A new year is always exciting because it is accompanied by new shows.
Coming to the small screens this January is “Rëenboogrant”, a series based on the iconic 90s books.
The Tshwane-set teen series centred on the Brink family. Minke Marais and Mila de Villiers co-star as Grade 10 sisters, Shani and Sunette, with Paul Strydom as their older brother, Dolf, who is in matric.
Desiré Gardner, who played Magda Louw in the series of the same name, is the head writer on this new Showmax telenovela.
Speaking about her role, she said it was exciting writing for the series because it evoked some nostalgia, bringing back some childhood memories.
“When I was initially approached, I got all the books and read them. I have to say, it was like suddenly being a kid again.
“I grew up in the 90s, so it was so specific to that period, and it almost felt like I was reading it as a kid. I sat through nights and said, ‘I’m going to stop reading now, I’m going to stop reading now…’ - and then I just kept going.
“I enjoyed it so much and thought, ‘I wish I had read this when I was in Standard 5 and 6 [Grades 7 and 8].”
“Even though it was written many years ago, it’s still refreshing today. There’s great storytelling, brave stories and great characters that sometimes catch you off guard.
“They’ll sometimes upset and anger you, but you’ll keep reading because you want to know what happens. It’s very entertaining,” Gardner said.
“The main characters, in particular, do unexpected things. For example, Shani does not always make the right decision, and she also makes a lot of unexpected choices. You expect Shani to do one thing, and then she does something completely different.
“That bravery in storytelling is something I enjoy and makes the characters so interesting and three-dimensional to me.”
Since the series is about a 90s book, Gardner had to use her creativity to make it relatable to present day by exploring how the world has changed and the influence of social media.
“When you want to write something contemporary, you have to look at what has changed between then and now. One of the big changes is that social media and technology have developed significantly and now play a very big role.
“Social media has a huge impact on kids in school – even the kids who don’t have social media. Also, now we don’t just show up at someone’s house – we send a WhatsApp first,” she said.
“On an emotional level, mental health is a bigger priority today. People are now more open to talking about things that are bothering us. There is a greater understanding of ourselves, especially among young people.
“Young people are more aware of the things they experience and feel. So it wasn't just about changing the bicycle in the story to a car; it’s something that bleeds through to every aspect of the characters’ lives.”
∎ “Reënboogrant” premières on Wednesday, January 15, on Showmax.