Rhythm City

Rhythm City is a South African television musical drama series produced by Quizzical Pictures. It is an e.tv original production that aired on the country's free-to-air television channel e.tv from 2007 to 2021.^[2] The story revolves around the trials and tribulations of people trying to break into the music industry. The series also aired on e.tv Ghana.

Main cast

Former cast

Production

Filming

e.tv announced the series in 2007, as a replacement to the cancelled youth-orientated soapie Backstage.^[3] While the series itself was hinted as being a youth-orientated series as well, producers of the series revealed that the focus would be on the cutthroat music industry.^[4] The series was filmed in Stage 6 of Sasani Studios's Highland North complex in Johannesburg, with footage from surrounding areas used.^[5][6]

Casting

Auditions for the series were held at Windybrow Theatre on 12 May 2007.^[7] Throughout its run, the series has been a victim of audition scams, which e.tv had responded to.^[8][9]

Impact on production

On 2 September 2014, a fire broke out at Sasani Studios. The fire partially shut down production for Rhythm City, alongside e.tv's other soapie Scandal! and M-Net's Big Brother Africa Hotshots.^[10] Unaffected by physical damage, production for the series resumed the next day.^[11][12]

In August 2017, production was paused for two days, due to the death of Dumi Masilela, who was killed in a hijacking attempt.^[13] A commemorative special on-screen memorial service episode was filmed and aired on October 18, following extensive consultation with Dumi's family.^[14][15][16]

In March 2020, Rhythm City along with other productions, went on production break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adhering to the president's call for a national lockdown. Production was paused again in June 2020 due to positive cases of COVID-19 recorded from staff, which e.tv confirmed in a press release.^[17][18] The set went under a thorough cleaning and production resumed later.^[19] During the entire period, new episodes which were pre-filmed continued to air on e.tv uninterrupted.

Controversy

In March 2012, e.tv pulled entries for its series, including Rhythm City, from the 6th South African Film and Television Awards. While the channel didn't give much reason, the awards ceremony revealed that e.tv was dissatisfied over the manner in which the awards were conducted.^[20] According to the channel, the action was necessary in order to achieve greater organisational cohesion.^[21]

In October 2013, e.tv pulled entries from the Royalty Soapie Awards for both Rhythm City and Scandal!, which took place on 2 November. According to the then group of head channels Monde Twala, the channel did not have sufficient information about the awards, its judging process and criteria, and overall objective.^[22]

In March 2016, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa reprimanded e.tv and Rhythm City for showing a graphic episode on 20 October 2015, involving the strangulation of a female character.^[23] The channel argued that the series is meant for a mature audience, and that the scene only lasted a few minutes. The BCCSA ruled that e.tv had contravened the broadcasting code of conduct by showing content that was harmful to children in a timeslot where a large number of children would be part of the audience.^[24] The channel was not fined, and was ordered to display a message on how they violated the code.

Music

The original soundtrack for the series, including title sequence, was produced by Alan Lazar, under his Lalela Music Library, and Simon Sibanda, with several cast members and artists such as Bongani and Gemini Major. A selection of soundtracks was released through music streaming services Apple Music and Spotify, in 2015.^[25] A second title sequence was introduced on 23 October 2014, coinciding with the channel broadcasting in HD.^[26][27][28] The title sequence was created by Punch Club Studios.^[29] Music for the title sequence was done by Alan Lazar and Simon Sibanda, with vocals from Samthing Soweto.^[30] The sequence was filmed with aerial shots over Soweto, Alexandra and the Johannesburg CBD, and on the street level in and around Gandhi square.^[31] The series also accepted music submissions from upcoming and emerging artists.

Cancellation

On Friday, 21 November 2020, e.tv announced that the series would be cancelled.^[32][33] While no concrete reason was given for its cancellation, e.tv only stated that it was part of a "business strategy" by the channel.^[34] The final episode aired on 16 July 2021.^[35] Rhythm City was replaced with the telenovela House of Zwide.

Broadcast

The series premiered on e.tv on 9 July 2007. Premiere episodes were also aired on the now-defunct eKasi+. The series was also briefly uploaded to YouTube, e.tv's online catch-up service eOn Demand, and PCCW's streaming platform Viu,^[36] before being removed and added to e.tv's streaming service eVOD.

International broadcast

Across the African continent, the series was broadcast through the channel's eAfrica feed, as well as affiliate channels e.tv Ghana and e.tv Botswana (now YBotswana). The series was also broadcast in Namibia on NBC.

Reception

Awards and nominations

.

References

1. ^ "Rhythm City Episodes". Tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
2. ^ Kekana, Chrizelda (16 July 2021). "Last 'Rhythm City' episode airs tonight — promises drama, tears and love". TshisaLIVE
3. ^ SithenjwaT (2021-07-31). "To Rhythm Cityzens". SithenjwaT. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
4. ^ "New soap announced by e.tv: Rhythm City | News | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
5. ^ "Productions | Sasani Studios". www.sasani.co.za. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
6. ^ "Rhythm City" Episode #1.1542 (TV Episode) - Filming & production - IMDb. Retrieved 2024-08-21. – via m.imdb.com.
7. ^ Tsumele, Edward (2007-05-08). "New soapie Rhythm City boots Backstage". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
8. ^ Thakurdin, Karishma. "Rhythm City 'audition scam' doing the rounds". Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
9. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "e.tv warns about fake Rhythm City audition scam". Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
10. ^ "TV with Thinus: BREAKING. Fire engulfs M-Net's Big Brother Africa Hotshots house at Sasani Studios; reality show's start on Sunday cancelled.". TV with Thinus. 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
11. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "SA TV's soaps fine after fire at Big Brother studio". Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
12. ^ "TV with Thinus: BREAKING. e.tv's Rhythm City and Scandal! safe after shocking Sasani Studios fire; both TV soaps will resume production on Wednesday.". TV with Thinus. 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
13. ^ Reporter, Citizen (2017-08-03). "Rhythm City's Dumi Masilela dies". The Citizen. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
14. ^ Butler-O'Brien, Emile. "A final tribute to Rhythm City actor Dumi Masilela". Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
15. ^ "A final tribute to Dumi Masilela". Actor Spaces. 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
16. ^ Magadla, Hloni. "SEE: Dumi Masilela's moving TV send off". Drum. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
17. ^ Selisho, Kaunda (2020-06-25). "e.tv's 'Rhythm City' and 'Scandal!' shut down production after staff members catch Covid-19". The Citizen. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
18. ^ "Positive cases of Covid-19 on local productions | e.tv". www.etv.co.za. 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
19. ^ "Rhythm City and Scandal! shut down production due to COVID-19 Archives". YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
20. ^ "e.tv PULLS OUT OF SAFTAS – HCI". Retrieved 2024-12-07.
21. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "e.tv yanks shows from Saftas". Life. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
22. ^ "TV with Thinus: BREAKING. e.tv pulls its soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! from the Royalty Soapie Awards, citing a lack of info about the judges.". TV with Thinus. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
23. ^ User-MD (2024-04-12). "Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa" (in en-ZA). Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
24. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "Rhythm City slammed for shocking woman abuse scene". Life. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
25. ^ "Selected Music from Rhythm City", 2015-02-01, retrieved 2024-08-21
26. ^ "e.tv's Rhythm City unveils a new title sequence". Media Update. 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
27. ^ Pantsi, Nandipha (2014-10-20). "Rhythm City revival". The Citizen. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
28. ^ Quizzical Pictures (2014-10-28). Rhythm City New Title Sequence 2014. Retrieved 2024-08-21. – via YouTube.
29. ^ Behance (October 2014). "Rhythm City Opening Title Sequence". Behance. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
30. ^ tumza7gp (2014-10-15). "First look Rhythm City's new title sequence, theme tune". YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
31. ^ "First look: Rhythm City's new title sequence, theme tune | e.tv | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
32. ^ "TV with Thinus: e.tv cancels Rhythm City after 13 years, Quizzical Pictures produced daily soap opera to end in July 2021 as part of unexplained 'business strategy' and will be replaced by another daily drama series.". TV with Thinus. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
33. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "Rhythm City cast and crew thought they were called to be congratulated – then got axed". Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
34. ^ "Cancelled! 'Rhythm City' has been canned". ECR. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
35. ^ "Rhythm City on e.tv cancelled". Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
36. ^ Puterman, Simone (2019-09-30). "Press Pass: Streaming service Viu targets SA with freemium model •" (in en-ZA). MarkLives.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
37. ^ "All the 2009 Golden Horn winners". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
38. ^ "South African Film and Television Awards (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
39. ^ "SAFTAs 2009: All The Winners | News | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
40. ^ "All the 2010 SAFTAs winners". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
41. ^ "2010 SAFTAs: All The Winners | News | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
42. ^ "2010 SAFTA Winners". Life. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
43. ^ "2011 Saftas: The TV winners". Life. Retrieved 2025-03-02.

External links

• Official website