I spent the final fifth week of my break from AFDA by doing the following:
I watched the first cut of our short film ‘Is’Thuthi’; I posted my September newsletter online, I cleaned out my home office, I unpacked my summer clothes, I got a few concept ideas for my short film submissions for the NFVF Competition, I reviewed AFDA’s timetable for the 4th term, I was diagnosed with ‘adrenal fatigue’, I received feedback on my Core Course 3 assignment, as well as my research thesis’ first draft, I watched The Rings of Power Season #2 and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman Season #1, and I read Jodi Picoult’s brand new book ‘By Any Other Name’.
WEEK 1
MONDAY
I get up early today. It’s the fourth and final term at AFDA. I’m a slow starter, and it takes me a while to get ready. Instead of my normal Cape Road routine, I take Settler’s Way, and it turns out, it’s 10 minutes closer to the campus. I feel the excitement that I felt in the first term, the overwhelming feeling that I can’t believe that this is where I get to study. This was a dream of mine when I was a teenager: to study at AFDA. It’s great to see everyone again.
I am still undecided about whether I should submit a short film concept or television series episode concept for my second script that I will need to write this term. I have a chat with Speech, my fellow Honours student who is also majoring in writing, and he convinces me to submit my television concept idea. In fact, it turns out that I inspired him last term when I told him about my television series concept. ‘We already did a short film this year; let’s do something different this time,’ he says. Okay, then. This is the sign that I needed to work on my television series concept.
Mr. Wilby discusses the term briefing with us. I start to get overwhelmed, for it looks like we will have an important deadline every week. I break it down and work out a plan of action for October. Whew. Okay. I will really need to focus on these breaking points (another term for deadlines) so that I don’t reach my breaking point. Let’s do this.
I also notice that my hearing is MUCH, much better. That is a major breakthrough, and I can’t believe it. I also notice my concentration is much better, and I no longer have brain fog. My sessions with my osteopath is doing wonders. After more than a whole year of struggling, I am finally on the right track.
During the break, all the students are invited to watch Snow Black, a short film made by various members of AFDA GQ for the Film Race competition. It’s a really well-done film.
Back at the Honours Hub, the Honours students watch the first cut for our short film, ‘Is’Thuthi’. There’s no sound, as it will only come in later. As one of the scriptwriters, I can’t help but notice the significant changes that was made to the narrative. There’s too many long moments where the camera focuses on the emotions of the scenes, and the action scenes are rushed over. It’s also incredibly bloody and violent in the end. I am not sure why these changes were made, but maybe when the sound and subtitles are added, the narrative will make more sense.
TUESDAY
After my session with the osteopath, my mom and I drive to AFDA’s campus, where interviews with the crew members are set to take place. When it’s my turn to be interviewed, the interviewer asks intelligent questions, and the conversation flows freely:
What was the inspiration behind the concept of film? Why a deaf character in the narrative? Which character do you identify most with? How did you identify with all three characters? What was it like working in a crew? Why a story about taxis? Why should people watch the film?
It’s refreshing for me not to be asked any questions about Miss Deaf South Africa or my motivational talks. It’s all about my writing, and my writing process. I loved doing this interview, and the interviewer was fantastic.
WEDNESDAY
I kick off my morning by working on the concept idea (series bible) for my television series that I want to write. I put it together, and I’m pleasantly surprised that I did cover a lot of ground over the September holidays. I submit the concept idea to Mr. Wilby.
THURSDAY
I edit my Core Course assignment from the previous term, and I post it on my website. I also submit it to Mr. Wilby. It’s interesting to note how my perspective on scriptwriting has changed drastically, especially now that I saw the first cut for our short film. There are certain things I definitely should’ve and would’ve done differently the first time around, now that I see end result. You live, and you learn. Will do much better next time.
FRIDAY
There’s still much work to be done when it comes to my research thesis. For my Literature Review chapter, I only reviewed one source. I still have to review 6-10 more sources… It takes the whole day just to write 3 literature reviews, and I’m exhausted by 15h00. I take a quick nap, and then I finish 2 more before 19h00.
SATURDAY
I review my literature sources summaries, and it doesn’t look too bad. But I still have to bind them all together and write another summary. I start working at 08h00 and only finish at 12h00. It it took incredible focus, and my brain is fried.
In the afternoon, I work on my Methods chapter. It’s much easier to edit this part, but I still struggle with my Results chapter. But tomorrow is another day, and then I’ll try again.
SUNDAY
I print my research thesis first draft’s marks, and it doesn’t look too bad. I would’ve like for it to be better, but I don’t push myself anymore. Throughout the years, I’ve learned to treat myself with kindness. As soon as my literature reviews and ethics chapter is added, then I should get the desired outcome that I want.
I also work on the summary of my findings for my Conclusion chapter.
WEEK 2
MONDAY & TUESDAY
I have five concept ideas that I want to submit for the NFVF Competition, and I’ll have to push myself. I also update my CV, as I’ll need it for my Professional Development Assesment/Presentation that I’ll need to do in November. I’ll also need to register Sacambaya Films as an official company before I can submit my NFVF concept ideas. Thankfully, there’s someone in Jeffrey’s Bay that can help me do just that.
WEDNESDAY
I attend Dr. Moodley’s class on campus, which is focused on Professional Development. ‘Who do you want to be out there? And what kind of opportunities do you want to attract to yourself?’ Dr. Moodley asks us. She shows us examples of website portfolios that we can create to showcase our work online. I am inspired and I think it’s time to overhaul my website.
In the afternoon, I have a Zoom meeting with my supervisor, and we discuss the 10 questions that I will need to set up for the surveys that I still need to do for my Ethics chapter. I will also need to contact 15-20 d/Deaf persons to whom I need to ask those questions, and I hope I will get it all done before the final term is over.
THURSDAY
I work on the finishing touches for my survey questions, as well as the contract that the d/Deaf responses will need to sign.
FRIDAY
AFDA loves to use the CeltX scriptwriting program, but I am not fond of it. I Google online and find a much better one – WriterSolo. Best of all? It’s free AND you can use it offline (which is a huge plus because I don’t always have great wi-fi strength).
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
I work on all five five concept ideas that I want to pitch to the NFVF competition. The following is needed for each concept idea:
- 1–2-page motivation OR 3 minutes max for video explaining the motivation (This should also reflect your lived experience with a disability)
- 1-page story concept OR 3 minutes max video explaining the concept
- Visual treatment. This should give a detailed explanation of what the film is going to look like, including tone, pace and characters, (1.2 pages or 5 minutes video)
- CVs of key creative team and links to previous work.
And that is not all. The following documents also need to be submitted:
- Valid Tax Clearance Certificate or Tax Clearance Status Pin Document (not older than one year) * (if available).
- Recently Certified ID copy
- Authentic doctor’s letter proving one’s disability.
- Company registration document / Proof of company registration.
I have my work set out for me, and I work furiously all weekend.
WEEK 3
MONDAY
I’ve been invited to be a guest speaker at Oase Gemeente in Jeffrey’s Bay, and my mom is one of the two leaders that’s organizing it. She asks me if I could design the invitation, as well as make a short video inviting the people of Jbay to come and attend. Because I’m so busy with my assignments, I know that today is the only day that I’ll get to do it.
After I finish filming the video, I also film the short videos for the NFVF concept ideas, explaining my motivation behind each concept. It takes me the whole morning to do it, and I can’t believe that I decided to pitch five ideas, instead of just one or two. I feel like I’m falling behind, and my breaking point is coming closer and closer. Deep breathes. Take it one day at a time, one assignment at a time. I decide to stay at home on Wednesday so I can catch up on my assignments.
TUESDAY
Sacambaya Films is officially registered as a company, and I get the necessary papers that I need for the NFVF competition. It’s all coming together.
WEDNESDAY
The deadline for the first draft of my television series pilot episode is tomorrow, so I start working on it. Thankfully, I wrote the full outline of the pilot episode during the September holidays, so I don’t have a lot of work to do. All I need to do is put it in script format. Once that’s done, I submit it to Mr. Wilby.
Tomorrow is also the deadline for the NFVF competition. It takes me all afternoon to put everything together, and submit them one by one via their website. Once it’s all submitted, I am relieved it’s over.
THURSDAY
Because the survey questions (and the contract) for my research thesis are in English and Afrikaans, I have to find someone that can help me translate it into ‘sign language-language’. Through a childhood friend, I am referred to a woman who says she can help me. She’s very quick and does it all for me within a day. My mom also helps in-between. I am grateful for their help. It makes me feel like maybe I’ll get everything done in time.
I send the survey & contact to all my d/Deaf friends, and they also forward it to their d/Deaf friends. I also send it to the National Institute for the Deaf (NID) to ask if they can forward it to their staff members and colleagues. Thankfully, they agree to help and support me, and they forward the info to their contacts. Now I just have to wait and see how many responses I get.
FRIDAY – SUNDAY
I am exhausted and I take the whole weekend to recover. Because I have adrenal fatigue, I take this quiz to see how far along I am. This quiz is incredible, and I start working on my blog post that I want to write about my journey towards healing. I start to remember things I had long since forgotten about, and I write down when and where my symptoms started manifesting. I can’t believe that adrenal (and/or chronic) fatigue is not a more widely-known term. This needs to change – and soon.
WEEK 4
MONDAY – TUESDAY
I have a dream – or rather, a nightmare – where we as a team at Sacambaya Films are requested to re-shoot our short film. We don’t have a lot of time, and someone in the team took complete control of the script and rewrote the whole narrative. It’s horrible and everything seems to fall apart. This dream addresses my fear that our short film is going to be a flop, and that there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
WEDNESDAY
I get an email fro the NFVF team, where they request more documents from me. I work on it, and submit it to them. Hopefully, they are satisfied with my documents, especially because Sacambaya Films were only registered as a company last week.
I also prepare my notes for tomorrow’s motivational talk that I will deliver at Oase Gemeente.
THURSDAY
Today is a big day, for it’s the day that I have to do my motivational talk. Because of my adrenal fatigue, I had a terrible night. I am exhausted but I know I need to push through. Halfway through my motivational talk, I can feel the tiredness enveloping over my body. But I push through, and by 12 p.m., the function is over.
FRIDAY
I have three hours in the morning to write my October newsletter, for I have to leave for Port Elizabeth in the afternoon for a session with my osteopath. I finish by 11h00, but I have a problem: I don’t have a new photo for the cover of my newsletter post. I’ll be on campus again next week, and then I’ll make sure I’m dressed, pretty and ready for the photo session. I’ll only be able to post this newsletter next week. Oh well.
I also create a YouTube video of my motivational talk, and I post the link on social media. Listen to the audio here.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
I have a horrible stomach flu and spend the whole weekend working it out of my system. I had planned on writing my final Core Course assignment draft, but that will have to wait – for now.
I still manage to write out my weekly deadlines that will have to be met by the end of November. It basically looks like the following:
Week 1:
Submit Script 2 – Draft 2
Week 2:
Submit Core Course 4
Apply for Masters
Apply for NSFAS Bursary
Week 3:
Submit final Research Thesis
Attend Graduation Festival
Week 4:
Professional Assessment Presentation
Research Thesis Presentation
Attend Awards Ceremony
I can’t believe that by the time I’m writing my next – and last newsletter for AFDA – it will be the end of my Honours year. It’s been a bittersweet but also incredibly tough year for me.
