TV News South Africa

Medical drama commences principal photography

The largest medical drama series and the first of its kind to come out of South Africa, has just begun principal photography in Johannesburg. Set in a socially turbulent, violent, yet undeniably modern city, Jozi-H is a medical drama about the personal struggles faced by an eclectic, international band of doctors, surgeons and nurses, dedicated to saving lives at one of the world's highest profile emergency medicine facilities, "Johannesburg Metropolitan Hospital".

The 13 x 1 hour series is a co-production between the award-winning Canadian-based company, Inner City Films (Ekhaya: A Family Chronicle, North/South, Survivors), and Morula Pictures, a South African production company headed by Mfundi Vundla, producer of soapie "Generations," and a producer of the motion picture, "In My Country".

Jozi-H is produced in association with the SABC in South Africa and Canadian broadcaster CBC. The series is produced with the financial participation of the South African Industrial Development Corporation, Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm Canada , Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, South African Department of Trade and Industry and the support of the South African Ministry of Arts and Culture.

The series is exec-produced by Inner City's Amos Adetuyi, Alfons Adetuyi and Marva Ollivierre (Under The Knife, Skin Deep), with Morula Pictures' Mfundi Vundla and Adeelah Carrim (Magic Cellar). Also serving as executive producers are Tony Dennis (Band of Gold, Silent Witness) and head writer Alyson Feltes (Traders, The Associates). Stephen J Turnbull (Wilby Wonderful, The Pentagon Papers) is the series producer and Walter Ayres (Whisky Echo, Dead Easy) serves as line producer.

Among the directors are Anne Wheeler (Davinci's Inquest Better than Chocolate), Kelly Makin (Queer As Folk, The Eleventh Hour) Alfons Adetuyi (Ekhaya: A Family Chronicle), Thabang Moleya (Portrait of a Dark Soul, Interrogation Room), Dumisani Phakathi (The Electric Workshop, An Old Wife's Tale) and Neal Sundstrom (Homeland, Dead Easy).

The key cast includes South African talent Thami Ngubeni (Generations, Critical Assignment), Neil McCarthy (Hotel Rwanda, The Lost World), Tumisho Masha (Beyond Boarders, Drum) and Hlomla Dandala (Isidingo: The Need, Lord of War), along ith Canadian actors Sarah Allen (Wall of Secrets, Human Trafficking) and Vincent Walsh (Saving Private Ryan, Missing) and American Billoah Greene (Head of State, Everyday People).

Plus3 Entertainment is distributing the series worldwide and production services are provided by FilmAfrika.

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