The Mitzi Booysen Interview!
January 5, 2010 by Phathu
A sit down with South Africa’s Queen of Soapies
Mitzi Booysen is to South African soapie industry what Agnes Nixon is to the American daytime soap opera culture; she is a legend and an icon.
The Star newspaper’s Tonight refers to her as one of the best TV writers of the past decade. She is the first, if not the only woman in South Africa to head-write three successful soapies in just over a decade – Egoli, Isidingo and Binnelanders. An article I wrote for Just Curious titled, What killed Isidingo found its way to her desk, courtesy of a writer friend at Generations, who also offered to hook me up with Mitzi for a long overdue interview.
The same trio that produces Generations - Mfundi Vundla, Frederick Stark and his wife Elsie Stark produce Binnelanders.
I have been exposed to head-writers before. They are not the best species to walk the human planet. Therefore, I was a bit uneased by the thought of meeting this woman whom I have admired and respected from a distance, yet I was dying to meet her. I was a bowl of mixed emotions just like soapie characters.
I wondered what she would be like, was she as devious as the Cherel character she so eloquently created? I shoved my fears aside and trotted to the new Multi-million rand Stark Television studios in Randburg, which will be the new home of Binnelanders as of 2010.
I was aware that she had read the article and I was a bit mean towards my opinions on Binnelanders. What if she takes me to task or became as mean as Debra Patta? As soon as she walked down the stairs and greeted me, all my fears and doubts evaporated like morning dew. I could feel it in my heart that I was in the presence of greatness. Here was a woman who has every reason to be a diva, yet she was as humble and mellow as anyone can be. We sat down for the interview at the almost complete reception area and I could not contain myself, it was like a film fanatic dining with Steven Spielberg. Priceless, who needs a MasterCard?
Egoli: (1993 – 1997) “Good stories make good soapies” Mitzi
31 March 2010 is not a public holiday, but the last day Egoli will be broadcast on M-NET. The show has been part of people’s lives for the past 18 years. I will not say I was surprised when M-NET canned the show, somewhere along the lines it lost the plot and became nothing but two and half hours of advertising per week, from Pick ‘n Pay, Dros to Rosebank Mall!
I asked Mitzi about her tenure at Egoli and she gave one of the most humbling stories. As an actor, things were not a bed of roses and she had just become a single mother then. She had some serious decisions to make about her future. She gave the people at Franz Marx Films a call, to find out how to become a writer. That was in 1993 when she joined the show as a writer; by 1995, she was the show’s headwriter! Mitzi’s Afrikaans is polished, way polished for someone who is English.
She told me that it was not always the case. When she started as a writer at Egoli, she used to telephone a friend in Pretoria and read the entire script to him over the phone! She was lucky to work with supportive people who always reminded her that as long as the emotion and sincerity of the story is there, they can change the grammar, changing grammar is less difficult than changing emotion.
Isidingo (1998- 2005)
Q: Would you go back to Isidingo:
Mitzi: No! Her answer is followed by a gentle laugh, one that implies that she is happy where she is and that the thought of going back to Horizon Deep is not going to happen anytime soon. I am sad.
Q: What do you think went wrong with the show?
Mitzi: I do not know, I guess some of the things you mentioned in your article about the show. I got the feeling that she knows but does not want to be impolite. She is such a lady.
Isidingo came into being after Generations proved to the SABC that local soapies could attract more viewers than the Bold and Days. SABC 3 needed a soapie, it was around this time when Mitzi was still a headwriter at Egoli that she was approached By Grey Hofmeyr to join Neil McCarty and Richard Beynon, to start Isidingo.
To say that Mitzi’s tenure at Isidingo was a success is an understatement. Under her reign, the show became a barometer on which other shows were measured. It won more awards than I care to count. We all know what happened to Isidingo when she left. It was not easy for her to leave the show, she even had to stop watching – so she is a bit unfamiliar with the current meltdown of the show. I learned about her from Isidingo and have followed her work since then.
Binnelanders (2005 – present)
I must admit, I do not watch this show – I am not their target audience but I love the opening tune. The truth of the matter is that Mitzi is so brilliant that her skill as a headwriter are highly sought after, I am not even going to mention the writing gigs she turned down – that would be impolite.
When Fredrick and Elsie Stark asked her to leave Isidingo and join Binnelanders, she did not hesitate. It was the right time to move. At Binnelanders she has managed to grow the show from a weekly drama, to a daily serial that is now going to be broadcast for an entire hour – a first of its kind in this country. As the headwriter, she is the engine that will have to keep this monster going for double the amount of screen time other soapies produce. She was honest and frank about it, is will be challenging but they are ready for the big transition. I have no doubt that Mitzi will make a success of this show, she has done it before and she will do it again.
Mitzi Booysens: This and That
When I asked her what is it that she would still like to write, she laughs at me and opens up. The idea of retiring on a beach house and writing Mills and Boon novels is high up her list. I couldn’t help but laugh with her; wouldn’t that be a dream life?
What is it that she would like to see broadcasters change? Mitzi feels that broadcasters should have more faith in creators of TV shows. It takes much longer to build an audience; broadcaster should not short cut that just for ratings. A show needs a couple of years to find solid ground.
What I discovered while talking to Mitzi is that she has an unparallel passion and love for her job, writing for soapies. You can feel it, sense it and certainly see it on the shows she has written for, such passion is rare these days.
This woman is a true television icon and I salute her.
By : Phathu Makwarela ©
NahlaBee on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 1:17 am
Nice! where is her picture?
Phathu Makwarela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 6:06 am
I must apologise to our readers for the lack of Mitzi’s photo, blame that on me and my holiday blues. I forgot to organize one on time, with people still closed it proved to be a schlep to get hold of one at short notice. Sorry, but i hope u enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed meeting with her. Thanks
Bonga on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 8:29 am
I love the interview, Phathu. I’ve always been curious to know what Mitzi thought about Isidingo. As much as I love the website and everything that you guys do here, this did seem more like a press release for Mitzi than an interview. Of course I understand that you’re fan of the woman’s, but a little bit of balance would have been cool. All in all, great work.
Brown Shuga on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 8:57 am
Phathu’s a certified Mitzi groupie. Nicely written P, u so love this woman!
Phathu Makwarela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 9:31 am
@ Bonga – thanks, yes i am a fan…..
Madala on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:37 am
Gr8 read Phathu…. I em traditionaly not a fan of soapies [& I em simeengly missing out]… but yo articles on this subject make me curious to read more…..!
Kwa kwa kwa kwa at comments on canning down of Egoli & the adverts… yho, usile Mzalwane
Phathu Makwarela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 10:43 am
Madala..u know me mos, i have a certain tongue in cheek style ..lol
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KK on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:12 pm
I thought this was an interview,not a story about the woman. Please give us the full interview or dnt say this was an interview…
Mudalo on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:20 pm
only the open-eyed see & recognise talent
Phathu Makwarela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 12:43 pm
KK….i am of the thinking that a writer has liberty on how to write and present an interview. Yes, i could have gone for the Q and A plotting that every lazy journalist does…..I refuse to write generic material that has no soul and substance, i believe newspapers do that…so as subjective as this is, it stems from the interview i had with her.
J-Girl on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 2:35 pm
I feel you KK, this woman is iconic it would have been nicer to read more on her but ke this is Phathu’s article afterall…
Phathu Makwarela on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 3:16 pm
Well said J-Girl….
Cheesa on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 3:23 pm
Nice read Phathu a picture of her would have been nice. I wish she could write for Generations. I would love to what change she could bring to the soapie. I wish you did a more detailed interview and asked what it takes to be a head writer of a soapie and get more deep into it, you know. But I like anyway
Deelesh Chick on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 4:40 pm
Phatu…you can defend this being your article, but i agree with KK ….STILL for an internet website its much more exciting and interesting to read a Q&A than somthin written as a “piece” or commentary or report or whatever “serious” writers and journalists want to call it…but instead we are getting more of YOUR opinion of this woman more than how she was during the interview..while I love your writing I’m dissappointed with this interview whose introduction made me feel like I’m gonna get more…instead this is something similar to those City Press celeb “pieces”…it basicaly glazed over and there seemed to be a lot of brown-nosing….LOL oh well ITS YOURS I guess…
Jogs on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 4:48 pm
hihhihihihihih
Jogs on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 4:50 pm
au guys cant u see this is a summary of the interview..
Vesa on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 5:03 pm
I agree with KK and Deelesh, the article started so well and just fizzled along the way.
I know you have the liberty on how to write and present an interview…..similarly, I as a reader,should also be at liberty to read it & state my opinions about it….otherwise disable the comment section.Unless it’s meant for those that will only praise the article
J-Girl on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 5:03 pm
Usirobhile Phatu, even if its YOUR article mchana
Vesa on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 5:09 pm
True….J-Girl! I agree.
Brown Shuga on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 6:54 pm
It’s not the end of the world bafethu, I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the interview but there’ll be more ningaworry.
Thanks Phathu for writing, I’m sure there are other people out there who enjoyed it. We can’t please everyone all the time but we will keep on trying
Thanks y’all for reading and taking the time to comment. Your comments mean you care about the site and we appreciate that & value ur feedback. We write for you at the end of the day..we’ll try remember that.
Em on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 2:53 am
I wish she came bck to isidingo.the ex producer pumla hopa doesnt have a clue. She said the wedding of rajesh and priya was because she wanted to show indian weddings thats fine but scandal did ths a month before!it seems mitzi worked with people who have no sense!
KK on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 10:55 am
Ok,maybe I was a bit harsh.Phathu,I did not want to look like Im criticising your article.I just felt like I was reading some sunday world story with no facts.It sounded like more of your opinions than what she actually said.Its even worse that you do not have any pics which makes me wonder if you really interviewed the woman(not saying you did not).I felt like I still dnt know the woman after reading this(actually I dnt know her).
I enjoy Q and A interviews more as nobody can say she/he was misquoted.That is how I prefer them,maybe other peeps prefer it the way you wrote it…
Rego on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 10:25 am
As usual Phathu, well written article. So when can we expect to see the picture?