Veteran actress Mara Louw says in 2003 she was earning R65k a month and now she has to be told by Shona Ferguson who is a child that she’s ‘too expensive’. And that if Shona Ferguson wants to pay peanuts he must go find a monkey.
“… I’ve never heard anyone mentioning Dali was the first one odla imali (saying that Dali Mpofu was the first one to eat money at the SABC),” says Lillian Dube.
“In 2003, I was earning R65k a month. Now I have to be told by Shona (Ferguson) who is a child that I am too expensive. If you wanna pay peanuts, go find a monkey,” says Mara Louw.
On the Power Dialogue by Power FM Mara Louw says she is currently writing a tell-all book.
The biggest mistake we made was to deploy politicians to become ministers says, Mara Louw.
“I’m blacklisted because producers reached a ceiling of how much to pay. I’m 50 years in the industry and it means I must get paid the same as someone who just left acting school,” says Mara Louw.
“…I hope my brakes don’t fail in the coming weeks. We need a Minister of Arts and culture who understands the industry,” says Mara Louw suggesting that if you point fingers at the government they might temper with your vehicle brakes.
Mara Louw says some actors are problematic because of the relationships they have with producers and they contribute to the firing of fellow actors.
Former Rhythm City actor, Peter Sepuma says he was once called a sellout because he started working with the performing arts council not because he was black but because he had something to offer.
I’m just hoping that what has started now will continue and we will grow as an industry, says actress, Vatiswa Ndara.
Lillian Dube says that when the SABC did away with dubbing it killed actor’s livelihoods and some lost houses, including children being taken out of the best schools.
On the panelist, there was Mbali Hlophe, Leanne Kumalo, Thandi Davies, Mara Louw, and Nambitha Mpumlwana.
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