Creators of Tali’s Baby Diary chat about their hilarious brainchild
The power couple behind Tali’s Baby Diary chat to YOU about their brainchild and parenthood
WHAT do you get when you combine two creative minds, a show written in lockdown and five whirlwind weeks of filming? Tali’s Baby Diary, that’s what – a 10-part series that pokes fun at everything from social media to cultural snobbery and the lives of South Africa’s white elite. The sequel to Tali’s Wedding Diary, it’s one of the top shows on streaming service Showmax and has had South Africans across the spectrum in stitches on the sofa.
This time the self-obsessed Joburg-born, Cape Town-based kugel works herself into a froth after an unplanned pregnancy ruins her plans of becoming a fitness influencer. Tali is forced to pivot to more wholesome momfluencer, while her long-suffering, often-misguided husband Darren is still trying to get his realty business up and running.
The millennial mom will do whatever it takes to get the most likes on social media – from announcing her pregnancy on Instagram to hosting the “perfect” gender reveal party. It’s mustwatch stuff, babes, so if you haven’t seen it yet do yourself a favour – you’ll platz.
Julia Anastasopoulos is revelling in the success of the quirky character. She and husband Ari Kruger co-created and directed the series, and were inspired to write it after the birth of their daughter, Zoe (now 2). “You get married,” Julia (37) says, “and then everyone is asking ‘when are you going to have kids, when will you start a family?’
“We just felt there was so much comedy there and so much scope for Tali.”
The show also stars singer Danny K, comedian Siv Ngesi and satirist Coconut Kelz. And there are no holy cows here – everyone is ripped to shreds, especially the upper-class Cape Town set.
But there’s a more serious side too: Tali’s Baby Diary shines a spotlight on social media and the pressure of feeling
like you need to be a perfect mom.
After writing the mockumentary in double quick time, Julia, Ari and their team set to work filming under strict Covid-19 protocol. Everyone involved went into quarantine for two weeks before filming and were tested regularly.
If anybody had the merest hint of a symptom they weren’t allowed on the set, social distancing was adhered to during breaks and the camera crew wore masks at all times. A special mouth disinfectant was provided for the actors and hand santising was done rigorously.
Julia says the toughest part was lugging around a prosthetic baby bump.
“That belly was heavy and hot,” she says. “It really helped to make me feel quite uncomfortable – which you are when you’re pregnant.”
JULIA and Ari can’t imagine their lives without their bubbly little Zoe, but nothing could have prepared them for parenthood. “It’s romanticised in the movies,” Julia says. In real life there are sleepless nights, seemingly endless crying and around-the-clock feeding.
The couple, who are also the brains behind the hit comedy sketch series Suzelle DIY, admit they couldn’t have juggled work and parenthood without the support of their families.
“We also give each other breaks to recuperate and re-energise.”
Becoming parents has changed them in many ways, Julia says. “It’s almost like it’s opened up a new level of creativity because you have this amazing being who puts so much into perspective and she’s all that matters.”
Tali may be way over the top but Julia considers herself a pretty chilled mom. Now that Zoe is a bit older, she lets the little girl take the lead – “obviously within reason”. “The shift into motherhood takes time but I absolutely love it and it’s made me a better person.”
The name Zoe – which means life – was drawn from Julia’s Greek roots and the redheaded, full-of-beans tot seems to be living up to her name. “She loves to perform, she’s very imaginative and extremely independent,” her proud mom says.
Julia describes Ari (39) as an amazing hands-on dad. “It’s been a joy to become a father, your heart just expands,” he says.
With talk of another Tali series in the works, Julia and Ari know how important it is to have downtime. They play with Zoe in the garden of their Tamboerskloof home, go for walks and do fun things together as a family. “It’s also important for us to do things separately as a couple – Ari loves to run, he plays chess and I love to get lost in books.”
Julia, who grew up with three sisters, says they’d love to grow their family.
“It’s definitely on the cards,” she says. “I think two children would be perfect for me – I’m not sure I could manage more.”
THE couple started working together on their brainchild Suzelle DIY in 2014, two years after they started dating. They were introduced to each other by a mutual friend who thought they’d make the perfect match. “I do think that it was meant to be,” Julia says.
“It happened so organically, like the success of Suzelle and creating new characters. We needed each other to realise those things.”
Living and working together is enough to put strain on many a relationship but Ari says it’s only brought them closer.
“I know a lot of people say, ‘Oh, I can’t work with my wife,’ which I find insane. You have to be able to work with your partner because you must be a team.
“We’ve just translated our home partnership to a professional partnership and our relationship is stronger because we’ve worked with each other in so many different facets.”
The couple work out of their production house, Sketchbook Studios, in the buzzing suburb of Woodstock and have many a creative brainstorming session there.
They’ve won awards for the fictional characters they’ve created, but while Suzelle DIY is the one that got them off the ground, Tali is the one everyone’s talking about. Though Julia and her character are worlds apart, “there’s a Tali inside me that I just tap into”, she says.
Suzelle is stuck in a dusty cupboard for now but there are plans for new content for her in the not-too-distant future. For now, though, Tali is the hot and happening babe of the moment and she’s getting the lion’s share of the attention.
“We definitely want to do another season and we’re already chatting about that and other projects,” Julia says.
“It’s an exciting time for content creators because platforms like Showmax are seeing the value of putting money in local content.” Well, we can’t wait to see more of Tali tottering around Sea Point.
‘WE JUST FELT THERE WAS SO MUCH COMEDY THERE AND SO MUCH SCOPE FOR FOR TALI’