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Q&A with Single Guys' Ryan Metcalfe
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Bizcommunity recently caught up with Ryan Metcalfe, the head writer and co-creator of SABC 1's hit new Zulu sitcom, Single Guys. Starring fellow co-creator Thomas Gumede as Zanele, Motlatsi Mafatshe as Taps, and Thabo Malema as Khaya, the show averaged 2.8-million viewers through its half season run, with the last show hitting 3-million viewers.
Ryan Metcalfe on the set of Single Guys
Single Guys took a mid-season break to make way for the elimination rounds of the channel's So You Think You Can Dance reality competition, but will be back on air tonight at 7pm. The show also stars Nolwazi Shange in the role of Kwezi, Zola Nombona as Lerato, and Warren Masemola as Anthony.
Single Guys is a show about three best friends in their 20s, navigating life, love and the freeloaders, stalkers and other crazy patrons of their newly opened video rental store. How did the story and characters come about?Metcalfe: Wow. That is the best synopsis of the show that I've ever read. I spent 10 years pitching this show and I've never described it as accurately as you just did. You should be in TV.
Single Guys is a show about three best friends in their 20s, navigating life, love and the freeloaders, stalkers and other crazy patrons of their newly opened video rental store. How did the story and characters come about?Metcalfe: Wow. That is the best synopsis of the show that I've ever read. I spent 10 years pitching this show and I've never described it as accurately as you just did. You should be in TV.
The whole concept was conceived in 2004, in my last year at Afda (where I studied acting). I cast Thomas Gumede, who was in his first year and not yet famous. Things didn't work out and it didn't end up getting made. But we kept the idea and went ahead and started pitching it, getting Motlatsi and Thabo involved in 2009. Persistence paid off and we finally got it commissioned. During that time though, Thomas, Mo and Thabo have become super famous. But they're all equally passionate about this project and so, gave up their time to be in the show.
As for the concept - I thought, how brilliant would it be to have a bunch of single guys living together and trying to get girls? Genius. How's that for original thought? No, it's just a simple idea that resonated with us. Funnily enough, I only found this out this year, the three leads actually used to live together during college.
As for the African-themed DVD store - I love African film, more particularly, Nigerian film. In our original concept we were going to film our own homages to Nigerian films as cutaways for the show. I loved that idea but the producers were not made of money, apparently, and I had to let it go.
Which character do you relate to most and why?Metcalfe: I think the three characters represent who I think I am, who I wish I was, and probably who I actually am like. I think Khaya is our ordinary guy. He's the guy I think the audience uses as a window to the world, as the other two are generally used as the ones who make ridiculous choices to solve simple problems. But I think they are all pretty relatable.
It's no secret that you're about as English as they come. How did you and/or the producers go about translating the script?Metcalfe: It was secret. But now that you've blown my cover, I'll tell you.
Which character do you relate to most and why?Metcalfe: I think the three characters represent who I think I am, who I wish I was, and probably who I actually am like. I think Khaya is our ordinary guy. He's the guy I think the audience uses as a window to the world, as the other two are generally used as the ones who make ridiculous choices to solve simple problems. But I think they are all pretty relatable.
It's no secret that you're about as English as they come. How did you and/or the producers go about translating the script?Metcalfe: It was secret. But now that you've blown my cover, I'll tell you.
It's no secret that you're about as English as they come. How did you and/or the producers go about translating the script?Metcalfe: It was secret. But now that you've blown my cover, I'll tell you.
We were lucky because the show has three incredibly funny actors at the helm, who can all speak the language, and who know me very well. We also had our translator included as part of the writing team. So the final draft went through me, translation draft through Chris, and then a final draft through the actors themselves. It doesn't always work out the best to have the actors have this much freedom but Thomas is a brilliant comedian in his own right. Once the scripts were put down, he took over.
Writing for TV - never mind having your own show - is no mean feat. How did you get the producers to notice you - what was your big break?
Metcalfe: We pitched this show so many times. Through so many different production companies. I'd almost given up when Nimrod Geva, from Quizzical Pictures, called to say he was interested on taking it on board. I was pretty jaded by then but I went along with it 'cause what else are you supposed to do? I kept rewriting and rewriting the pitch until one day I got a call from Nimrod saying the show had been commissioned by SABC 1. I couldn't believe it. But there you go.
What can we expect after the season finishes - is there a second season in the works?
Metcalfe: We wait and see. The first season ends at the end of December. Then we'll see if the SABC likes us enough to move forward. Although there is a second show that is being shot as we speak. Single Galz. That's supposed to come out straight after Single Guys.
Do you have any parting shots or advice for aspiring screenwriters?
Metcalfe: Don't be a d***. Keep persisting. And don't ever think you know enough.
Single Guys cast and crew: L - R: (back) Zola Nombona, Ryan Metcalfe, (front) Thomas Gumede, Thabo Malema, Nolwazi Shange and Motlatsi Mafatshe.
