The action movie scenes were nothing to write home about, Danny walked off with the Class Act of the Week award, and Greg Parvess was voted off next.

The inspirational monologue was the next challenge, Greg nailed it (in green boxers), but was out of the competition. The award went to Muzi, who was the final three with Sdumo and Danny.

The showdown movie was the next task the final three had to muster, Sdumo was stellar throughout. There was no longer any immunity for the actors at this point and they relied on the viewer's votes. Danny had the least, and had to go. Leaving Sdumo and Muzi as the final two.

The final show was on the 5th of June 2010, the lines were kept open and I utilised this chance to support Sdumo and his famous yellow watch.
The guys had to play a scene for the upcoming movie, Ghetto Dangerous (huh?!), which the Class Act winner would star in.
The opening scene had the main character, Chilli Bhibiza (huh, again!), appear in white briefs, bringing coffee to Khabonina Qhubeka, in bed. Muzi looked and fit the part like a glove.

The second scene was a hostage drama, involving the main character in gun-toting glory against the bad guy and his wayward brother, Thato. Sdumo's performance outshone that of Muzi in this scene.

While the votes were being tallied, flashbacks of the past weeks higlights and lowlights were shown. Presenter, Kenneth Nkosi, interviewed both contestants before revealing the results.

It was a nerve wrecking experience, as if I was one of the final two. The winner's name was read, I screamed!
South Africa had crowned Sdumo Mtshali as the truimpant Amstel Class Act Leading Man.

Sdumo wins a place at the New York Film Academy for two months, a starring role in the Ghetto Dangerous movie and Amstel advert. He gains representation by the renowned Moonyeen Lee Agency.

Well done South Africa for voting. Well done Amstel Class Act for bringing talent worth voting for. Well done Sdumo Mtshali for setting our screens on fire!

Now I no longer have to rush home on Saturdays to be infront of the TV at 6h30pm!