Nadia Neophytou

Izimvo has the pleasure of introducing award-winning arts and entertainment journalist; Nadia Neophytou.

Currently the Arts and Entertainment Journalist for Talk Radio 702, Highveld Stereo 94.7, Kfm 94.5 and Cape Talk, Nadia knew from a young age that she was destined for a career in journalism.

While completing a BA in Film, Media and Visual Studies from the University of Cape Town, Nadia became music manager at UCT Radio and Arts Editor at the student paper, Varsity.

Moving back to Johannesburg to become a research journalist at 3rd Degree, Nadia’s passion for arts and culture eventually won out and lead her to Primedia where she is now responsible for building the arts and entertainment coverage across the four radio stations.

Website: http://missntertainment.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nadianeophytou
Location: Johannesburg

Nadia was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: My friends usually like to tell people who I am right off the bat – or introduce me as “Nadia Neophytou, you know from the radio”. That’s usually followed by – “she’s been to Cannes and the Oscars, and, and, and…!”

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I have a fear of falling backwards on an escalator.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Go to a spa like the one at the Saxon!

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: It actually exists in Blouberg in Cape Town! It’s a quaint little home right on the beach, with a gorgeous view of Table Mountain, and has a big open window from which you can look out onto the sea.

This Question was proudly sponsored by Private Property.

South African Journalism

Q: You’ve recently returned from the Cannes Film festival at which the South African film, “Life, Above All” received rave reviews and an unprecedented 10-minute standing ovation. Tell us about the experience of being at the film’s world premier?

A: It was absolutely amazing! There are so many other journalists from countries with films that get so much attention that it was nice to have some of the spotlight shine on South Africa. I remember sitting in the audience, being overcome with emotion, and how proud I was to be South African.

Q: South African film has seemingly gone through a renaissance with the recent success of movies such as Totsi, District 9 and now “Life, Above All”. To what would you attribute the recent success and do you feel that enough is being done to promote South African film to local audiences?

A: Haha – is this the subject of a thesis? It’s strange because I don’t think there is only one reason for that. People say that District 9 proved that a no-name cast can still make a hit movie – and to a large degree it did – but the fact that Peter Jackson was a producer on it also got the ball rolling. I think there have been some great collaborations between local talent and international funding.

Life Above All was produced by Germans and South Africans, but at the heart of it was moving performances by young talent. Tsotsi too – had to rely on funding from overseas – but Presley Chweneyeagae and the rest of the cast gave superb performances. The rest of the world is starting to take notice of that, and they’re willing to put the money behind it.

Until we – as a country – can do that for ourselves, we need to nurture these relationships, rather than moan about why local stars aren’t given bigger parts. I believe that will come – and if you’re good enough, your talent will shine through even a small-budget film.

Q: Selecting the perfect question is a science. From where do you draw inspiration for your questions and how much preparation goes into each of your interviews?

A: Depends on who I am interviewing and for how long. I usually only get a short amount of time to interview someone so I usually go for the news angle first – what part of the interview I can use to get the story onto the News. Then I expand on that – and bring in a South African angle if possible. I also have a Celebrity Green Tip that I do on Redi Direko’s show so I am also concerned with trying to find out how “environmentally friendly” certain celebs are.

Q: One of the biggest perks of being an arts and entertainment journalist must be reporting from events such as Cannes and the Oscars. Which of your assignments have you enjoyed the most and which celebrity has had the greatest impact on you personally?

A: I’ve certainly had many adventures along the way! I really enjoy the travelling and covering international stories for a local audience – even if it means I have to sleep on a friend’s couch or find a sponsor to help me get there. One of my career highlights has to be being at Michael Jackson’s memorial in Los Angeles last year, where I learnt the true meaning of the word “fan”. Celebrity-wise, no one has really had a personal impact on me.

Q: What are your thoughts on the South African tertiary education system and do you think enough is being done to keep up with the rapid changes in journalism?

A: Well, I think you can never put too much emphasis on practical experience. No matter what you study there needs to be that internship or job-shadowing that comes with it, so that you’re not going out there into the working world without a clue as to what you really want to do.

Having said that, no one ever really teaches you how to interview rockstars! You learn and develop your own style. I can’t speak about all the universities, but I think many of the best journalism professors in SA are well aware of the rapid changes in journalism and are making sure their students are up to scratch.

Q: With the recent popularity of devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Netbooks, what are your predictions for the future of journalism and do you agree with paywalls as proposed by News Corp’s founder Rupert Murdoch?

A: I think that there’s this perception that anyone can be a journalist and that it’s not a profession that deserves respect – like, say being a doctor – but there is a certain skill and even though the tools make it easier for citizen journalism, people are going to still want news from reliable sources. And we shall see how much they want that by the amount they are willing to pay for that content. I think paywalls are interesting – but maybe not the solution – as we are navigating the way forward.

Q: What can we look forward to from Nadia Neophytou for the remainder of the year and beyond?

A: More reports from around the world! More exclusive interviews! More bubbly enthusiasm!

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Yes, when I was in Std 5 my dad’s jewellery store was robbed by armed thieves who cleaned him out of everything, while firing shots. Thankfully no one was injured, but I will never forget the look on his face after that. He has always tried to make an honest, decent living and I remember how defeated he was, and that made me angry.

More recently I had a smash-and-grab at 2am on the way home from a party. It made me scared and nervous to drive by myself for a while, but I got over it. I am always cautious and alert, but it hasn’t stopped me living a great life in this country. Having said that, I feel as if I should add a “yet” to that sentence, because of the crime statistics in this country and stories from friends…

Q: Which South African celebrity would you most like to interview and what would your last question to them be?

A: Elon Musk – he’s a rocket scientist born in SA who has become such an inspiration. I’d ask him if growing up in South Africa had any impact on his skills and abilities.

Q: What advice would you offer to first-time visitors looking to experience the ultimate South African experience?

A: They must check out a local band performing – our musical talent is incredible!

Q: If you could wave your magic wand and change one thing about South Africa, what would it be?

A: Hope that’s a big wand! The crime and poverty – I would make sure everyone had a home to live in and didn’t have to fear crime.

General

Q: If you could invite any three celebrities to a dinner party, who would you invite and which South African dish would you serve?

A: Brandon Flowers from The Killers, Robert Downey Jnr and Madiba – because he’s the biggest celebrity of them all! I’d serve some Greek dishes with a bit of a South African twist – like lamb kebabs made on the braai with tsatsiki.

Q: Which book would make required reading for all school-leavers and which book would you say has influenced your career the most?

A: Eveything I read has been helpful, but perhaps the best one has been The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jnr, which is quite practical for writing well.

Q: What advice would you offer anyone wanting a career in journalism and what is the one thing you wish you knew when you first started your career?

A: Read, read, read anything you can get your hands on so you’re clued up on what’s going on. The one thing I wish I knew when I was starting out, was that it’s okay to feel a bit unsure of whether you’re on the right track with your questions or things like that, but just to trust in your instincts. If you’ve read up on something and thought about it, you will be interested in it and can create a conversation around that.

Oh – and “don’t make friends with the rockstars”! That line from the Almost Famous movie sums it up best: you may think the celebs are your friends, but they’re not and you need to have a life of your own.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Charlize Theron – and I’d ask, why doesn’t she like speaking to South African press?

We’d like to thank Nadia for taking the time to answer our questions and wish her every success for the future.

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