Notice of the 2019 WGSA Annual General Meeting

Notice of the
2019 WGSA Annual General Meeting

In line with the 2014 WGSA Constitution you are hereby notified that the 2019 WGSA Annual General Meeting will take place on:
 13 July 2019 at 10h00.

To date only 12 members responded to our previous call, which does not constitute a quorum.  We urge ALL MEMBERS to please make an effort to attend or at last indicate their willingness to participate via zoom.

Venues for Johannesburg and Cape Town will be announced in due course.  Members outside of these two centers will be able to participate in the AGM via ZOOM

AGENDA:

1.  Opening and Welcome	Chairperson - Harriet Meier
2.  Attendance 2.1  Proxies and Apologies 2.2  Establish Quorum	Public Officer:  Thea Aboud
3.  Acceptance of Agenda	Chairperson:  Harriet Meier
4.  Acceptance of Minutes of the Previous AGM on 30 April 2019	Chairperson:  Harriet Meier
6.  Constitutional Changes 6.1  Voting	Public Officer:  Thea Aboud
7.  Chairperson's Report 7.1  Acceptance	Chairperson:  Harriet Meier
8.  Portfolio reports 8.1  Professional Development and Membership 8.2  Communications, Relations and Marketing 8.3  Legal Services
9.  Treasurer's Report	Treasurer:  Lukhanyo Sikwebu
10. New Business	Chairperson:  Harriet Meier
11. Election of council and election results	Public Officer:  Thea Aboud
12. Closing	Chairperson:  Harriet Meier

The current WGSA council would like to table changes to the Constitution.  Please see attached all relevant information.  Kindly study these changes before the meeting and direct all enquiries to admin@writersguildsa.org

PLEASE NOTE that we require a two thirds majority vote to pass the changes to the constitution, and urge all members to please vote.

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Documentation attached:
1)  The minutes of the previous AGM of 30 April 2018.
2)  The approved 2014 WGSA Constitution
3)  The proposed 2019 WGSA Constitution
4)  A summary of all proposed changes for easy reference
5)  The 2018/2019 Auditor Report and Financial Statement

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WGSA COUNCIL ELECTION PROCESS

Nominations for council members has also been extended and will now close on 5 July 2019 at 12h00. Voting for Election of the 2019/2020 WGSA Council will open at 12h00 on 8 July 2019 and will remain open until 10h00 on 13 July 2019.

1) Existing council members need no nomination, but need to confirm that they are members in good standing (fully paid up), and that they are prepared to stand for another cycle. Their standing has to be seconded.
2) Full and Candidate Members may nominate themselves or may be nominated by another Full or Candidate member. If they are nominated by another member, the nominee needs to confirm via email that they accept the nomination.  Nominees must be members in good standing (paid up members).
3) Voting members may ask direct questions of any of the nominees via admin@writersguildsa.org, and nominees are expected to respond to the best of their ability.
4) Electronic voting will take place via SURVS. Every voting member will get the link and the system will only allow one person to vote per link to ensure that every member only votes once. If two members reside at the same premises and make use of the same computer, the second person will need to contact admin@writersguildsa.org.

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Only Full and Candidate Members in good standing (members who have valid membership on 8 July 2019 will receive access to the electronic voting process.

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Please click below to indicate attendance or if you will participate via zoom, to nominate yours3lf and others for council or to appoint a proxy

2019 WGSA AGM:  Attendance, Proxy Appointments & Council Nominations

HOW TO CREATE A SERIES BIBLE

WGSA presents: HOW TO CREATE A SERIES BIBLE  DATE:     JOHANNESBURG:  20 July 2019 TIME:      9h00 to 16h30 VENUE:   TO BE CONFIRMED In this workshop, Dylan will cover how to create a series bible which include Logline, Series Overview, Characters, Pilot Synopsis, Episode Outlines, Future Season Outlines, Locations, Themes, Styles, Tones and anything else deemed necessary to make your pitch deck stand out.  What is a Series Bible? Do you prepare a word document bible or a flashy image presentation bible? What is in it and do you need a pilot script as well to pitch? Logline: Who is the main character or main characters. What is their conflict and what will keep the story moving forward over 4 or 5 seasons. Pitch: An overview of your series in 1 or 2 paragraphs. Characters: Get to know your main and supporting characters. Pilot Episode Synopsis: Setup your characters and story for episodes and seasons to come. Episodes Outline: Strong episode concepts of your first season. Future Season Outlines: 4 to 5 season concepts. This is critical in pitching a show. Longevity it crucial in any show that will be picked up by a network. Locations, Themes, General Notes, Styles, Tones can all be added in.

Dylan Ben-Israel was born and raised in Johannesburg and has spent his career writing and producing between South Africa and the United States. He has written locally for the likes of Franz Cronje, Ronnie Apteker, Lance Samuels, Mbongeni Ngema and others.  He has just finished writing The Dead Sea, a horror/thriller for producer Sam Feuer (First Grader, The Translator) of Big Boy Films. Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black, Man on Fire, The Shack) is attached to star and produce.  HIs script I’ll Get You was recently sold and is scheduled to begin production towards the end of 2019 as well as Forged, his action series which has a potential US pilot planned for production in 2020. His script The Donor, a female driven story about a psychologist who is kidnapped to have her organs harvested, recently made the semi-finals in Screencraft’s action/thriller genre contest, is financed and is currently out to talent and directors.    He is currently writing the Shyamalan-esque original drama script Splitting Daisies.

Bookings essential:  Bookings close on 17 July at 12h00 WGSA Student members - R50 Members / Students with valid student card / Affiliated organisation:  R200 Non-Members:  R300 To secure your booking:  Please pay the required cover charge to our bank account: WGSA Current Account Standard Bank, Melville Branch No: 006105 Acc No: 300082444 Acc type:  Current Please use your name and surname as reference After payment, BOOK HERE

Not a WGSA Member? JOIN US

BASIC SCREENWRITING CLASSES

The WGSA in association with the Scribe Writers Room is again holding a series of “Basic Screenwriting” classes from 6 July 2019 to 31 August 2019.

This course has in the past been well attended so to ensure that you don’t miss out, book your spot now by filling out the application at the bottom of this page

Comments from previous students include:

"Extremely insightful and well-structured programme."
"Definitely would recommend these classes to aspiring screen writers."
"The lessons run at quite a pace, so there's little chance of distraction."
"Classes were extremely educational and they were building blocks to the process of writing our films"

COST:
WGSA Members - R150.00 cash per Saturday
Non-Members - R200.00 cash per Saturday

There is an up-front payment discount available... payments must show in the WGSA account before 05 July 2019. Details will be sent to you once you register by filling out the application below

WGSA Members - R1 000.00
Non-Members - R1 300.00

VENUE:
Urban Brew Studios, Brightwater Commons, Republic Road, Randburg, 2194, Johannesburg.

Map to venue 

CERTIFICATION:
Learners attending all 8 classes will receive a certificate

CONTENT:
06 July - Screenplay Formatting
13 July - Genres, Loglines & the Premise
20 July - NO CLASS (DIFF in Durban)
27 July - The Story World & the Writers Voice
03 August - Writing Characters
10 August - Story Structure
17 August - Setting the Scene / Introducing a Character
24 August - Writing Action
31 August - Writing Dialogue

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For more information about class content and Scribe Writers Room visit www.scribewritersroom.co.za
Or E-mail: admin@scribewritersroom.co.za or admin@writersguildsa.org

MEDIA RELEASE

Media Release

DFM Creative Corner & WGSA Script Read Sessions - July 19-22 2019, Durban Film Mart

The  Durban FilmMart has partnered with the Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA) in an innovative new programme this year that aims to support scriptwriting in development.

This Creative Corner, Script to Live programme, sees 8 selected projects given an opportunity to present excerpts of their screenplays to industry delegates in hour-long sessions incorporating an introduction by the writer, a script excerpt of 15 minutes, performed by local actors, a Q&A and feedback session with the audience.

The WGSA and the Durban FilmMart are seeking both in-development and production-ready feature film projects from South African writers. Applications are open to WGSA members and non-members. 

Script to Live Sessions will take place at Durban FilmMart's Creative Corner, Panini Lounge, Tsogo Sun Maharani Hotel, Durban, from 19 to 22 July. Please note that travel and accommodation costs for writers whose scripts have been selected are not covered by this initiative.

Writers of the selected projects will receive a Delegate Badge, giving them access to the DFM and the Durban International Film Festival.

Applicants must submit the following materials in ONE pdf:

One page outline, including title, logline and synopsis.

Feature film script excerpt of maximum 18 pages. It is recommended the excerpt features 1 to 4 characters prominently throughout, for casting purposes. 

To protect their IP, writers are advised to register their scripts before they are presented in a public forum. This can be done online at the Writers' Guild Script Registry (http://www.writersguildsa.org/script-registry). Registration numbers must be indicated on the submitted works.

Biography of writer

List of key attachments: director, producers, production companies 

Producer's permission to submit, if not the owner of the work

WGSA Membership details (where applicable)

The deadline for materials to be submitted via email to dfmindustry2019@gmail.com, is midnight on Monday 1 July.  Selected projects will be announced Monday 5 July.

Actors who wish to participate in the script reads, are invited to attend auditions on Saturday, 6 July at the Durban Botanical Gardens Hall (9A Johan Zikala Road, Berea). Please bring a half page monologue prepared for the audition.

To book a slot for the audition, send an email to dfmindustry2019@gmail.com.

-ends

MEDIA RELEASE: SABC

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

SASFED (South African Screen Federation) is the national federation of independent film, television and audiovisual content industry organisations in South Africa. SASFED represents a broad spectrum of industry players, via affiliates representing several thousand individual members and hundreds of member companies employing up to a hundred staff.  SASFED as such represents an industry which has been severely damaged by the ongoing financial crisis at the SABC and will continue to be further damaged if the SABC is left to literally dwindle into the abyss.

We are convinced that the SABC can be a viable independent public broadcaster with an independent board and a good management team. However none of this is possible without the SABC being able to access a loan to dig itself out of the present crisis. Besides our concern for workers at the SABC, we are deeply concerned about our industry - we have already cut staff, lost companies and some have still not been paid revenues owed to them by the public broadcaster. It is clear to the entire media eco-system that the present crisis needs first to be averted before serious work can be put into turning the institution around.

We would like to make a call to all the present stakeholders to avert the crisis - to stop the tide of resignations, the impasse, the infighting and re-enter into a working relationship to save our national broadcaster.

It is with dire concern for our industry that we align ourselves with the following statements released by SOS Coalition and the Media Monitoring Africa.

Herewith Excerpts: 

First – the Board cannot be allowed to become inquorate and unable to operate: It needs stability not another interim/final Board circus – which would be the fourth in just over a decade.

Second – the National Treasury, together with the President must immediately provide the SABC with a government guarantee – which we stress is not a bailout, it is a guarantee, giving the SABC’s lenders and creditors a measure of comfort that the Board and management has political support.

Third –  given the tension and uncertainty that this has raised, we call on the SABC Board to withdraw the section 189 Notice with immediate effect. The withdrawal does not have to be indefinite. But we recognise that temperatures are such across the political spectrum that this is not serving the public interest at this time. 

End Quote.

SASFED calls on all stakeholders to come back to the table to immediately avert the collapse and support the SABC to rebuild this institution that is in the public interest. 

SASFED Co-Chairs

Lwazi Manzi & Pat van Heerden

Pat van Heerden:  083 258 3226

SABC Invites you to attend the Information Sharing Road Shows

SABC

Invites you to attend the Information Sharing Road Shows

Industry Development will present

·         SABC Producer Terms of Trade

·         Digital Delivery System

·         Digital Music Tracking System

·         Commissioning Protocols

Johannesburg:      Friday, 16^th November 2018             09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Radio Park, Auckland Park

Cape Town:           Monday, 19^th November 2018         09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Cape Town

Port Elizabeth       Tuesday, 20^th November 2018          09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Port Elizabeth

Durban                   Friday, 23^rd November 2018             09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Durban

Bloemfontein        Tuesday, 27^th November 2018          09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Bloemfontein

Kimberley              Wednesday, 28^th November 2018         09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Kimberley

Mahikeng              Monday, 3^rd December 2018            09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Mahikeng

Polokwane            Wednesday, 5^th December 2018      09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Polokwane

Nelspruit                Tuesday, 11^th December 2018          09h00 – 14h00                     SABC Offices, Nelspruit

From More Information Please Contact:

Nirvana Singh     singhn02@sabc.co.za    011 714 7499

Blessed Katiyo   katiyobt@sabc.co.za       011 714 6855

SASFED Copyright Presentation at Parliament by SASFED Treasurer Marc Schwinges

Click here to download

Sheffield Doc/Fest Doc/Dispatch Submissions - NOW OPEN

Sheffield Doc/Fest is pleased to announce that submissions for Doc/Dispatch are now open - https://sheffdocfest.com/articles/461-doc-dispatch-supported-by-deutsche-welle?tag=homepage 

Doc/Dispatch is a brand new initiative designed to reach out to producers and filmmakers of topical, urgent and fast turnaround stories from around the world. This initiative will provide market and screening opportunities within this years festival (June 9-14). 

Submissions for Doc/Dispatch close on May 5th. 

For further information on Doc/Dispatch, please email docdispatch@sidf.co.uk

INVITATION to the SAGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Johannesburg) and the SAGA REGIONAL GENERAL MEETING (Cape Town)

We have the pleasure of inviting you to join us in Cape Town for the SAGA Regional General Meeting and in Johannesburg for the SAGA Annual General Meeting.

All actors, performing arts students and other creative industry members are welcome to attend both meetings. 

SAGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

DATE     Monday, 8 May 2017

TIME      18H30 for 19H00 - 21H00

VENUE  Space.com, Joburg Theatre, 163 Boulevard (previously Loveday Street), Braamfontein, Johannesburg

RSVP     Corine Broomberg at admin@saguildofactors.co.za

Keynote Speaker: Justice Zak Yacoob

Zak Yacoob (born 3 March 1948) is an anti-apartheid activist and a former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.  He was appointed to the bench in 1988 by Nelson Mandela.  He briefly served as Acting Deputy Chief Justice during the long-term leave of Dikgang Moseneke.  

Although Justice Yacoob retired in 2012, he is highly respected as a man who contributed enormously to the justice system of this country.  

At his farewell ceremony, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng described Zak Yacoob as one of South Africa’s treasured blessings, saying he defied all ohs, stereotypes and prejudices.

SAGA REGIONAL GENERAL MEETING

DATE      Saturday, 6 May 2017

TIME      11H00 for 11H30 - 14H00

VENUE  CityVarsity, 18 Roeland Street, Cape Town

RSVP     Corine Broomberg at admin@saguildofactors.co.za

Keynote Speaker: Mandisi Sindo

Mandisi Sindo  (known locally as Dr Sindi) is an actor, writer, director, and a site specific work creator. He is a founder and an Artistic Director of a Cape Town based non profit company “Theatre4Change Therapeutic Theatre – T3”. In September last year (2016) Mandisi was part of an international symposium hosted by Ghent University in Belgium: "Postdramatic and Postnarrative Modes of Coping with Trauma” 

Mandisi began pursuing his passion for theatre at age of 11 years old in primary school, and views the teaching of drama as "his calling"  to teach those who are not getting the formal classroom education. Mandisi obtained his Diploma in Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town in 2011, where he majored in Community Theatremaking, Contemporary Theatre and Acting. He has written and directed several works for Infecting The City Festivals in Cape Town and Mbombela, and served as the Outreach Director and Theatre Field Worker for the Baxter Theatre Zabalaza Festival.  

Passionate about helping young people gain the necessary skills for tertiary-level education, Mandisi is also the Creative Director and a visionary driving force behind the Makukhanye Art Room, described as a "Shack Theatre" based in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. He has just returned from a fund-raising excursion to Switzerland, gathering resources to transform the space from Shack to Theatre. 

Kind regards 

Corine Broomberg| SAGA Executive Administrator
Cell: 072-401-2718 | E-mail: admin@saguildofactors.co.za

Website: www.saguildofactors.co.za
#IamActorSA

Invitation to apply for KZN Youth in Film and Television Incubation Programme: 2017/8

                                                                            

Invitation to apply for KZN Youth in Film and Television Incubation Programme: 2017/8 

The KwaZulu-Natal Youth in Film and Television Incubation Programme is an initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs in partnership with KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission. This initiative was set to reinforceKwaZulu-Natal Film Commission’s main objective: 

-    To make KwaZulu-Natal province a film production centre

Purpose

The KwaZulu-Natal Youth in Film and Television Incubation Programme office, herewith,invites youth owned KwaZulu-Natal film and television SMMEs to apply for the 2017/8incubation plug-in.

Requirements:

-    The SMMEs must be registered with CIPC and be compliant with SARS.

-    The SMMEs must be based in KwaZulu-Natal.

-    The SMMEs must specialise in scarce skills in the film and televisionindustry.

-    Preference, but not a guarantee for admission to enroll for the programme,will be given to previously disadvantaged individuals, youth, women, andpeople with disabilities.

Please submit:

-    A motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) as to why and what makes your skills scarce in the film and television industry.

-    Detailed CV of yourself, the SMME profile and CIPC registration documents.

Successful applicants will be contracted for the incubator programme commencing in 2017, ending on 31 March 2018.

Please note that if you have applied before, no need to re-apply.  This is an extension.

Applications should be emailed to: SkillsDev@kwazulunatalfilm.co.za

Closing date: 14 May 2017

Correspondence will be limited to successfulcandidates.

For more information, call our offices on (031) 325 0200

Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2017

One Month Left to Enter the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2017

There is now one month left to enter the seventh Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF). We are looking for emerging and established filmmakers who are pushing the boundaries of short film forward. ASFF is an international competition, accepting films from across the world in 11 genres.

It would be great if you could share this call for entries with your audiences at South African Screen Federation in the lead up to the submissions deadline on 31 May.

Please find some copy and suggested tweets below. You can download images and credits here.

Facebook/Newsletter:

The seventh Aesthetica Short Film Festival is open for entries until 31 May 2017. ASFF provides a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase their work to a wider audience, and is looking for practitioners who are pushing the boundaries of short film forward.

Jury members for 2017 include Jane Roscoe (Director, The London Film School), Matimba Kabalika (Talent Development Manager, BFI NET.WORK), Philip Ilson (Director, London Short Film Festival), Robbie Gibbon (Editor, The Trip, The Casual Vacancy and Doctor Who) amongst many others (www.asff.co.uk/jury-2017).

Prizes include:

·       Screenings at ASFF 2017 (8-12 November in York)

·       Awards for Festival Winner (£1,000), Best Film in each category, and People’s Choice

·       The Northern Film School Award for Best Screenplay (£1,000)

·       Opportunities for further exposure through Aesthetica and its online channels

ASFF accepts all genres: advertising, animation, artists’ film, comedy, dance, documentary, drama, experimental, fashion, music video and thriller. Running times up to 30 minutes.

To enter, visit www.asff.co.uk/submit

Deadline 31 May 2017.

Twitter:

One month left to enter @ASFFest 2017: the festival is looking for innovative filmmakers working in all genreswww.asff.co.uk/submit

The @ASFFest 2017 Jury has been announced: these #film industry experts will be selecting Award Winners at #ASFF2017 www.asff.co.uk/jury-2017

Please do get in touch if you have any questions.

Best wishes

Alexandra

Alexandra Beresford

Marketing Coordinator

Aesthetica Magazine

PO Box 371

York

YO23 1WL

0044 (0)1904 629 137

www.asff.co.uk

Follow @ASFFest