Veteran actor and playwright Dr Jerry Mofokeng has always spoken up about the rights of actors and creatives in South Africa. During his acceptance speech at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), he addressed the impact influencers have on productions. "Producers, directors; please cast actors and not models. We want to act and we respect our craft," he said.

PLAYING AGAINST A WALL

He said it's not about the number of followers you have but about the craft you bring to set. He goes on to say that at times, you get on set ready to rehearse, then the influencer arrives two hours late and it's no issue. "They saunter into the dressing room and then the makeup artists have to work around the phone that is glued to their hand. They finally get on set and the director has to be careful not to cross them." He adds that, "the cherry on the cake is when you are told to tone down your acting because you are not number one on the call sheet. You dare not upstage or upset the ?Lead'. This is not an exaggeration," he said. "Acting is like playing a tennis game. It's a give-and-take. The more you give to your fellow actors, the more they give you - the more you challenge each other. That's when the magic happens. It's painful to play against a wall."

This year's SAFTAs were nothing short of glamorous. Held at the Gallagher Convention, the ceremony saw stars come out dressed in their red-carpet ball gowns and suits. It saw performances by Tuks Senganga, Focalistic, and Murumba Pitch. The SAFTAs celebrate and promote the creativity, quality and excellence of South African Film and Television talent. Each award recipient is presented with a trophy, the ?Golden Horn', which has three heads symbolising collective effort, community and the recognition of the individual as part of a team.