Thuli Phongolo lives it up in Dubai [PICS]

Thuli fully immersed herself in the luxury and glamour of Dubai.
Actress and DJ Thuli Phongolo is living her best life in Dubai, treating herself to some much-needed rest and relaxation.
The Generations: The Legacy star, who recently made her return to the popular soapie, has shared snippets of her holiday on social media, giving fans a sneak peek into her lavish getaway.
From soaking up the sun by the poolside to dining at some of the city's top restaurants, she fully immersed herself in the luxury and glamour of Dubai
ALSO READ: A holiday to remember at Sun City
Thuli Phongolo: 'What a dreamy, yummy experience'
Thuli said one of the standout moments from her trip was a dinner experience at the upscale Japanese restaurant, Umi Kei.
She mentioned enjoying a surprise menu curated by the chef.
'Highly recommend — what a dreamy, yummy… funny experience we had,' she added.
Thuli Phongolo in Dubai. Pictures: IG Stories/@thuliphongolo
She also dined at The Theatre, Dubai's top luxury dinner show, which combines fine dining with live performances.
Dressed in a striking pink gown by Style Connection SA, she captioned the snaps: 'Invite me to dinner, Frank…'
Thuli also shared poolside pictures in a two-piece swimsuit, soaking up the sun.
She did not reveal who she is travelling with, but in one cryptic post on her IG stories, she wrote: 'You don't owe anyone your whole life. People can speculate, but you own the truth. Every time you show up with your light — even if it's quite messy or imperfect — you win.'
NOW READ: New film unveils the world of John Lennon and Yoko Ono

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IOL News

3 days ago

• IOL News

New faces join ‘Generations: The Legacy' as iconic characters take their final bow

Tinah Mnumzana will be joining the cast of "Generations: The Legacy" along with other popular actors. With it's 34th season under way, the show is set to welcome, Tinah Mnumzana, Nozuko Ntshangase, Phillip Tipo Tindisa and Sannah Mchunu. South Africa's long-running telenovela, " Generations: The Legacy " will welcome four new faces. Famed for her role on "Muvhango", Mnumzana will step into the role of Ausi Nokwazi Lukhozi on Monday, June 30. Characterised as impulsive and spontaneous, Ausi navigates life with a recklessness that often leaves her at the mercy of her choices. She's described as a street-smart survivor loyal to the streets, she is both talkative and fiercely opinionated, believing she's always right. "It feels so good and beautiful at the same time to be part of the biggest production. The crew and cast are amazing and have welcomed me so warmly," said Mnumzana. Viewers will also meet Ntshangase on Wednesday, July 9, who is set to portray the ambitious Vuyelwa Nxumalo. Vuyelwa is a product of privilege, having attended private school since grade one. Despite her nurturing instincts, she is fiercely determined, hoping to establish herself before the age of 30. Ntshangase shared: "I am so excited to join the mother of all soapies. Breathing life to the character of Vuyelwa is amazing and I can't wait for the people to witness the magic."

The South African

14-06-2025

• The South African

Is AI coming to eat Hollywood's lunch?

I believe it was motivational author William Arthur Ward who once said: 'If your mind can imagine it, or dream it, you can achieve it.' As far as digital filmmaking goes, with the recent release of Google AI's stunning new cinematic video generator, that quote is no longer a far-fetched fantasy. It's now a certain reality. And it could spell doom for Hollywood. In a recent video analysing AI's impact on Hollywood, writer and theater director, Russell Dobular of Due Dissidence said, 'I feel that we're at a moment with AI that is very similar to the moment we faced when the internet was first commercialised.' He reminded us how David Bowie, 'one of the greatest creative geniuses of his generation', saw what the internet was going to be before most people did. Back in December 1999, in an interview with BBC Newsnight , Bowie said: 'I don't think we've even seen the tip of the iceberg. I think the potential of what the internet is going to do to society is unimaginable. We're on the cusp of something exhilarating – and terrifying.' The interviewer (Jeremy Paxman) furtively suggested: 'It's just a tool though, isn't it? 'No, it's not. It's an alien life form', Bowie laughed. Then he said, 'The content is going to be so different to anything that we can envision at the moment, it will crush our ideas of what mediums are all about.' More than two decades ago, I remember reading an article in a cinema mag which predicted that, in the not-too-distant future, some (Japanese, Chinese or South Korean) kid (no sinophobia intended) is going make the next Star Wars, without leaving his mom's house. He's going to shoot greenscreen live-action and record dialogue in his garage or basement, and edit, post, grade, score and audio mix the film on his laptop – complete with CGI, VFX and animations. Well, that lucky kid's window to Wonderworld is now finally officially here. In 2002, producer-director Andrew Niccol released a film starring Al Pacino called Simone (aka S1m0ne ). It's the story of a fading director (Pacino) whose latest film is threatened with closure when his spoilt-brat star walks off the production. Instead of hiring another actress, he uses a new generation CG (computer graphics) programme to digitally create a substitute lead character, Simone (named after the CG programme, Simulation One). As Simone becomes more famous – because the audience thinks she's real – the filmmaker struggles to keep her non-existence a secret from the public. That was 2002. Back then, the concept was still sci-fi fantasy. Exactly 20 years later, it materialised. In 2022, ChatGPT wrote and directed the first AI short film in seven days. Produced by 28 Squared Studios in association with Moon Ventures, the six-minute short is called The Safe Zone . The story is of a world that's crumbling since AI seized control of the planet, where three siblings engage in an intense discussion for a spot in the Safe Zone – which is the only place safe from the machines. Only one of member of the family can be admitted into the Zone, those left behind will perish. Describing the process, producer Richard Juan says: 'We got OpenAI's ChatGPT to write us a full script and direct us in the production. It gave us a full shot list, suggested specific instructions for the director of photography (choice of camera lenses, movements and lighting), recommended wardrobe preferences, and even gave us specific prompts that enabled DALL-E 2 [text-to-image generator] to create a full storyboard. 'The future of filmmaking is changed forever.' In February this year, conservative commentator and documentary filmmaker Matt Walsh ( What is a Woman? Am I Racist? ) interviewed Zachary Levi ( Shazam ) about AI's impact on the film industry and how it affects the future of Hollywood. 'So AI in the film industry…is this where things are heading? Are we heading to a point where they're just going to type in a prompt, generate a movie and throw it out there for the masses? Are we going there – and how do you feel about that?' Walsh asked Levi. 'The short answer is, yes,' Levi answered. 'I've been banging this drum for a long time', he said. I believe that in very short order AI will be so good that it will be indiscernible from human content. You now have technology that allows anyone – Studios or Joe Schmo – to sit at home and work with an AI model to then creatively curate whatever you want; a movie, a TV show, a video game, a song – just by prompt.' 'So I think that we [Hollywood] are all in for some really Dire Straits,' Levi added. At the Google I/O event on 20 May this year, the company announced the release of Veo 3, a new AI video generation model that makes 8-second videos. Bundled into the package are several innovations that separate it from other video generation tools. In addition to photo-realistic video, it also produces audio, dialogue and fully realised soundscapes. It can also maintain consistent characters in different video clips and users can fine-tune camera angles, framing and movement in entirely new ways. Within hours of its release, AI artists and filmmakers were showing off shockingly realistic videos that had many social media users dumbfounded by the results. Since its release, AI filmmakers are already using Veo 3 to create shorts, it's only a matter of time until we see a full-length feature powered by the model. One of the most widely shared short films made with Veo 3 is Influenders , created by director Yonatan Dor, founder of AI visual studio, The Dor Brothers . In the movie, a series of influencers react to camera while an unexplained apocalyptic cataclysm occurs in the background. The video has hundreds of thousands of views across various platforms. Similar shorts featuring man-on-the-street videos have also gone viral. Veo 3 is available to use now with Google's paid AI plans. Users can access the tool in Gemini, Google's AI chatbot, and Flow, their AI filmmaking tool. Donald Trump's sanctions on Hollywood and the US film industry have spurred fear that Hollywood is about to become for the movie industry what Detroit has become for the motor industry. Producers and studios are panicking about tax breaks and productions being lured away to other states, etc. Dobular believes Hollywood is missing the crucial point. 'This is like talking about the shape of the iceberg from the deck of the Titanic right before you're about to hit it,' he said. 'They're completely not getting what is going to wipe out their entire industry. And I have been saying this since they beta tested the first AI module that could generate video from a prompt; this is the end of Hollywood, end of the entertainment industry as we know it.' 'With Google's Veo 3 we're pretty much there right now,' he added. Among the many filmmakers and artists invited to Google's I/O event to play with and demonstrate the new toys, was visionary auteur director, Darren Aronofsky ( Requiem for a Dream, The Whale ). Aronofsky's venture Primordial Soup has been collaborating with Google DeepMind's research team and three filmmakers to produce short films that embrace new technology and storytelling. The director of, among other things, Noah and Black Swan , doesn't see this AI swell as a threat to artists, creativity and auteurs, but as an augmenting benefit. He compared it to many other new advances and developments in cinema that were initially shunned – like sound and colour – and eventually CGI, VFX and digital cameras. Addressing reporters at a press conference after the I/O event, Aronofsky said, ' 'Filmmaking has always been driven by technology. After the Lumiere Brothers and Edison's ground-breaking invention, filmmakers unleashed the hidden storytelling power of cameras. Later technological breakthroughs – sound, colour, VFX – allowed us to tell stories in ways that couldn't be told before.' 'Today is no different. Now is the moment to explore these new tools and shape them for the future of storytelling,' he added. As Dobular points out, 'Aronofsky is right. But what he's not saying, is…with this new technology, you've just eliminated the need for most of the people who would work on a movie.' Pointing out how easily AI generates simple 2 and 3D animation, Dobular asked: 'What do you need an animation studio for? What would you need the people [animators] for? That's the end of animating as a career.' 'This is going to democratise filmmaking in the way that the internet has democratised media, journalism and content creation,' he added. Arguably, we are entering a new film production era where raw talent and innovative storytelling, rather than vast financial backing, could become the primary currency of cinematic success. The next Star Wars might not emerge from a sprawling studio lot but from a quiet room, fueled by a single vision, a powerful laptop, and a suite of groundbreaking AI tools. The magic of filmmaking is no longer confined to the elite; it's being handed to everyone with an idea and the digital keys to unlock it. Sure, like Dobular says; 'Most of the movies made this way are going to be f-ing terrible…but a few of them are going to be genius. And that is going to completely end the industry in its current form – because there is no barrier to entry anymore.' A bigger question or concern should be; if everyone is now a Spielberg, everyone is now a genius filmmaker, with just a few keystrokes…what's so special about that? Put differently, as Quentin Tarantino once said about (his disdain for) digital filmmaking; 'In a world where you can do anything, nothing means anything.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News

11-06-2025

• IOL News

Three renowned Cape Town eateries shine on the 2025 World's Best Restaurants list

La Colombe ranked 55th. Image: Facebook / La Colombe Cape Town continues to assert itself as a global culinary capital, with three of its most acclaimed restaurants earning coveted spots on the 2025 World's Best Restaurants list. These fine-dining establishments, known for their innovation, world-class talent, and spectacular settings, are showcasing the best of South African gastronomy on the world stage. La Colombe ranked 55th Making its sixth appearance on the list, La Colombe stands tall at number 55, reaffirming its status as a South African fine-dining icon. Nestled within the Silvermist organic wine estate at the top of Constantia Nek, the restaurant boasts panoramic views of the Constantia Valley, stretching all the way to the sea. La Colombe is the crown jewel of Scot Kirton's La Colombe Group, which includes some of South Africa's most celebrated restaurants. Under the direction of Chef James Gaag, the kitchen delivers a refined dining experience rooted in classic French technique, subtly infused with Asian influences. In 2024, La Colombe was ranked 49th globally and was named Best Restaurant in Africa, adding to its impressive string of accolades. FYN ranked 82nd Securing the 82nd spot, FYN returns to the list for the fifth time, further establishing its reputation as a cutting-edge culinary destination. Opened in 2018 by renowned chef Peter Tempelhoff, with Culinary Director Ashley Moss and Beverage Director Jennifer Hugé, FYN fuses Japanese precision with the rich flavours of South African ingredients. The restaurant offers a curated, seasonal tasting menu that highlights sustainability and storytelling, delivering an immersive dining journey. In 2023, FYN became the first stand-alone African restaurant to be inducted into the prestigious Relais and Châteaux association, a global hallmark of excellence in fine dining and luxury hospitality. Salsify at the Roundhouse ranked 88th A fresh addition to the global stage, Salsify at the Roundhouse debuts on the list at number 88. Located in the historic Roundhouse building above Camps Bay, the restaurant offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lion's Head. Led by Executive Chef Ryan Cole and Head Chef Nina du Toit, Salsify presents modern, seasonal tasting menus that draw inspiration from local, foraged ingredients, blending land and sea in every bite. Recognised locally, the restaurant earned three-star status at the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards in both 2022 and 2023. IOL Lifestyle