IS THE FILM INDUSTRY RACIST? SHERIA MWANGALA TAKES A HARD LOOK AT THE FILM INDUSTRY

“Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives,” is an all too familiar opening line on one of the world’s most watched soapies, Days of our lives. Fans around the world are glued to their screens to watch their favourite characters break down in tears as they come face to face with betrayal or watch their most loved characters laugh and toast to good times. Any soap addict will tell you that sex, secrets and lies are the main ingredients of a soap opera’s storyline, as this brings about hot collar excitement to the drama and intrigue played out. The higher the dose of deception in these daytime soaps, the higher the addiction of following the storyline everyday, and writers for soaps like Days of our lives, the young and the restless, All my children, One life to give, Footballer’s wives, Sunset beach etc are living up to this tradition of script writing. They know the dynamics and are aware that these ingredients will get viewers standing on their toes, hence getting its audience involved and absorbed. The world of soaps is a global phenomenon, with most soaps playing sub-titles in countries where English is not the first language.

Not to be outdone, South Africans have their fair share of drama splashed everyday on their screens, with well loved soapies like isidingo, generations, 7 de laan, Rhythm city, Muvhango with a larger viewer ship.

In recent weeks, South Africans have watched with excitement as Isidingo’s Parsons Matabane (Tsepo Maseko), who once dated Nandipa and is still in a committed relationship slowly but surely rekindle his romantic feelings for his hiv positive ex girlfriend Nandipha played by Hlubi Mboya. This dramatic turn of events in the Parsons storyline is sure guaranteed to pull in more anxious and excited viewers; South Africans and all countries broadcasting isidingo will be watching.

Further a field, the twists and turns in days of our lives are never ending, with Lexie Carver played by Renee Jones still fighting her feelings for Tek, Rhasaan Orange.

It is no secret that the world of soapies for many, offers an escape from the harsh realities of everyday life and whilst the storylines in soaps can be far fetched from reality, most storylines are closer than ever to real life scenarios. In real life, relationships crumble everyday because of lies, secrets and betrayal and because of this, millions of viewers trapped in relationship woes make a conscious decision to watch soap operas as they feel that someone is sharing their story, their pain…

However, the soap opera and film industry at large are raising many unanswered questions; the obvious being, why don’t our screens show case interracial couples? Why are people of colour always paired with other people of colour in soaps? Why are Caucasians always cast opposite other Caucasians?

Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with being cast opposite an actor of your own race, it still raises the questions as to why there are no interracial couples on the small screen.

The world today is made up of interracial couples and if soaps must appeal to the general public, isn’t it common knowledge that interracial couples need television viewing they too can identify with? Breathing life in the 21st century, you would expect that the film industry would put a spin on things by introducing interracial couples to its audience. The million dollar question that needs to be asked now is, “Is the film industry racist?” –By Sheria Mwangala, freelance journalist. Johannesburg, South Africa