Charl Blignaut : Cultural sushi
Oysters are not likely to be on the menu at Independent Newspapers functions after a typically off-the-cuff (read foot-in-mouth) remark from Gauteng Newspapers MD Deon du Plessis. The Big Boer, as he is affectionately known among staff, apparently suggested at an Independent meeting held to discuss the future of the newspapers that black staff attend “life- skills” courses at which they would learn “proper conduct” – including how to eat oysters and other exotic nibbly things at functions. It didn’t take long before black colleagues were challenging Du Plessis about whether he knew how to slaughter a goat or eat pap. Du Plessis has had a rough time of it lately, as rumours flutter about an alleged memo from Independent Newspapers’ group chief executive Ivan Fallon regarding the MD’s penchant for calling black staff charming little colonial nicknames like “zots” and “darkies”.
If the clothes fit
Ironies were flying at Fort Klapperkop on the weekend, home to the centenary celebrations of the fort as well as the controversial art exhibition, Guilty, by Kendell Geers. Those in attendance on Saturday were to witness the arrival of drag artist Steven Cohen. His stay lasted all of three minutes before an extreme rightwinger and his bulldog-like bodyguard escorted Cohen from the grounds, all the way chanting “heil Hitler”, doing the Nazi salute and klapping photographers like mosquitoes. Geers on the other hand, was not nearly as brave. He is said to have arrived later, wearing camouflage gear, and no one even noticed his presence. It seems he fitted in perfectly with all the fascists.
Shut your mouth!
It’s a good thing playwright and actor Steven Berkoff is such an accomplished solo performer, because this week in London several leading actors said that they will never share a stage with him again. The outcry happened after Berkoff broke a sensitive Equity ban on actors accepting advertising voice-over jobs until the union negotiated a fairer wage deal with the ad industry. For months all British actors, however impoverished, have refused voice work. Berkoff this week began recording a series of McDonalds hamburger ads. He said he needed the money and that the angry actors should just stop spewing their contemptible opinions and moral disdain right away.
Almost an angel
Here’s something to ponder: the prince of extreme screen violence, Quentin Tarantino, has turned over a new leaf. His new movie Jackie Brown, opening in South Africa in a fortnight, is a stylish thriller with a remarkably low bodycount and no excessive violence to speak of. If this had happened any sooner the world may never have witnessed the return of John Travolta to major superstardom. Huh? See, Travolta told a BBC interviewer this week that he only accepted his breakthrough role in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction because his drug- abusing character was gunned down at the end. This he said, could be accepted by the Church of Scientology, of which he is a key member.
The church, though anti-drug, didn’t mind Travolta playing in the film if it showed that there was justice for the wicked. Travolta also says that Scientology has revealed his gift as a healer. He says he recently healed pop star Sting of a cold when he ran into him on Sting’s national tour. He did so by performing a few Scientology “assists” on Sting. Fans may remember that Travolta recently played the role of an angel in the movie Michael. Perhaps it’s all just gone to his head, poor bugger.