MEDIA RELEASE
23 June 2014
No of Pages: 1
Film Students Put Social Issues in Focus
Walter Sisulu University’s (WSU) final year Journalism students will captivate audiences at their 4th annual public documentary screening to be held at the East London First Baptist Church, June 26 at 18:00.
The films produced by the students will reflect an array of pertinent societal issues including the use of performance enhancement drugs in school sports, inter-racial relationships and gender equality.
The film titles that will be showcased include: Hatch, Fifty Fifty Bafazi, White Wash, Mdantsane Home of Champions, Scaly Passions, Crossing the Line and Juiced.
For the selection of the seven 12 to 15 minute long documentaries that would be produced the students had to pitch ideas to a panel of expert judges from local organisations and media professionals.
Within a period of four months in their third year, the students had to research, put the script together and shoot the documentary.
“We had criteria that they had to be relevant to society, logistical, television appeal, possible given the time constraints and have television appeal and the producer had to be a good student,” said broadcast lecturer, Sharon Cumming.
Last year Chido Mbambe’s “Fatal Attraction” documentary walked away with the biggest award of the night: The People’s Choice award which is inspired by her own personal experience with a stalker.
WSU spokeswoman Angela Church said that the film industry is a growing sector in South Africa.
“Over the past few years there has been growing global interest in South Africa as a filming destination. The Eastern Cape too has had its share of interest and it is befitting that our students showcase their talents at a public documentary viewing,” she concluded.
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Issued by: Angela Church
WSU spokesperson
Tel 082371 2948/076 404 9924,