ETV Sunrise Interview
January 7th, 2009 by Dan Hugo
4:40am: The dreaded alarm sound after a restless night of shallow slumber. Time to “rise and shine”, get the lenses in (else I’m blind as a bat), and stumble down the Pretoria home of my cousin Marcus.
4:55am: I showered. Had to. Feel more alive if I do. But now I’m late, forcing some Woolworths muesli with raspberry and litchi fat free yoghurt downward - a similar force to race morning.
5:10am: Marcus and I roll out on one of the many highways heading to Joburg, Hype Park. We’re both still asleep. I figured for a moment I might get through this without having to be conscious at all…
5:30am: This is the real world. So far from my cocooned bubble in The Bosch. The highway isn’t at a standstill but its busting with commuters. Crazy as. This is the real world I think again. And I don’t belong.
5:50am: Roll into the ETV head quarters without the security guard blinking. I recognize the guy with the blazer draped over the shoulder, sipping his take away coffee. It’s the guy I google’d last night, trying to figure who the presenters are (Eish, never watched ETV before!). Graeme Richards.
5:55am: There isn’t a soul in the foyer. A few security screens, a few couches. Vast and impersonal. It seemed abandoned. Marcus and I sat down, both now well awake and on edge. Well, Marcus had got me there timely and so was off the hook I guess but still shared my uncertainty.
6:00am: Neo arrives, smiles, says “are you Hugo?”. I nod, while taking note that everyone, including Thulas who has also arrived for an audience, is suited from top to bottom. Me in my Puma jeans and t-shirt. Neo opens a security gate, and soon Marcus, Thulas and myself are seated in the waiting place with its linguering scent of freshly brewed coffee.
6:05am: I am glued to the small TV in our place of limbo. Trying to get a feel for the Sunrise show, enjoying some news (I haven’t been following much of late), and attempting to settle my insecurities.
6:25am: I’m summoned. Two doors later and I’m in the studio. The manager, newsreader, three-camera crew, two presenters, and soon a girl who’s applying some base to my freckles and ‘now on the verge of sweating bullets’ forehead.
I’m surprised how relaxed the atmosphere is, with tiptoeing and finger counting and lead-ins and 101 lights. Some sight. The camera crew are more asleep than I am. Soon I’m connected with a tiny mike, and offered a sip of water. Could they hear my throat was drying?
6:35am: I’m seated on a large couch alongside Graeme, and watch as he does three more news feeds, with me just out of picture. He’s smooth, reads the script but ads and changes as he goes with ease.
6:37am: I’m introduced. Bit of blur for a few minutes. And then thanked for joining the show.
6:47am: Marcus and I jump the security gate leading into the still vacated foyer. Head to the car and greet the indifferent security guard at the boom. All while thinking what I should have said, could have said.
7:00am: Tucking into a freshly baked choc chip muffin and sipping on a Strawberry juice. Thinking how bizarre. How bizarre.
On the business side: I offered the opportunity to my Dream Givers. With Puma grabbing at the opportunity to make the gig happen. So I stole a few bits and pieces from their concept in Canal Walk before flying yesterday, just to look fresh and wear something of current trend. Marcus said there was at least two full body shots, but most of it was cropped tightly. That’s the game I play – a skermish for exposure. And today I hope I won the fight for Puma.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
hey! why didn’t you warn us, might even have switched on the goggle box that early.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I was more worried about the bloke doing the interview!!!
January 9th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
thought you were absolutely brilliant.looked so relaxed and definately did belong!