Friday, 9 October 2009

ZA News Mandela Puppet at the Seder Table

One Passover, many moons ago, I arrived at the Shapiro family home in Rondebosch, Cape Town. Can you imagine my surprise and delight to find Mr Mandela at the seder table? My brother Jonno, aka Zapiro, had reserved a seat for him with our family for the night.

And here he is - the first of the prototypes of the puppets launched this week at ZA News. This is one my most treasured old photos: Madiba and me at Pesach in the 90's.

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

ZA News is launched in Cape Town

Jonno's book launch, 2004. One of the last Zapiro events I was able to be at in Cape Town. That's what happens when siblings move to other countries!

I love the entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa. The resourcefulness, the innovation, the excitement that accompanies great ideas. For nearly 10 years now, the puppets created by Zapiro for ZA News have not been aired - TV stations have gone against that South African experimental mood, have blocked the artistic brilliance and quite frankly been what I would call Un-South African. But perhaps that's after living in Australia for a while where there's a constant debate about what is Australian and Un-Australian. But I digress.

Yesterday Kulula.com, whacky as they are, and the Mail and Guardian partnered ZA News and launched the news by the Spitting Image inspired puppets. The secret to the successful screening? Using the internet, and sidestepping television altogether.

I've never been more proud of the work my brother, Jonathan, is involved with. This time with Thierry Cassuto. There's very little to say other than "Go Jonno and colleagues!! ZA News is fantastic".

You can see some of the real ZA News and the Media Launch at the ZA News site http://www.zanews.co.za/ or the Mail and Guardian site http://www.mg.co.za/zanews

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Orange Dust-storm Skies

We just woke to the brightest orange light through the gap in our curtains. I thought I was imagining the colour. It just didn't seem possible. The view out the back and front of our house was unprecedented. The TV news tells us that it's a dust-storm that is very widespread, but it is thickest over Sydney. It has come from central New South Wales.

Medical advisors say don't work outside, don't exercise, and if you can stay at home, do. If you have a mask, you might want to wear it, they say. And there is a special warning for asthma sufferers to be cautious.

Wow, it's quite an experience! Some of the pictures on TV are of even redder skies than we can see. Predictions are that this dust-storm will sweep around the world. We watched a wonderful Richard Attenborough program on The Planet last night, where we saw views from space of dust-storms moving across the earth. And now we're right in it.

This is an extraordinary, orange morning.

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

Sydney - the Serotonin City: Spring Dance Festival

The Spring Dance Festival - no performances over $25

Sydney - the Serotonin City at the Opera House

Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week on the Steps of the Opera House