DinsdagDeuntjies #FanClub

My beautiful friend Clarice Pieterse launched a new online initiative about 3 months ago called #DinsdagDeuntjie and it is so exciting to see how this seemingly 'small' seed and concept has grown and mushroomed into the ever-growing movement in music that's creating a platform for artists to showcase themselves and their work, particularly those who are 'up-and-comings' and new to the industry!

It all started with the idea to get musos and singers to upload their covers of Afrikaans songs accompanying themselves or accompanied by musician friends - just to celebrate their love for music and get their voices out there!

It has quickly evolved and every Tuesday we eagerly await all the brand new 'TuesdayTunes' for the week to be loaded to the DinsdagDeuntjie Facebook PAGE or artists using the #DinsdagDeuntjie hashtag on their own pages.

This is the story on the DinsdagDeuntjie Page about how it came about and how it works:
Dinsdae is die dag net na Maandag…en vir baie van die kreatiewes wat vassit in ń 9-5 werk …begin die week lekker ritme vang ...na n Blou Maandag…En dis hoekom Dinsdae MOOI moet wees!!!

#DinsdagDeuntjies gee enige persoon wat n Afrikaanse liedjie op die hart het die geleentheid om dit te leer speel…te record en met die wereld te deel!! Mens weet nooit wie sien jou video raak nie…
Jy mag dalk net ons Land se volgende groot ster wees!!!(=
Die trick is dat jy moet COLLABORATE…
As jy (nog)nie n instrument speel nie, kry n pel Of Pelle wat jou kan begelei…DAN IS DIT ń:
#DuoDinsdagdeuntjie. Daag jouself uit om n instrument te leer speel en saam te sing…DAN IS DIT ń:#DinsdagDeuntjie

Wees kreatief!!! Ons sien uit om julle videos te sien!!! 1 keer n week . Dinsdae. MakingMagic. Afrikaans. Akoesties!! PS. Geen Backtracks nie asseblief!!

Many of our crazy talented Mentorship Students at FADCreationS have climbed right onto that bandwagon and every Tuesday they post their Afrikaans covers or even original music to join in the DinsdagDeuntjie fun!



What is even better, is that the online phenomenon has now grown to a once monthly LIVE musical #TydOmTeSkyn event! Once a month on a Friday, Clarice invites a handful of DinsdagDeuntjie online participants to a live evening of music and showcasing of talent! These #TydOmTeSkyn events are hosted by the ProMusica (@ProSound_Studio) venue in the Hillfox Centre (Unit 39 right on the end) on Hendrik Porgieter Road, Weltevreden Park. 

It's such a fun event to attend (only R60 per person!) and we always have plenty of fellow FADlings supporting and attending the live event. *(There is really yummy coffee and snacks available as well, mmmmm!) Each live event enjoys the BEST sound & lighting services and equipment provided by ProSound Studios and their team of technicians.They really are cool, check out their website at this link.

And now they have even begun LIVE streaming the monthly events on a new app, download the ProSound Studio Radio App on iStore to listen in next time!!




















We were so proud to see three of our FADCreationS Mentorship Students debuting on the DinsdagDeuntjie stage at the recent TydOmTeSkyn #3 event and we're grateful to the entire DinsdagDeuntjie team who make it possible for them to perform live and showcase their talent on this platform, AND that alongside the likes of incredibly talented and popular Afrikaans musicians Joshua Na Die Reen.

Check out Kristen Raath Artist, Savannah Georgia Artist and Liila (only 12 years old!) and their Facebook links (click on their names) to follow their exciting young careers and new developments.

I really hope that you'll come and join us at the next live event or even post your very own rendition of a #DinsdagDeuntjie this week!

Komaan!!! Gaan groot en sing saam hierdie Dinsdag!!

Check out the #DinsdagDeuntjie website at this link and follow all their social media links below!!

Thanks for the support guys, and for supporting all the peeps I write my #FanClub posts about. If you have a cause or project or business you think I should check out and would like some support - leave me a comment or send me an email... I'd love to hear from all of you!


** Subscribe to this blog on the right, in order to receive my posts conveniently via email.







Chat soon music-makers!

FADCreationS Mentorship Program #Projects

One of my favourite FADCreationS initiatives is our personal 3 to 6 month Mentorship Program for highly driven and passionate young artists.

The program is designed to assist young talented and upcoming artists/performers to bridge the gap from being an amateur to becoming a young professional, making well-informed subject, study and career choices that lead them closer to their ultimate goals and to find their feet in the ever-changing entertainment industry.

Our very first mentorship candidate, Morne Vogel has recently moved to New York and has started his studies at the The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts with a bright and promising future ahead of him. He is an extremely talented and brilliant actor and writer, we are so excited for him! Read more about him here.



Let me introduce you to our current students:




Louri Rootman is an avid songwriter, vocalist and actress. She is building towards a future in musical theatre and we just love her quirky nature.

Tyler Gossayn is a gorgeous model, dancer and actress. She recently completed a summer course at The New York Film Academy and has returned even more determined to realize her goal of becoming a successful actress and performing artist.




















Mongene Stoffberg is an extremely talented dancer and actress, also exploring her vocal ability in order to pursue a future career in musical theatre. She is the most pro-active girl I know, with so much passion for the arts.

Jaydee Freeman has a great voice and creates his very own original material on his guitar. A singer-songwriter and also an actor, he has so much going for him. This boy is going places.

Lourens Koekemoer is a determined young actor who knows exactly where he is headed. He is not only talented but has a great sense of determination and drive with firm goals in place, which I have no doubt he will achieve with great success.

Savannah Schutte is an already established vocalist performing at high profile events and is currently working on her own material, building towards a fresh new sound. She is wonderfully talented and beautiful to boot.

Michaela Hilder is the most creative and ambitious young girl I have ever come across. A dancer and actress, she is determined to build towards her exciting future in the entertainment industry.

Roelien Prinsloo, already a working actress and performer, has the best sense of humour and buckets full of perseverance. She is a brilliant actress and is about to make a lot of people sit up and take notice. 

The Mentorship Program includes a full photo shoot with styled images that are finally used on the branded website created for each candidate. This weekend we shot three of our girls in studio at Iris.Grace Photography in Johannesburg and it was huge amounts of fun!
 Below are some 'behind the scenes' images and video.

 The FADCreationS Mentorship program is aimed at giving these talented artists a step in the industry 'door' and give them the resources, advice and input they require to get them closer to their goals. It is extremely rewarding to see their growth and watch them transform into capable, well-prepared and professional young artists.

Hopefully I will be posting about all of their successes and adventures very soon!

Chat soon,

I Have Life #OutAndAbout

Do any of you remember the December 1994 news story about the women Alison Botha, who was abducted in PE by two men, raped, stabbed and disemboweled; finally left for dead with her head nearly severed from her body after 16 stab wounds to her neck. And she survived.
Miraculously Alison dragged herself to the middle of the road nearby and was rescued by veterinary student Tiaan Eilerd and later also some incredible doctors, who had no idea how she could still be alive.
Her story is one with so much wonder, shock, awe, courage, belief and inspiration.

Over the weekend Ferdinand and I took a few of the FADCreationS mentorship students to watch the theatrical portrayal of this woman's story at the Sandton Auto and General Theatre on the Square  I Have Life - Alison's Journey.  I knew it was going to be heavy, but I did not expect to be quite so moved, shaken and inspired.

The wonderfully effective and minimalist set and lighting is the work of the talented Denis Hutchinson. The piece was adapted and directed by Maralin Vanrenen and the role of Alison is portrayed by Suanne Braun. And the wonderful supporting cast of 4 are Shaeleen Tobin, Zak Hendrikz, Clayton Boyd and David De Beer.

It is not an easy watch, it takes you right to that moment with her, makes you wonder what you would have done, makes you ask a multitude of questions, it has you disgusted, disturbed, in awe and perplexed. It has you fighting tears without success and wrenches deep empathy not only for the ordeal she went through but for everything that comes after and how often that torture is what most 'victims' don't overcome.
Alison's message speaks of her own personal ABC's, Attitude, Belief and Choice. These things combined can be what pulls us through the worst of circumstances; it is our choice, it is our attitude and it is our unrelenting belief that can make all the difference.

Suanne Braun with the real Alison, who has been supporting the piece I Have Life avidly and will be attending the final performances this week.

What was so profound to me was that in spite of multiple stab wounds to her neck and it being almost completely severed, none of her vital arteries or vocal chords were damaged; in spite of multiple stab wounds to her abdomen and genitalia, none of her vital organs were punctured or damaged, and Alison was still able to have children (two boys). Her survival and recovery was nothing short of a miracle.

There were powerful performances in this piece and I will always make mention of my friend and insanely talented actor Zak Hendrikz, who takes on the difficult challenge of portraying Alison's main attacker Frans, night after night (among other characters). But then I need to take a moment in order to wax lyrical about the profound brilliance that is Shaeleen Tobin. If I thought I would walk out of the theatre dry eyed, I was sorely mistaken. Shaeleen's emotional portrayal of both Alison's mom and best friend had me spilling over every time, she draws you in and makes you feel whether you want to or not. She is so real and honest and engaging. She is just something else and someone I can only attempt to aspire to as an actress. Thank you Daphne Kuhn and Maralin Vanrenen for braving such an impactful and important story and piece.

I thought I might walk out feeling morbid and disillusioned by the cruelty there is in this world. Instead I felt moved. I felt moved to do more, to be more and to believe more. To believe in my own capabilities, realising that we are infinitely stronger and more able than we think.

"No matter the circumstances, you always control your attitude, your beliefs and the choices you make..." Alison

Chat soon,

Extras in Paris, French Toast Film #BehindTheScenes

Today several of our FADCreationS Mentorship Students got to experience (for some their first) a day on a film set, filling the scenes as extras for the film French Toast, to be released in 2015.

What a magical experience for them, I am so grateful to Hartiwood productions for allowing them the opportunity and experience.

It is our goal as mentors to these performers-in-the-making to provide them with as much exposure to real industry experiences and professionals, in order to formulate their own path and goals towards becoming artists in their own right. The mentorship program is a 6 month intensive one-on-one training program, with the purpose of honing these artists to their true industry potential, providing platforms and opportunities as well as assisting in the transition from amateur to professional working performer.


Look at the beautiful replica Hartiwood built of Cafe Alexandre in Montmarte right in the middle of Hartebeespoortdam...

After one more week of filming, the Cafe will be open for business and visits by the public. It is gorgeous and quaint; and I can not wait to go and enjoy some delicious coffee and macarons 'french style'.
And there is speak of all sorts of yummy french toast!

Au revoir!

AMTC 2014 Training Weekend #Projects

I am so excited about mentoring the group of South African candidates for AMTC SUMMER SHINE 2014 held in Orlando, Florida this July.
The AMTC website describes the mission and heart behind the event:
Actors, Models & Talent for Christ is a non-profit ministry. It is also a mission and a movement of performers from all over the world who feel called to the fields of arts, entertainment and media.
AMTC equips, prepares and promotes God’s talent to become positive role models in an industry that influences our entire culture. Kids, teens and adults chosen from auditions perform for the world’s leading agents. Since 1982, God has built a 32-year legacy within AMTC to launch His performers.

This weekend in Centurion, we had two full days of training and preparing our incredibly talented group of candidates for this amazing event, hosted at the magnificent Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. Every year these candidates are screened and approved during SATCH (South African Talent Championship) provincial and gala events, SATCH being the only approved channel that feeds the South African entries for AMTC. I feel so grateful and honoured to have been asked by SATCH to coach and supervise the wonderful SA talent during their journey and experiences at the AMTC event in July.

The candidates undergo more training, styling and photo shoots once they arrive in the US, and will be showcased in many categories in the fields of acting, singing, dancing and modelling in front of 50 to 100 top film, fashion, music and theater executives—from both mainstream and Christian media. At SHINE, each day is packed with workshops by industry experts and the event finally concludes with one-on-one interviews for the performers with these industry executives. Having myself taken part in the event in January 2013, I have a very good sense of what goes into the preparation and the final execution at the SHINE event.
I hope that each one of them will have a similarly phenomenal experience, as I was blessed to have.

I am so looking forward to my trip later this year and will keep you all posted with the happenings in Orlando!

Blessings,