Alex Burger | Author, Screenwriter, Playwright
Author, Screenwriter, Playwright
In Durban, my favorite get away. I’ve spent most of the weekend floating in the sea. It’s fun, the waves are so huge, you only go in certain areas, all crowded together, the life guards watching, the waves smashing against you.
I learn, yet again, the only thing you can do when a massive wave is barreling down on you is to duck. I know there’s a life lesson in here.
My Johannesburg neighborhood. Trash strike last week and so folks resorting to their own solutions.
Joburg is my love and my heartbreak . . .
Still recovering form my end of the year party. I must be old. But love that I’ve found my people. A glimpse for those that weren’t there . . .
So I watched Umlilo Season 3, Ep 1. At first, I could only see the problems and the terrible disjuncture between what I saw in my head when I wrote it and what was on screen (even if it was better on screen.) But then I relaxed and enjoyed it . . .
In any case, in case you missed it, here are the top 5 best moments. (I love the shit these marketing people come up with.) Check it out.
So exciting, the first Episode of Season 3 airing monday. I’m head writer for seasons 3 and 4. Amazing to see what we dreamt up come to life.
Two TV shows I’ve written on – “Umlilo” and “Doubt” are both being shot as we speak and go to air soon.
Umlilo: Premiering the 21st March: Mondays, eTv 21:30 – 22:30
Doubt: Premiering the 4th of April: Mondays, Mzansi Magic 20:00 – 20:30
I’ve been on a set a few times – still amazes me that all these ideas we just dreamt up in the writers’ room, hundreds of people now run around making happen. So one day we said “oh, let’s put Sanele in jail and have him try to escape” or “why don’t we create a fourth wife for Mnqobi?” Now suddenly hundreds of people – actors, set designers, producers, directors, all mobilize to make this happen – each adding their own flair.
My students from the Market Lab visited the Doubt set last week, and they got a great education. Fun, fun.
Performance 4 – 15 November, 2015
The Market Theatre Laboratory
The Ramona Makhene Theatre
For more information contact Thandeka Nheke at thandeka@marketlab.co.za
So my new job is head writer on a South Africa drama called Umlilo (the fire). I’m working on Season 3. It’s the story of a Zulu man in Johannesburg married to three women (wait, was the first wife just murdered?!). We have everything: wives, jealousy, kidnapping, trucks running goods to the Congo, dark secrets emerging from the past . . . .
Working on the show is a total pleasure. As head writer I guide the development of the story lines and then work with the six other writers on the scripts (while writing a couple episodes of my own.) It’s perfect: great cast, first class production company, wonderful writers, the chance to really dig myself into a show over a million people watch every week.
Here’s a summary of Season One. Season Two now airing on Mondays at 9pm on etv. Season Three (which I’m working on) will air early 2016.
Winter has begun to recede – days getting longer, and I have many “news” . . . New writing class I’m teaching at Wits University, new television show I’m writing on, and a new home . . . the first I’ve ever owned. A glass penthouse from which I peer down into the city.
A trip to one of my favorite places – Durban. The city smack against the ocean, the waves, the mix of Indian, Zulu, white. These fish have not had a good night.
