Noel Baloyi

Actor • Producer • Storyteller 📧 : [email protected]

[Ninja @Ninja_Warrior11]

This will teach you a life long lesson.

Not all obstacles are meant to finish you, some are meant to make you stronger..

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@UTDFunguy Batistusta

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@LegacySiu Antony

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@chiefofstaffZA Grateful you've touched this.... but this applies to all south African film industry. You're definitely on point.

[Chief of Staff ZA 🇿🇦 @chiefofstaffZA]

I’m going to say something that might get me into trouble: even greatness can be overused.

Sindi Dlathu is one of the finest actresses South Africa has ever produced.

I don't debate that.

She has already given us enough performances to sit comfortably among the greats.

But lately I open Netflix and think:

Guys... again?

Sindi here.

Sindi there.

Another major production ... Sindi.

And my problem isn't actually Sindi Dlathu.

If somebody keeps offering you great roles, what are you supposed to do? Tell them to give your cheque to somebody else?

Of course not.

My question is for the people sitting around casting tables.

Are we really saying South Africa has become so short of exceptional actresses that every major production has to reach for the same trusted names?

Because that worries me.

Not because I want to see less of Sindi's talent.

I want to discover more talent alongside hers.

There is probably a woman sitting in some audition room right now with frightening ability in her bones.

Maybe we don't know her name yet.

Maybe she doesn't have millions of followers.

Maybe there isn't a famous television character attached to her face.

She just needs one person behind that table to take a chance.

Remember, every legend was once somebody the audience had never seen before.

There was a first producer who trusted Sindi Dlathu.

A first director who looked beyond the unknown name and saw what she could become.

Imagine if nobody had done that.

That is why constantly returning to proven stars can become creatively dangerous.

Safe casting gives you certainty.

Risk gives you discovery.

And South African television desperately needs both.

Give Sindi the roles worthy of Sindi.

Absolutely.

But then open another door.

Let a 24-year-old theatre actress frighten us with how good she is.

Let a woman who has been doing community productions for ten years finally get her close-up.

Let somebody with no famous surname walk into an audition, destroy the room and actually get the job.

Let us meet the next powerhouse before she becomes the obvious choice.

Because if every important role goes to somebody who is already established, where exactly are tomorrow's legends supposed to come from?

And this is where I think the conversation gets misunderstood.

Saying "give other actresses a chance" is not disrespecting Sindi Dlathu.

If anything, her career proves exactly why somebody once taking a chance matters.

She became Sindi Dlathu because talent was given somewhere to breathe.

There are other women carrying that same hunger right now.

Find them.

Challenge them.

Put them beside the veterans.

Make the veterans raise their game and let the newcomers learn from monsters of the craft.

That's how an industry grows.

I don't want Sindi pushed aside.

I want the table made longer.

Because the saddest thing South African television could do would be to celebrate one extraordinary actress so heavily that it accidentally prevents us from discovering the next one.

Sindi has already found her light.

Now somebody backstage needs to switch on a few more. #Umthetho

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@uttdkola Pepe

[Kgopolo @PhilMphela]

RIP:

Seputla Sebogodi

Stage and Screen actor has passed away.

#RIPSeputlaSebogodi

[Kgopolo @PhilMphela]

While The Polygamist will unlikely get the same global reach as Blood & Water did, it's safe to say the show has shaken Mzansi and garnered a lot of attention beyond our borders. It is a hit — deservedly so.

Face value, the show is a typical telenovela leaning on the long form content model and the tested Dynasty/Dallas-esque style.

Where it shines it's the focus on story rather than the actor performance lens that many of our local show tend to anchor themselves on.

The story is the star here. The brilliant performances just add to the magic. When you have a solid script, a cohesive cast, you don't need the noise. The actors here shine in their roles because they are not fighting the script for a viral moment.

Even the comedic scenes land because Akin Omotoso, Roli Nikiwe and Nthabi Tau excersized an impeccable restraint. They don't linger on the comedy for melodrama.

On that ... Oh the editing on this show deserves a nod.

This show could have been called "The Monsters We Create" and it would be apt. It's clear the story doesn't want you to like any of these characters. They are all flawed and have a money where you side eye them... Yes even minor characters like Joyce's Mom, Matipa's Friend, Matipa's mom, etc. Hell even Buhle the receptionist has some annoying moments..😉

For me, the heart of this story shows in the unspoken ripple effect of parents choices. The scenes where Joyce gets a hug from Mpume outside (No dialogue), the scene where she has a talk with Menzi in his bedroom and the crashout scene from Freedom about how his mother not loving him.

Actually the Freedom scene was the crescendo for me on that theme of 'The Monsters We Create'. Long before the signs of Menzi becoming Jonasi, we see how Essie is oblivious to the damage she has inflicted on Freedom and is subsequently gonna do to Sarah.

Netflix saw that the Tyler Perry model works for them, especially in black audiences and they are running with it. There is no avoiding the Perry influence while watching this show.

That said, the show is very good. It is shot well, the story moves, the sex scenes actually serve the story and aren't just there for titillation and shock value, but most of all The Polygamist doesn't just hold your attention, it demands that you think, question and dare I say it ... Pick a side. Yes, Jonasi is the clear villain... But everybody else around him are also not perfect. And yes, Magesh is flawed too. He enabled Jonasi for years. He had his reasons but he complied to serve his interests.

Trying not to single out any individual performance because this is such a stellar cast. Gugu Gumede is captivating as Joyce, Kwanele clocks in as Matipa, Sdumo Mtshali delivers as Jonasi... And the supporting cast ... the kids show up with solid performances. Ok fine ... Wonder Ndlovu as Menzi in those quiet angry moments! I believed him. I felt his pain. The guy's panic attack moments were acting gold.

Sidenote: Magesh lives in Soweto with Essie. How did he not know that there was a funeral being planned in that house? It's not like a funeral takes 2 days to organise in Soweto. 😉 Or story ke story so siyishiya lapho? 😇

[Wrestle Features @WrestleFeatures]

The most consistent wrestler in the entire company.

[Sportskeeda Wrestling @SKWrestling_]

All the praise in the world is still less for this man.
#WrestleMania

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@FinalBossRocky I'd argue that, you need to understand what it mean doing what's right business. Yes he, Hunter @TripleH takes all the blame, but some moves are office based and also bare in mind of sponsorship.

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@SKWrestling_ I think @WWE did some justice here, setting up Seth vs Bron right away and also keeping Seth vs Gunther II on the horizon... Seth is the MVP here, the the real Visionary.

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@Vet_TV @FadeAwayMedia @TripleH The AdvertMania

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@SirMannyAngel @FadeAwayMedia @TripleH Well said

[Man’s NOT Barry Roux @AdvoBarryRoux]

REPOST if you stand with Senegal after they refused to return the AFCON trophy & medals.

[Chirag | AI creator @DivineManhood]

I'm 24

I started watching p*rn at the age of 15 and wasted 8 years of my life

After being p*rn free for 2+ years

Here are 5 shocking reasons why you should stop watching p*rn before it's too late:

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@WrestleFeatures No

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@DawanaSky @BlackBrainSA child of the company.
Professional actor, and art enthusiast

[Lavish Living @busiwe_bubu]

Priddy Ugly won here..🤌🤌🔥🔥

[Noel Baloyi @Trick_Noel]

@stonersvilla Barely on energy drinks, but brownies yeah sure.
Though I took a break, 6 months in now.