ZAPeople

*If you wish to get in touch with us, just drop us an email at info@both-worlds.com

Producers

Zapiro Zapiro is the man behind the dream and the name behind the scenes. Few people don’t know of his influential satirical work, and his unique brand of humour is what drives the concept behind ZA News. Needless to say, without Zapiro there would be no ZA News.

Thierry Cassuto Together with Zapiro, Thierry is  the puppetmaster, the producer, the director, the head writer, the boss, the godfather and the final word on all things ZA. He is the Executive Producer and the constant eye of big brother at the ZANews studio. He also has a remarkable sense of humour for a Frenchman.

Production Manager and Law Enforcement

Nazeera Hartley Naz(i) runs a tight ship at the office and studio, and has everyone on their toes, dealing with everything from scheduling, budgets, puppeteers to making sure the staff don’t get too drunk on a daily basis.

Voice artists

Aggrey Lonake The seasoned voice of ZAnews. Whether it’s the rumbling diplomacy of Thabo or the smooth sooth-saying of Zuma, Aggrey brings 12 of the 24 characters to vivid life – because without him here, we couldn’t.

Nikki Jackman Providing the offices with some eye and ear candy, Nikki is well known for her voice and acting skills, handling various voices, including Charlize Theron and Helen Zille.

Nik Rabinowitz A well known actor and comedian, Nik always leaves the studio with most of the staff in stitches (probably to do with his recently acquired hobby of DIY medical practice). Nik is the iconic voice of Desmond Tutu, Pieter De Villiers, Benni McCarthy and soon to be heard Carlos Alberto Parreira amongst others.

Writer

Drew Michaels Drew is the third leg in the indominatable tripod that is our writing team, a wordsmith of note and a fan of gonzo journalism. Drew also writes for a tiny Sunday newspaper.

Script co-ordinator

George van der Riet Junior writer and researcher, George sifts through the comic genius that is our local politics and news so we can turn it into, well, comic genius.

Puppet fabricators and surgeons

Liezel Reddeck Liezel builds and shapes the faces you see everyday on ZANews, creating our unique and timeless characters with great zest and joy.

Alana Koetze Together with Liezel, Alana also builds and paints the farcical faces we work with at ZANews with great energy. Without these ladies we’d have to resort to sticks and some silly putty.

Steves Saunders Steve artfully creates the plasticine sculptures of the characters under Zapiro’s guidance,  which will eventually get moulded, foamed, painted and brought to life by the rest of Gepetto’s team.

Puppeteers

Annelie Fourie “After 10 years of puppeteering, ZA News is definitely the most fun and often disturbingly educational project I’ve worked on.”

Johan Vermaak Actor, puppeteer. “I do it for my arms”. .

Kim Kerfoot Director, Actor, Gigantour, fluent in Frannish. “I love ZA News.” .

Jacqueline van Meygaarden Theatre director, film-maker and puppeteer. “ZA News gives me the opportunity to control and manipulate some of our politicians every week. It’s alsoa great challenge and good fun bringing latex, metal and plastic to life!”

Andrea van Meygaarden Theatre-maker, puppeteer and green activist. The best way to keep ahead of current affairs!”

Daniel Robinson Actor and Environmentalist. Keeping up to date with the news has never been more fun!

Catherine Channing Bringing their mastery of puppets and masters in puppetry as well as endurance and stamina to the Zanews.

Lize-Meri Smallberger Bringing their mastery of puppets and masters in puppetry as well as endurance and stamina to the Zanews.

Geon Nel Mainly doing theatre work and also a self-trained magician. “ZaNews: Something for Politicians to chew on”

Jason Polgieter Jason was raised by a fleet of turtles off the coast of Easter Island. He really likes hot cross buns. (Donations welcome).”

Cameraman

Craig February Craig is the new pair of eyes for ZANews, and although that sounds creepy in a Frankenstein kind of way, it simply means he’s the new camera guy, and a rather pleasant and talented chap.

Post-production/VFX

Aaron Naidoo Editor, sound recorder, purveyor of funny anecdotes – Aaron is another integral part of ZANews, sorting through the madness and making magic.

Shahid Ansari Shahid is our seriously experienced graphic, post production and visual wizard, dealing with complex things none of us know much about to make it all look and run like a million bucks.

Production designer

Ricardo Pugliese Ricardo designs our unique and complicated sets that have to accommodate a multitude of puppeteers and puppets in bizarre positions and situations.

Studio crew

Clint Howes The bearer of light, Clint is the man who lights our magnificent sets to create the unique zatmosphere.

Frans Lighting and styling assistant, Frans jovially helps the lighting and wardrobe and styling departments, and he can surf a mean wave, bru.

James Cramer James is the set messiah, carpenting away to create the practical and great looking sets wherein our puppeteers can reign free.

Office crew

John Chawinga John is the multi-talented man everyone at the office turns to when something needs fixing. He’s also a good shoulder to cry on.

Reggie Tshijolo The mother of the office, Reggie keeps us all alive and well, whether it’s with her positive attitude and jesty stories or her much anticipated meals each day, the office wouldn’t be the same without her – or her incredible coffee.

PR and Marketing

Pierre Cassuto The online guru (read geek) and “ad-man” (read “sellout”) at ZANEWS. Pierre spends most of his day updating his Facebook, Twitter, chatting online, posting on forums and raving about the new thing.

Geoffroy de Valence Arrived from France, Joe is our marketing and webmaster man, so if you see or hear something about ZANews, chances are it’s because of him.

logo
AM I Collective
(www.amicollective.com)

music
Greg Reveret
The SoundSuite
(thanks to Yoel Kenan)