Count Me In

<a href="http://www.uncsd2012.org/countmein/index.php?me=555" title="Vuyo Lima from South Africa"><img width="250" height="77" alt="Vuyo Lima from South Africa" src="images/countmein.jpg" border="0"></a>

Not afraid to die, but afraid to live.

As I floated on Veggies in Durban in my wetsuit, with my yellow fins stuck to my feet, mask on my face keeping the water off of my eyes and nose,Cylinder on by back supported by the BC with no one else in site, but the blue sky and the tug boats lazying around I began to panick a little and was not sure what had gone wrong. I must admit that I did not have, at least I don't remember thinking about death, but the only thing was how do I get to the shore.

Thanks to the great dive instructors that we had with us I was soon rescued and went deep in the water again. I then realised that in the 24 years that God has allowed me to experience I am not afraid of dying, but of living this life he has given to us, the trials and the tribulations are far worse than losing yourself at sea.

This though was an awesome experience and I cannot wait to go back into the ocean tomorrow morning and start all over again.

Carpe Diem.

Your Vote Is Your Voice

So May 18,  2011 was the Municipal Voting Day in South Africa. Banners, posters, pamphlets have been our daily bread. Force fed to us so that we may make the right decision when it came to placing that coveted X on the ballot paper.

I ask myself what are the reasons for voting. Just yesterday my housemate was at home  - perhaps the entire day. And only at 21:00 does he decide to go and vote. What triggered him to do so 2 hours after the voting station had been closed - the sticker that appears on your ID book once you have voted.

I wonder how many business people go and vote just to get browny points with the government and tender opportunities - excuse the pun.

So why is it again that we vote? For the country, for the fallen of yesterday and for our stomachs.

So why is it again that we vote?

Memoirs Aboard The Pekin Express

When filming is over and the last clip has been cut and the programme is on air the man on the street devours the programme without knowing the nitty gritty of what goes on behind the scenes in making sure that the programme works and becomes a success. I am going to take you through my experiences during the Spanish version of the Pekin Express.

It is always a privilege to work in a big production and when news trickled through that  the Pekin Express would be in our country once again every Video Technology student was excited and wanted to sign up for the work experience.

The over zealous team that joined Kanakna Productions consisted of a combination of first, second, third and fourth year students. This not only was a working experience, but it was an opportunity for students at different levels to unite and take a mutual journey towards the realisation of the success of the work at hand.

We journeyed to Johannesburg, the City of Gold on Easter weekend joining hordes of people that were either on their way to relatives in different parts of the country or just taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

With a blink of an eye it was daylight and we were in Johannesburg meeting the Belgian and the Spanish team, they were to be our family for the eight days to follow.

The Peking Express is a European reality TV programme production where 2 man teams race each other and must survive on $1.00 per day. Games and challenges can earn them extra cash, but they must survive on being able to solicit help from local people for accommodation and food. It’s the interaction with the locals and the team members – who speak Spanish that will drive a lot of the viewer’s interest.

 In the production I worked as an LPA for locations where I worked with Thomas ‘the Belgian Cowboy’. He is the location manager for the Production. I was had to travel with him to all the check in and checkout locations.

Soccer City Stadium by Vuyo Lima

Kick off was at the Soccer City, the former FNB stadium. Walking through the stadium there was memorable and every now and again I felt I saw glimpses of the opening of the Fifa World Cup that occurred in June last year. Taking pictures at the stadium felt strange and intrusive in the silent, but listening ghosts of yesteryear.

Bara Taxi by Vuyo Lima

Driving into the Bara Taxi rank that reminded me of our Durban’s Claremont Rank, very busy with many people and vendors. Everyone trying to sell you something. Here I had my first Johannesburg pineapple flavoured Yhogetta courtesy of Thomas.

Driving through Soweto brought about feelings of nostalgia as I haven’t been home in a while and seeing normal unfabricated part of the city made me have a happy feeling inside.

Winnie Mandela’s restaurant was not at all what I imagined it would be, but the welcoming smile from Baba Vuyisile who manages the restaurant compensated for any tumultuous thoughts I may have had with the appearance of the place. I felt rather disheartened by what I call tourist lane where Nelson Mandela’s former house has become something to be viewed rather than be respected, but that is only my opinion. For me it seemed rather fabricated as you find people who will never venture out to Soweto there to drink in tourist lane as though it were something to be devoured.

But the most important task of the day was to find cutlery, crockery and a couple of pots. Off to Maponya mall we went – this was the beginning of the adventure. When the big Maponya Mall, heavily armed with shoppers and hanger-onners couldn’t provide us with what we needed we had to look for other alternatives.

Now this was my first time I had been to Soweto let alone take a taxi. I was a bit nervous, but I trusted that my communication skill would get myself, Liesbeth and Thomas to where we needed to go. We all agreed that we would be able to find something at the China City – usually everything in China shops is available and at cheap prices, but this was not the average China City, we couldn’t find what we were looking for and what we did find was insufficient for use. Hungry and tired we popped into a Chinese shop for some Chinese food and a bit of South African and Belgium politics, very interesting stuff came through from that conversation.

Our trip back to the hotel was rather interesting as our cab driver was a rather spontaneous optimist. He taught us three a song, this is how it goes – I love eating Bananas, Bananas, Bananas, Bananas – but you have to sing it with energy and whole lot of optimism. It would have been fantastic if we could have joined in with the soprano, bass and all the other musical tones, but one day that may be realised. To cut a long story short Joanelle another Central Production LPA ended up having to organise cutlery and crockery from a catering company.

Courage to go under the Sea - 16 May 2011

Ahoy Matey,

May 16 seemed to arrive more quickly than I had thought to imagine. Today the Btech Video Technology class had an opportunity to snorkel at USkaka Marine with Denise and Megan our instructors. We were told for our own safety and psychological soundness that the sharks that lurked at the bottom of the waters were harmless and vegetarian. I then became ONE with the veggie sharks.

Being immersed under the water is a totally new experience and you get to see so much that other people will never see nor experience in their lifetime. Even though Ushaka Marine is constructed, but it is close to being the real thing. I missed seeing the car wreck underneath, but I’ll be brave enough today to go underneath.

Today it’s the introduction to the scuba course and I can’t wait. I need to get my buoyancy correct and camera angles correct then I am good to go.

Today the seventeenth under the sea I go!

...and the truth shall set you FREE - The V and M's

Have you ever considered the amount of truth there is in all these visions and missions that every one has these days. I mean go on to any company, educational institution etc etc's website and you will see what I am talking about.

But have you ever probed enough to see how much truth there is in them, and whether they live up to those Visions and Missions promises?

 I had the opportunity to do some research about HIV/AIDS services offered in educational institutions and so far only two institutions have these services in place. With the alarming rate at which South African youth are getting infected and affected by this disease it should be a CRIME for a university institution to not have these services in place.

And then they go back and say they 'care' about their students. Mmmmh food for thought.

The next time you read the Vision and Mission statements. Ask yourself, how much truth is there in those V and M's.

Much Love

Pic by:Johan Van Slooten

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem  - Sieze the day. If we could dwell onto this over used quote we would do more in our lives and diminish the desease of procrastination that takes dominion over so many of us.

Today make a decision to Sieze the day. You only have one life. Do that which you desire to do, but responsibly and being aware that there are consiquences to everything that you do.

My fellow South African filmmakers. This is our time to shine. And as it has always been said, South Africa is abundant with stories that need to be told and we are here to tell them.

Lets Seize the Day.

Much Love...