I ended my last newsletter by stating my plans for the July holidays. I had a list of things that I wanted to tick off before I left for Russia. I’m so glad that I managed to do all of them (except for writing my second script and watching BBC Maestro).
It’s now the end of July, and so much has happened.
WEEK 1 – HOLIDAYS
I do two creative things: I sort through a box of family photos, organize them, and put them in small containers, and into one large crate. I also organize my aunt’s photos that my grandmother left behind, and post them to my aunt in Australia. I also update my 2024 portfolio, which will be printed at the end of this year.
For my special project that I’m busy with, I edit the rest of the other students’ interviews (except for Seraya’s & Onica’s – I’m still waiting for their feedback). These articles will be posted on my website during the third and fourth terms.
Jolene – my neighbor across the water – pops over and I show her all things concerning my three cats. She will look after them when I’m gone overseas.
WEEK 2 – HOLIDAYS
Regarding AFDA, I work a little bit on my thesis’ second chapter, and I finish reading the book STORY. Unfortunately, I do not have enough time to write my second script for this year, as well as watch BBC Maestro sessions on screenwriting. Hopefully, I can do that during the 3rdterm.
I have a surprisingly interesting meeting with Esther, a woman that I knew many years ago when I lived in Bloemfontein. She and her husband recently got an agent and sold a script to Netflix. ‘If you need help with your scripts, just let us know,’ she tells me. What an amazing connection to have now.
WEEK 3 & 4 – RUSSIA
I board a plane and leave South Africa for the next two weeks. (You can read Part One of my Travel Diary HERE and Part Two HERE)
Week 5 – AFDA CAMPUS
MONDAY
Finally, I am back in South Africa and officially back at school. I look at the timetable for this term, and it looks like I will only need to be on campus twice a week this term. We have two VALA presentations to give, we need to submit the first draft of our thesis by the end of August, and we will officially shoot the short film at the end of this term. A couple of action-packed weeks ahead, for sure.
The (hopefully) final draft was written by the other writers last week, so we now have a script that we’re going to use for our test shoots and official shoots. This means that there’s no further work awaiting me when I arrive on campus tomorrow.
I write my Travel Diary and in the end, it’s 5,000 words. I split the diary up in two and create two blog posts. I post them online and share them with friends and family. Done and dusted, finally.
It snowed in the mountains this previous weekend, so it’s extremely cold. I go to bed early so that I can wake up early tomorrow morning.
TUESDAY
I get up at 07h00 and arrive at campus at 09h00. I am the only student on campus. Turns out, our Tuesday classes will be online this term. I am a bit mad that I drove all this way, but at the same time, it’s good to be on campus again and see the lecturers’ faces. This also means that I will only have to come to campus once a week this term. Lekker, lekker. I will be able to fully focus on my thesis and second script.
Later in the day, the students start arriving one by one, and they all ask me questions about Russia. I realize once again what a privilege it has been to be able to go overseas. I shared with a student how I’ve been overseas 7 times now. But… out of those 7 times, my parents only paid for two (America 2006 & England 2007). I paid for one trip myself – Israel in 2012.
That means 4x times I was sponsored by an organization or persons outside of my family: America in 2010, Prague in 2011, America again in 2016, and now Russia in 2024. Being sponsored again this year turned into such a wonderful and unexpected blessing. I share all this with the student, and I release over him favor and blessings so that he will be able to go overseas soon as well. (He’s never been overseas before, but would love to go)
Because my social media was blocked in Russia, I wasn’t able to update my Instagram posts. I do that during the lunch break. I also speak to Caleb Ben – who is the head of our scriptwriting department – about an email I got from someone who wants to adapt his book into a screenplay.
In the afternoon, we have a crew meeting, and I am finally up to date with the short film. Tomorrow from 5 pm to 10 pm the Test Shoots will take place, and fortunately, I don’t have to be there. Over the weekend, scouting will take place, and it’s also not necessary for the writers to join the crew.
GREAT NEWS: Seraya, our producer, got the financial sponsorships necessary for the film to be greenlit! Our budget is R50 000, and we got R48 000. The National Institute for the Deaf in Worcester is also going to help out with marketing, consultation and will provide hearing aids as props for our film. The group is highly excited – and a bit overwhelmed – and can’t wait to start filming. Next Tuesday we will have our crew photoshoot, which will be used for marketing. It’s all coming together now, and becoming a reality.
WEDNESDAY
I wake up early – too early. It’s 4 a.m., pitch dark and extremely cold. My cat is sleeping next to me, and I wonder why I woke up. I’m cold, that’s why. I switch on the electric blanket, and we sleep until 6 a.m. I leave at 7 a.m. so that I can be early this morning. Dr. Moodley asked that we all be on campus at 08h30.
It looks like all is going well, and I’m listening to Sound Mind by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser when I hit unexpected traffic just outside of Port Elizabeth. What’s going on? Two empty quantum taxis try to push past us, and they are aggressive in their maneuvering. Suddenly, four ambulances rush past. Oh, no. There must’ve been a massive accident just before the Cape Road off-ramp. I start releasing a sound mind to the paramedics, the persons in the accident, and the traffic cops. Eventually, after about 30 minutes, the traffic clears and I see that it was a quantum taxi that had a collision with another car. At least it looks like nobody died. (Taxis are always so reckless in their driving; I wonder how many of them have licenses?)
I remember how I almost had an accident myself last term, where a paramedic quantum tried to change lanes but didn’t put on their indicator. This person nearly collided with me, and I had to hoot furiously for him to stop. It was a horrible experience, and it took me a while to get over it. I am thankful that I’m okay, and I arrive on campus at 09h00. So much for getting up earlier today. But maybe I was supposed to so that I could pray for these people.
Dr. Moodley’s session is already underway, and she teaches us genres and concepts of films. During a short break, I go to the Main Office and FINALLY get my AFDA T-shirt (I was supposed to have gotten one when I registered at the beginning of this year). But now it’s winter and I can’t wear it. Oh well.
During the lunch break, I update this newsletter and plan on posting it by the end of this day. I also post LT’s interview on this website; he is the Music Composer for our short film this year.
After lunch, Mr. Wilby comes in and teaches us the narrative theory of film focalisation, which Mr. Wilby believes will add value to our short film for this year. In simple terms, it refers to the specific perspective through which a story is presented to the reader or viewer. In even simpler terms, it’s the ‘point-of-view’ from which the story is told.
It’s 4 pm, and I’m done for the day. I drive home. Once again, I’m so grateful that I’m okay and that I get to go home safely.
THURSDAY
I take a break from my studies and I watch a film, Mother’s Instinct. After that, I start reading a new book, The Library Thief.
I am excited to start working on the second script that I have to write for my Honours. I get the bright idea to clean out the study of my wall this weekend and start a vision/storyboard. That way, I can visualize my characters and work out my storyline. I would love to write a television series… so we’ll see how it goes and how busy the second half of the year gets.
FRIDAY
I receive a message from Mr. Wilby, the overseeing lecturer at the Honours department. He has great news: ‘You received 93% for your Core Course 2 Assignment. The highest I have ever given an essay.’ I am ecstatic and I can’t believe it. I’ve been worrying all year whether I’ll be able to pass. This is the first mark that I’ve gotten thus far.
I am highly motivated. I realize that I need to submit the draft for my Core Course 3 for Term 3 by the end of next week, and I also need to submit my Writer’s Treatment.
It’s the weekend, and it turns out, I won’t be able to start with my second script – not yet.
I set up a meeting with my supervisor, so I can continue with my research thesis next week. It’s time to get back in the zone.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
I had plans to write my Writer’s Treatment & Core Course 3 assignment, but my brother suddenly returned from overseas due to a family crisis. My assignments needs to be postponed for now. Hopefully next week will turn out better.
