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Keeping comedy alive
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November 17, 2009
By Helen Herimbi
Tonight spoke to Sam Hendrikse, the MD of HuntaLive.
We hear the Comedy Awards are not happening this year? Why?
2009 has been a difficult year for all industries and without sponsorship the SACA needed to go into hibernation.
Are the awards going to return?
Creatively, the awards shows were the most fun award events in SA by far - but the commercial model was not sustainable. We hope to find a way to make it work again for 2010.
What will you change?
The format works - and there is sufficient good comedy to judge - but to do it properly takes serious funding!
Why did Hunta originally want to host these awards?
The awards were a showcase of an industry - a development tool - and an acknowledgement of the value of comedy in SA.
What difficulties did you encounter with regards to the awards?
To do a national awards campaign and televised show is very, very expensive - and not viable without brand involvement. After two years we needed to make a hard call for the 2009 event, which was the right thing to do in the current economic climate. Rather don't do it, if you can't do it properly.
What were some of the good things that happened thanks to the awards' existence?
Probably the most positive thing was seeing stand-up comedians, comedy writers, cartoon artists, TV producers and ad executives all standing side by side under one umbrella of "funny" - there are many people who make us laugh every day - and the awards brought them together for the first time.
It is also good to see the use of the awards nominations and winnings as marketing tools on posters, press releases and advertising. "Winner of SA Comedy Award" became a valuable tool.
What else does Hunta have in store for comedy lovers?
The Nandos Cape Town, Joburg, Durban and other Comedy Festivals are planned for 2010 - international comedians including Wayne Brady return... plus others. Also, watch out for the biggest and best SA Stand Up Comedy Tour taking place in May.
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