Gugu Zuma-Ncube, co-founder and executive producer of Stained Glass TV, participated in a panel discussion dedicated to the impact of the 'Netflix effect' on local stories, talent, and industry growth.
According to Zuma-Ncube, the success of a television project is only part of the bigger picture; the true reward lies in watching people develop in this field, achieving positions that once seemed unattainable to them.
Speaking at a press event celebrating Netflix's 10th anniversary and addressing the publication IOL, Zuma-Ncube shared lessons learned from working on the project 'Uzalo,' while also emphasizing the importance of creating content that resonates with South African viewers.
During the presentation, she took part in a discussion about the 'Netflix effect' and its consequences for local production, talent, and industry development. She noted that the ability to pursue a passion and help others do the same is a blessing for her.
'Finding talent, whether in front of or behind the camera, is what we are very passionate about at Stained Glass,' she stated.
Regarding the state of the industry, Zuma-Ncube pointed to the need for stronger support mechanisms to ensure continuous production growth. She expressed a wish for increased funding mechanisms and support for the arts.
She particularly highlighted the significance of SABC as a platform for training South African creative workers. Although the event was not organized by SABC, she believes the public broadcaster should recover because it serves as the 'engine of our growth as creative people.'
Zuma-Ncube stressed that without SABC, many Netflix employees would not exist, as many started there and received necessary training and opportunities.
It is vital for her that the public broadcaster becomes stronger, which is necessary for the further development of the local television industry. She called on the government to pay attention to this so that the 'engine continues to run, and the industry can grow, thrive, and become bigger.'
Although Stained Glass gained recognition through its productions, Zuma-Ncube believes the company's greatest achievement is the impact it has had on people's careers. She is proud of how the lives of her employees have changed.
She gave examples of employees starting in lower positions advancing to higher ones: cleaners becoming line producers, and assistants becoming creative directors. In her words, this is where 'absolute growth' happens.
Zuma-Ncube also commented on the success of the series 'The Polygamist,' a joint project of Stained Glass and Netflix, emphasizing the importance of thorough character and story development before going on screen. She stated that the work done in the development room, when plots were written and characters created, is indispensable.
She noted that many characters were born there and the story came alive. Collaborating with a partner like Netflix, which provides the team with creative space, time, and freedom during the development process, is a huge blessing.
Ultimately, she explained that the reaction to the series reflected the personal experience invested in its creation, and for that, they are infinitely grateful.
Looking back at 'Uzalo,' one of Stained Glass's early successes, Zuma-Ncube admitted that it was also a learning experience. Since it was their first project, many mistakes were made during the process, but the public responded with great understanding.
The series quickly gained an audience and became one of the most-watched drama shows in South Africa, maintaining a lead for ten years. In Zuma-Ncube's opinion, the journey from the first project to the company's current activities is a constant process of improvement.
She concluded that with every new project, the team learns more, becoming better and sharper in their craft.
Working in various formats—broadcast television, paid channels, and streaming—Zuma-Ncube emphasized that changing viewer habits requires adaptability. It is necessary to consider how the audience changes depending on the viewing platform.
Nevertheless, she believes that the fundamentals of storytelling remain unchanged: viewers come for the story and stay for it, so it is important to make that story strong and then make minor adjustments according to audience expectations.
Zuma-Ncube also touched upon the role of television and cinema in presenting South Africa to the world. Considering the country's tourism potential, she noted that the industry's influence goes beyond mere entertainment.
She expressed the view that the government does not pay enough attention to the film industry, despite its immense power. She pointed out that tourism revenue contributes to the country's GDP.
Furthermore, she called for increased investment in the creative sector, asserting that the return on these investments can be hundreds of times greater than the initial funding.
Commenting on the growing representation of women, especially Black women, in leadership positions within the industry, Zuma-Ncube welcomed these changes, calling them long-awaited. She stated that women have always played an important role.
She is glad that people are beginning to recognize their contribution, as they always knew what they could offer. Her approach to leadership is based on respect and enjoyment of the process, rather than striving for specific professions such as law or medicine.
In conclusion, Zuma-Ncube stated that Stained Glass's ambitions remain focused on creating more opportunities and telling more stories: 'more shows, more empowerment, more practitioners, more new actors, just more and more.'