As Die Skoen Pas
Season 1 eExtra (*195/Openview *105) 19:30 Telenovela
Afrikaans-dubbed English-subtitled Turkish telenovelas are all the rage and eExtra is at the forefront with fashionoriented As Die Skoen Pas (originally called Kiralik Ask when it aired in 20152017). But how do they get it sounding “right”? Donovan Pietersen (Damien in soap Binnelanders, 2005-now, see p33) gives us a peek into “talking Turkish for telly”, voicing the character Sinan (played by Salih Bademci)…
Do you recognise other local voices when you watch these shows? All the time! I do watch some of the telenovelas and I’m able to “spot” people I’ve worked with. Have you seen your character onscreen? Yes, it gives me a bit of understanding as to why they cast me in that role.
Is it easier recording lines in a studio compared to traditional acting? I find it more challenging because you get everything on the day. You watch the scene before you start recording to have an idea of what’s going on, whereas traditional acting you get everything beforehand. And how long is a recording session? An episode can take up to 45 minutes. I like to read lines before recording sessions. Do you stick to the scripts word-for-word or do you have leeway? You can change a word or two for a little impact, but not a whole sentence.
What do you think makes these telenovelas so popular? The storylines are interesting and viewers can relate. I think trying to recognise the familiar voices is fun too. And are you busy with any other projects? I’m currently recording Nali Bali kids stories at radio station RSG. I’m also shooting drama series Spoorloos (2018now) as Tonie. NB! See p32.