- June 9, 2010
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Of Vevuzelas, films and BBQ’s
We rounded off the workshop in Khayelitsha with a Braai (a South African bbq). Half a cow appeared on a plate which was distributed and eaten with only the sauce that it came in. Being a vegetarian, I became a residual source of amusement as I made conversation around the bbq with an ice cream tub of rice and beans. On the final day students performed the process of filming, editing and up-loading from start to finish, with each group showing (thankfully) how much they’d learned. The good feeling at the end left us all with a smile. I then got lost dropping students home. Not a great move in the middle of a township, but thankfully James was with me and navigated us back to the main road.
Already ideas are flowing, with each production team agreeing on a programme schedule for the month. Roles have emerged quite naturally. The good directors, producers, presenters and editors are aware by now of who they are. Competition doesn’t show itself often, and the students are happy to share and co-operate so that everyone feels included. On the penultimate day we screened match reports shot during the South Africa / Guatemala match and subsequently edited. As a group we have been trying to work out how to do match reports when we have no access to the games and finally we struck gold, with three excellent reports shot in the shabeens of Khayelitsha and Delft and showing the end to the match and celebrating, while a voice-over narrates the highlights and turning points in the game.
Yesterday was spent in the AFDA film school studio space, where CTV record their shows. Balt and I had selected two presenters from the group – Zintle and Pelisa – and they were given scripts with intros and links. The 28 minutes programme will be aired today (Wednesday) at six o’clock. James has been the star behind the show, taking on the responsibility of cutting it together after the decision was made to go ahead last Friday. Three cheers for James Farmer! The programme shows off match reports, pre-match reports from the Khayelitsha group, as well as video diaries from the young students at Gugulethu.
In Gugulethu we spent yesterday (Tuesday) shooting the first video diaries for broadcast on the BBC’s youth programme, created by 21CC. Also for broadcast, they shot vox-pops in the local market asking which team members of the public supported and who they thought would win. Naturally there was resounding endorsement for Bafana Bafana, with little defection. The sense of nation-building is acute here, flag fly from car bonnets, car wing mirrors are abalze with the South African colours. Imaginations have run wild and every car accessory possible adorns vehicles throughout the city. Vevuzela’s are a feature of every household and the national uniform seems to be a yellow and green Bafana Bafana t-shirt.
The World has finally reached South Africa to be welcomed by much noise and excitement!
World Cup Reporters 2010
The first glimpse of our World Cup Reporters in action in the townships around Cape Town! They will be covering the events as they unfold using mobile phones, giving you a unique perspective on the world’s most important sporting event – stay tuned!
New Africa Theatre Association, Cape Town, Fictional Films
From the 2nd – 6th June, 2008, World Film Collective ran a workshop with six graduates from New Africa Theatre Association, Cape-Town, South Africa.
This workshop would not have been possible without the generous contribution of THE FOX FOUNDATION, and without the help of out patron, Gerald Fox. We are very grateful.
In only five days the participants, aged between twenty-one and twenty-seven, made an extremely good film based on the real-life experience of one of the students, Nangamso Lungani. Playing the character of Andiswa in the film, Nangamso told of her struggle to use a community hall to teach children from the township how to dance. After a corrupt local official refused to let her use the hall without a bribe, she mounted a petition within the community.
Incredibly, the crew filmed a scene in the very same office where Nangamso had met the government official in real life. However, the true story had a less happy ending, and instead of being saved by the honest superior as she is in the film, Nangamso never heard back from the local official and she was forced to cancel her classes.
“Andiswa’s Dream” was shot over a single day in Khayelitsha township. The producer and actor, Simcelile Kalimashe, arranged for many of his friends to play characters in the film. The film is rich and lively thanks to their contribution.
“I just think it was an amazing experience for us to be part of. Most people have access to cell-phones nowadays, so if people are equipped with the skills, I definitely think there’s huge potential for using it as a medium to communicate with people across the world.” (Abigail, workshop participant, Cape-Town, South Africa)
Inside New Africa
Andiswa’s Dream
Niekerksrus Agricultural School, Free State, Fictional Films
from 19th May to 30 May 2008
Alongside Dramatic Need, a charity which facilitates volunteer opportunities for UK artists in South Africa, World Film Collective ran four consecutive workshops with students from Niekerksrus Agricultural School, located in rural Free State, South Africa between 19th and 30th May 2008.
With the help of Johannesburg film-maker Marc Kotze, WFC taught eighty-six 13-18 year-old students how to make a short film.
The students worked incredibly hard, having only 7 hours per week to conceive, shoot and edit their films. The subjects they chose ranged from birthday parties to domestic violence, and participants were visibly more confident and energised after the experience.
“I think I will make more movies using a mobile phone,” said Maria, a workshop participant from Niekerksrus School, South Africa.