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2011 > Producer-screenwriter-director and esteemed journalist Karen van Schalkwyk attended The Writing Studio's writer's workshop close on 10 years ago. She was so inspired by the workshop that she wrote her first screenplay, Ren in 2003. Karen then applied to The Binger Film Institute with the screenplay and was selected to be one of writers for a five month screenwriting course in Amsterdam in 2004. In 2006 she wrote her short film: The Adventures of Supermama which was distributed in cinemas nationwide by Ster Kinekor Distribution. In 2007 her partners, Damon Berry and Ben Tjibe under their company Googelplex Productions, further developed the screenplay with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) on their Spark and Sediba Writer's programmes in 2009/2010. In July 2011 the Supermama was selected as three South African projects to attend IFP-No Boarders in New York (one of the biggest independent film markets in the world) in September where she will pitch the film to a variety of investors, distributors and sales agents. The Adventures of Supermama will go into production in 2012. Ren is still a work in progress but will be produced as a film. Karen has worked on numerous projects and continues to hone her craft as a writer/director. Visit the website

2011 >  Daniel Dercksen worked as a script editor and mentor during three months of one-on-on sessions, Marc Le Plat's script on a famous South African musical icon is now ready for development and doing the rounds in Los Angeles. Marc attended two of the workshops before writing a draft of his script. "You know the drill. Months of slaving away over the computer from midnight to dawn, placing your characters in action-inducing settings along with some scintillating dialogue when, suddenly, you can't see the wood for the trees? The train has is running at speed but out of track. At risk of mixing so many metaphors, screen-writing can sometimes seem like swimming through a mud bath - you know where you want to go, but you often end up off course. Which is why I found the one-on-one sessions with Daniel Dercksen of the Writing Studio invaluable in helping me realize a draft of my script that not only has pace, but a defined structure, emotive expansion and fully recognizable characters. One-on-one sessions enable you to get to the heart of your story, realize and address any fundamental structural flaws and gain insight into your characters in an intelligent, step-by-step fashion. As Miles Davis put it with regards to jazz: learn all the notes then just forget about them. What he was trying to say, I guess, is if you want to really learn to play jazz, get the structure right and then get lost in the music. Which is what I learnt in one-on-one sessions at the Writing Studio to to fully manifest my script."  See The Write Trainer

2010/ 2011 > Writing Studio graduates Lisa Starr Jane and Nic Latouf have started a group in support or writers, filmmakers and performaers called Firelions… Visit them on Facebook

2011 > From Page to Screen in two action-packed days (reviewed by Gill Gimberg, Cape Town, October 30/31. 2010)
Those of us who write tend to spend our days (and nights) scribbling away busily in our cells. It can be lonely: there's usually nobody around to bounce ideas off. And treating a dose of writer's block without a handy 'nurse' is right down there below frying in hell on our lists of favourite pastimes. What we need - often - is an injection of  focus, inspiration and shared creativity. And The Writing Studio's workshop, From Page to Screen, is just the thing to get those words and images circulating again. 
Writing for a visual medium such as film or theatre is an art and, if you're like me, you tend to overwrite because you're more familiar with writing prose. That's when you need a couple of actors, a first class director and a cameraman at your disposal, to bring those words to life and show you how it should be done. Tall order? It seems not, with Daniel Dercksen's passion for film and theatre, training and facilitating skills, and the boundless generosity of four experienced directors and a hot-shot cameraman.
We arrived on Saturday morning with sleeves rolled up and ready to work. And work we did. The first day was spent distilling the essence from our concepts. We went through the importance of choosing the right title, how to write a premise, how to bring characters to life, what exactly is meant by the theme of a script or screenplay and a lot more. In the evening, lightly armed with our draft top sheets, we went home to write our scenes. Big deal: a two to three-minute scene, with two characters. 
Should be easy enough. Well, it wasn't, but somehow we all pitched up on Sunday morning at 10:00 - some more bleary-eyed than others - clutching our A4s and ready for the next hurdle. This turned out to be a pitch to the directors. The names were intimidating enough: Christopher Weare, Amy Jephta, Hennie van Greunen and Tara Louise Notcutt. I think we were all terrified, but they weren't at all intimidating in the flesh and by 11:45 we were working with our directors and cameraman, Mark Chipps. By 12:30 the first film was being shot and by mid-afternoon the filming was finished. Now we just can't wait to see the edited films.
The workshop gave us all the opportunity to co-direct under expert guidance, act in each other's films, watch a professional cameraman in action and learn, learn, learn. It was hard work, but the joy of seeing your own script come to life is worth every drop of sweat. 
Writing a script is a tough journey, but with the right guidance, the odd reality check and some unadulterated fun, the end could be in sight.

2010/ 2011 > Following three years of workshops at at the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre in Kwa Mashu as part of their annual Kwa Mashu Film Festival resulted in the graduates to form their own writing and film club, gathering a weekly basis to continue sharpening their craft. Read more

2010 - The Writing Studio introduced a new 'The Write Characters' workshop in Johannesburg. 10 writers were taken through the process of developing their premise, concepts and characters, and wrote a pivotal scene from their screenplay. The writers pitched their concepts to directors Bromley Cawood (Egoli, Susanna van Biljon), Henk Pretorius (Bakgat 1 & 2), Karen van Schalhwyk (Adventures of Supermama) and Christo Compion (Egoli, Susanna Van Biljon). 4 Concepts were selected and the directors put on the hat of teamleader, guiding the writers through the process of directing a scene from their screenplays (currently in development). The writers took on the role of directors and other witers in the group (and even teamleaders) doubled up as actors. The scenes were rehearsed and filmed during  the afternoon.  To view the video please contact B Ncube at Sukuma Media:mrb@sukuma7.co.za

2010 -  The 48 Hour Film Project .. An international short film competition took place in Johannesburg  at the beginning of October.  From the 24 registered teams, 22 made it to kick-off, 20 made it to drop off and 12 made it on time!  Three of the teams featured graduates of The Writing Studio. Produced and Directed by Bonginhlanhla Ncube (Mr. B), Written by Carl Roddam and Deon van der Merwe, Music by: Jollaine, Courtesy of Jollaine Music, Ascap. Wrong Call, received awards for Best Producing and The Most Hype and a nomination for Best Visual Effect. Others were Karen van Schalkwyk's production company Googleplex Productions presented  'The Goal',  Nic Latouf  presented 'There's Something about Desmond',  View Wrong Call on YouTube

2010 -- writer-director John Barker, who attended The Writing Studio's first workshops in Johannesburg and received acclaim for his award-winning feature Bunny Chow, has two features going at the moment 'The Umbrella Men', and 'Jack Nimble', an improv film set in JHB. Read more

2010 - 26-year-old filmmaker Henk Pretorius, who is the writer-and director of Bakgat!, the first Afrikaans feature film primarily produced for a youth market,  attended one of The writing Studio's first workshops in Pretoria 10 years ago. Pretorius's sequel to Bakgat was released in 2010 and was a huge success.  Read more

2010 Karen van Schalkwyk, who attended one of The Writing Studio's first workshops for screenwriters, wrote, directed and produced the delightful short film The Adventures of SuperMama, which was released in Ster-Kinekor cinemas throughout South Africa. Karen is currently writing the screenplay for the feature film on commission.  Read more

2009 - Gary Hirson , who attended The Writing Studio's weekend workshop for writers, took a bold step forward and self-published his children's book, 'The Magic That Is Ours',  causing a sensation in bookstores. He has just released his second book The Power that's Ours.  Read more

2008/ 2009 - Stephen de Villiers, who attended The Writing Studio's Master Class for Screenwriters for the Talent Campus at the Sithengi Film and TV Market in Cape Town in November 2006, as well as a Workshop For Scriptwriters that took place in Durban in December 2007, is in Sydney where he is studying directing at the AFTRS. Three Cigarettes enjoyed its premiere at this year's Durban International Film in 2008.Read more

2008 -   Lynette Peckover's script for animation that was selected for the Sithengi Writers Forum in 2005 has now been published as a book 'The Sacred Rainbow'.  Lynette Peckover, who attended one of our courses in 2004, is proud to have her book released on www.Raiderbookshop.com - It can be found in the "Adventure" genre and is also available on Amazon and Kalahari.net  "I took your very good advise and spent last year searching for a publisher. After sending to 52 publishers and agents in the UK and USA I got accepted on my 53rd try! I was determined not to give up and didn't care if I sent to a 100! This is the 1st in a trilogy and they have agreed to do all three." Peckover's son, L D Hinds, has also been published by the same publishers and his story can be viewed also, under the "Mystery" genre. It's titled "The Hidden Dream" - apparently not common to have a mother and son published at the same time by the same publisher! "Am grateful for all the advise and tutorship you gave me and advise all aspiring writers to not give up. All it takes is focusing on your dream and believing in it! "

2008 - 26-year-old filmmaker Henk Pretorius, who is the writer-and director of Bakgat!, the first Afrikaans feature film primarily produced for a youth market,  attended one of The writing Studio's first workshops in Pretoria 8 years ago. Read more

2007 - During a week of intense writing and creativity at the Kwa Mashu Film Festival in KwaZulu Natal, The Writing Studio took a group of learners through their paces of writing a screenplay for feature film and ended up with three short scripts that are now ready for development.

2007 Prolific Cape Town scriptwriter, Dennis Venter, who attended one of The Writing Studio's first workshops for scriptwriters, and writer of Home Affairs, Interrogation Room, Stokvel, Madam & Eve, has optioned his screenplay The Fubars to Hollywood-based Original Content Productions. The Fubars will mark the directorial debut of Nick Powell, who started his career as a stunt director and later move to second unit director (Braveheart, The Bourne Identity, The Last Samurai, Cinderella Man, The Hours, Magdelene Sisters). The film title is the name of a band turned bank robbers. It stands for 'fucked up beyond all recognition'. In this dark comedy, the band's name becomes all too real when they decide on robbery to fund their careers. Original Content's Jim Thompson, producer of the upcoming Diamonds in  the Rough and War starring Jet Li and Jeremy Statham, describes the thriller/black-comedy script as twisted, funny and original. Venter is a published author and his career as a television writer was launched on the Penguin sitcom SOS. He has been involved as a writer on Going Up, Stokvel, Madam & Eve, Charlie Jade, Brothers in Law, Shooting Stars, Interrogation Room, Divers Down, Kululeka, Fela's TV, Home Affairs.   Read an interview with Dennis Venter

2007 Gary Hirson , who attended The Writing Studio's weekend workshop for writers, took a bold step forward and self-published his children's book, 'The Magic That Is Ours', now causing a sensation in bookstores. "The workshop enabled me to write and read my work without feeling insecure about my abilities, says Hirson, a professional photographer, businessman and wannabe writer with a keen interest in the magic of creativity. This is his first published work. Through this book he hopes to help children understand the power of their imagination, and help them realize that they can manifest anything they set their minds to.  Read more

2006/ 2007  Alistair Moulton Black, who attended one of our workshops for scriptwriters, co-wrote the play Sylvia's Ball with Oliver Stephens. Sylvia's Ball is a tribute to actor Alistair's mother, Sylvia, who made a miraculous recovery from terminal bowel cancer by combining alternative and western forms of healing. The play captures her journey using mobile phones and pointed questions creating a 15 minute documentary traversing and weaving through a story connected to us all.  Sylvia's Ball previewed at The Universal Hall, Findhorn Scotland in November of 2006. It has since toured to London, performed at the Landor Theatre, Clapham North, to Buxton Opera house and the 'paupers pit' and then again at the 2007 Grahamstown National Arts Festival and at the Obz Café Theatre. Sylvia's Ball is a refreshing mix of high energy physical theatre and evocative documentary. This is storytelling that will leave you questioning what it means to live on a planet suffering from environmental cancer.

2006  Daniel Dercksen was invited to present a Masterclass for the Talent Campus at the Sithengi Film and TV Market in Cape Town in November 2006, and facilitated a 'Directing Actors' workshop with acclaimed actor Eriq Ebouaney. In December 2006 he was invited to present a second week long workshop at the Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre in Kwa Mashu as part of their annual Kwa Mashu Film Festival.   

2006 Liezel van der Merwe's short film 'Vis' is one of the winners in the Moondance 2006 Festival.  Liezel attended our scriptwriting and directing workshops, and developed the script through The Write Agency.

2005  Lynette Peckover, who attended one of our courses in 2004, was selected to attend the Sithengi Writers Forum.  "As a rookie script writer, I'm very excited that my script for animation 'The Rainbow'  has been accepted by the Writers Forum," says Lynette. " "I've always believed in my story which is unique to Southern Africa. It's a quest by two San Bushman and their animal friends to avenge the slaughter of the Eland antelope, and during their journey they are faced with many obstacles. Only their belief in the Gods and themselves helps them achieve the outcome. I am passionate about our indigenous peoples and feel that not enough is known and appreciated about them; hence my wish to promote an awareness of their place in our new South Africa's history." "Many thanks to Daniel for firstly the workshop I attended; and secondly for the guidance he gave in putting my story into the correct format. We are all fortunate to have the wealth and experience you provide, and your commitment to the industry, which to a new pupil can be very daunting! As you stress in your workshops, you have to believe very firmly in your stories!"

2005 Lucky Ndlovu was sent by the NFVF to attend a workshop in Aucklandpark. This was followed by the Correspondence Course for writers. Lucky's short script 'Silent Death' was successfully evaluated by The Write Agency and is now in development. "I was truly inspired by the workshop in a sense that I am now in a position to write, structure a proper and sellable screenplay. The way Daniel took us through out the whole session I felt like I was doing a full time script writing course. The knowledge that I now possess is greater and I will definitely make use of the tools he gave us.  With people like us (script writers) he encouraged us to go and watch a lot of movies and that I found it great, because this gives us creativity to the extent that we will view the movies in another manner. In future, this will make me not to miss any of his workshops and keep up inspiring people."

2005  Daniel Dercksen took 20 writers in rural KwaMashu in KwaZulu Natal through the paces of being a scriptwriter. At the end of the week the group completed the first drafts of nine short films that are currently being evaluated for future development.

2005  Marlon Parker attended one of our workshops. The Writing Studio helped him in fleshing out his community theatre based play 'The Adventures of Henry and Charlie "Vrinne Forever" and transfer it to mainstream theatre in Cape Town. says Marlon Parker ."Many thanks to Daniel for firstly the workshop I attended; and secondly for the guidance he gave in putting my story into the correct format. We are all fortunate to have the wealth and experience you provide, and your commitment to the industry, which to a new pupil can be very daunting! As you stress in your workshops, you have to believe very firmly in your stories!"

2004 Daniel Dercksen's screenplay for the feature film 'Tjommies' was in competition at the Sithengi Writers Forum, and received great response from potential producers and developers, and is currently in development

2003  Brenda Alford's script 'The Mendi' (that developed out of one of our workshops and through one-on-one sessions) , was selected as one of 14 script to be presented at the Writers Forum at the 8th International Sithengi Film and Television Market in Cape Town. 'The Mendi' won the award for Best Action at the Sithengi Award Ceremon and Brenda was given a Final Draft by Dr Eubulus Timothy of Eubulus Productions, who expressed interest in reading the script. "I was one of 14 script writers selected to present scripts to producers at the Sithengi Film Festival in 2003, " says Brenda. "The Mendi won the award for Best Action. I must say a big thank you to Daniel and the Writing Studio for all the help and time spent with me to get this script into shape. Also the constant update of information to keep us writers up to date with what's happening in the market place. I would never have known about Sithengi if it had not been for that fateful e-mail you sent… I also found the workshop motivational and at times I still refer back to the notes or when needing inspiration, flip open my notes and read an excerpt."

2001 one of the scripts that was developed through The Writing Studio with blood, sweat and tears during a period of three years, 'Phumzile's Beads', was a finalist in the renowned Moondance Film Festival - the epical screenplay of , written by Marian Shinn, is now being read by producers in New York and Germany. "Without guidance from The Writing Studio on the structure of the story and the discussion of ideas it is unlikely that my script would have got as far as it did...", says Marian Shinn.(Read more about this, click here)

Read commentary from writers who have attended our workshops

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