SABC1’s most loved show Uzalo will embark on an educational drive aimed at raising awareness around legitimate processes of the acting industry, particularly auditioning. This, after an auditioning scam for the show hit aspiring actors.
Uzalo producers Stained Glass has expressed concerns about the image of the show, which they say has been tainted following a disturbing discovery of an auditioning scam targeted at aspiring actors hit social media.
The show producers said they had seen amazing results since the show first aired back in 2015, however, there was a mounting concern about their image since bogus artists increasingly use the brand to defraud people interested in pursuing a career in the industry.
“Increasingly, there is a tendency for scam artists and fraudsters to use social media networks to claim that auditions are taking place, when in fact they are not.
“Uzalo has been negatively impacted by bogus auditions posted from fake social media accounts calling on new talent to try out for various roles on the much loved soapie,” the statement said.
The fake auditioning of Uzalo dates back to 2016.
Early this year, Media Relations at Dreamcatcher, Marang Setshwaelo tweeted out lambasting a fake poster about the soapie’s bogus auditions that had been circulating on social media.
Uzalo gained its popularity back in 2015 http://www.thedailyvox.co.za/five-reasons-why-uzalo-has-knocked-generations-off-its-top-spot/?fbclid=IwAR2OYgoFabB8_MrsF64Ch1l14HzutUL1XI6K4BkL1dgnkR5oBWs5IRx_zXs, with the villain Gxabhashe (Mpumelelo Bhulose) being people’s favourite actor.
On the defrauding of people by bogus artists using the brand, Uzalo’s Mmamitse Thibedi said the soapie and all its partners are credible industry professionals, who appreciate the commitment and passion of aspiring actors who wish to join their show.
“We are also extremely sensitive to upholding industry standards and operating in an ethical, legal manner. When we need new faces for the show, we go the correct route – working with our casting partners and being transparent about all the details,” Thibedi explained.
Expressing the shock and concern over this, Thibedi said “It is heart wrenching to see shady individuals denting the image of the industry for a ‘quick buck’ that could see the collapse of many young artists’ dreams.”
