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The Mike Masote Story

Genre: Television Drama (4 x 48′ / 1 x 96′)

Directed by Norman Maake
Written by Zakes Mda
Produced by Bridget Pickering and Neil Brandt
Status: Completed, due for broadcast on SABC early 2012

Apartheid South Africa … what if a young black violinist sets out to form an all black orchestra to play classical music against the backdrop of overwhelming political and personal odds?

The Mike Masote Story is a dramatisation of the life and times of Mike Masote, the founder of the Soweto String Quartet. Mike Masote sets out on a musical journey to prove that music, the universal language of music, transcends politics and race.

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uGugu no Andile

Genre: Television Drama ( 6 x 24 min / 1 x 96 min)

Directed by Minky Schlesinger
Produced by Bridget Pickering and Neil Brandt
Status: Broadcast on SABC September 2008
Winner: Best African Language Film AMAA’s 2009

GUGU AND ANDILE is a love-story set against the backdrop of the war that raged through South Africa’s townships in the early 1990s. It tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers, unlucky enough to be born into families on opposite sides of the political and cultural divide. Gugu, a sweet and innocent sixteen-year old, comes from a Zulu-speaking family, while Andile, eighteen and equally ready for love, comes from a family steeped in the Xhosa tradition.

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Askies

Genre: Afrikaans/Zulu sitcom Sitcom (26 x 24)

Directed by Andre Odendaal and Josh Rous
Produced by Bridget Pickering and Neil Brandt
Status:  Repeat Broadcasts on SABC2, 2009

Askies is a brand new genre of local sitcom. With 11 official languages and a handful of quirky but determined students, the sleazeball from upstairs, and, of course, their Afrikaans-speaking Zulu teacher all contribute to the question Askies asks: ‘Will they ever learn to understand one another?’

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Sophia’s Homecoming

Genre: Short film (1 x 24 min)

Directed by Richard Pakleppa
Produced by Bridget Pickering
Status: Completed. Screened as Part of the Africa Dreaming series Festival.

Sophia is a domestic worker who returns to her village five years after leaving to work and make some money. She left her two children and her husband who because of an accident was injured and was not able to work any longer.

Sophia left her family with her younger sister as a surrogate mother.

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Uno’s World

Genre: Short film (1 x 24′)

Written and Directed by Bridget Pickering
Produced by Bridget Pickering
Status: Completed.Filmed in Namibia, Part of the Mama Africa series

Uno is a beautiful but tired 25 year old, single mother. She lives freely, vicariously even dangerously.

In her attempt to forget her life she also forgets her responsibilities. Her child becomes a symbol of the youth she has lost. Uno does not know what she wants out of life hence life has made the choice for her. Will she learn differently?

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