WGSA August 2021 Online Programme

The WGSA is offering an exciting online programme via Zoom to WGSA members free of charge, and to Non-Members at R50 per session!

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL NON-MEMBERS:

We have a SPECIAL OFFER for you that serves to counter the economic effect that Covid-19 and the lockdowns have on performance writers. As a member you will have an opportunity to showcase your profile on our website, enter the WGSA Muse Awards and allow free access to our upcoming WGSA Indigenous Language Screenwriters Course in September, among other great benefits.

The SPECIAL OFFER, not to be repeated, is a discount of 50% off membership fees to everyone joining between 1 August 2021 and 30 September 2021.

Full members: Regular fee R700, now only R350

Candidate members: Regular fee R500, now only R250

Student members with a valid student registration: Regular fee R220, now only R110

Corporate members: Regular fee R1200, now only R600

Click HERE to JOIN the WGSA

Next in our exciting series is Authentic Storytelling  by Bongi Ndaba – a MASTERCLASS for Professional Performance Writers

‘Storytellers Do Not Retire, They die’ I’m a Storyteller. I’m still alive!

Bongi Ndaba is a South African born and bred writer, director and producer who started in theatre as a child in 1993, then moved to write for television in 2003 at one of the top SA soapies Generations, which she ended up be a headwriter for in 2011. She raised their viewership by 3 million, breaking its own record. She did the same when she was head writer for Uzalo, the show broke its own AR record when it hit 10.2 million viewers in 2018. And she revived a dying show called Isidingo which saw a growth of more than a million viewers saving it from being canned by a channel. The following is her other TV writing portfolio.

TV WORK: Written for most SABC dramas – Mzansi 2,  award winning Gaz’lam, Muvhango and Society II.  Also worked on Jozi H (Canadian / South African co-production) as a Junior Story Editor and writer. Then she wrote Sokhulu and Partners, a series for SABC 1, which won seven SAFTAS for 2009 and also nominated for IEMMY in 2009. Her theatre play that was premiered at The Market Theatre turned into a television series, Shreds and Dreams, developed under the mentorship of Zakes Mda, was commissioned by SABC 1. Part of the team that created Ashes to Ashes, a telenovela for Etv. Also Story Editor on Ashes. Also wrote on Zibondiwe, a drama for Etv. Also was Story Team Leader for series 3 of Sokhulu and Partners.

She was nominated for a SAFTA 2009, Best Supporting Role as Thembeka in a Shakespeare adaptation of King Lear – Izingane Zobaba. Her short film ‘Father Christmas Doesn’t Come Around Here’ was awarded the Best Narrative Short 2010, for Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Also was the team that created IEMMY nominated South African drama, Home Affairs.

Former Headwriter/Showrunner of a new telenovela, Ke Thaba Bosiu (which flighted as Greed and Desire), for Mzantsi Magic, Multichoice. One of the creators of Mzantsi Magic’s Saints and Sinners. Former Storyliner of Season 2 Ring of Lies.  Won a Royalty Soapie Award for Best Writing Team, for Ring of Lies 2. Recently did African Women Writer’s Symposium for Department of Arts and Culture. And also a resident script writing lecturer at a first township film academy LimAcademy in Eesterus Pretoria and Alexander Township. Also one of the headwriters for hit-series eHostela (Season 1) for Mzantsi Magic, Multichoice.  Currently mentoring New Writers under the flagship of Durban International Film Festival mentoring project, DFM.

Her highly acclaimed drama about sex workers shook South Africa recently, flighted on MojaLove as Erased. Which she also directed.

Has written and directed her latest short movie, Miracle, which has been selected at the 50^TH FESPACO in Ouagoadougou in 2019. Selected for the New York African Film Festival, and just won Best Shorts in Los Angeles as Woman Filmmaker, Special Mention and for Lead and supporting actress. Also selected at the Durban International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Award at the same festival.

Also selected at San Francisco Independent Shorts Festival (screened September 2019)

Also selected at Around International Film Festival in Barcelona (Screening January 2020)

Also selected at the Jozi Film Festival and got Special Mention for Screenplay

Also selected for AFRIFF in Nigeria, Lagos

Also selected for Shnit Worldwide Shorts Festival and lead actress in movie, Linda Sokhulu,  Won Best Actress Award

Also go Special Mention for Screenplay at the Shnit Worldwide Short Festival

Selected at The Mahul Woods International Film Festival in India (now known as Tagore International Film Festival)

Winner of the Inaugural IamAfrica / YouTube / PAFF filmmaker Award – Held in LA February 2020

Also screened at Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles in February 2020

Selected at Orlando International Film Festival in 2020

Just finished a drama slate for MojaLove. The slate included Mangaung (a telenovela), AmaBishop (8 part drama, about fake pastors), Erased, a sex-worker drama and Phoisa, a procedural cop drama based on true SA GBV stories.

Also finishing developing her first feature film, Bare Fruits.

Currently directing her new dramedy called Housemaids.

Please RSVP below for the sessions you wish to attend in order to receive the Zoom Link, which will be sent to you 24 hours prior to the session.  Closing date for RSVP’s is at noon, two (2) days before the session. 

WGSA Banking Details:

FNB Business Account

Branch No: 250655  / Randparkridge
Account No: 62886952467
REFERENCE:  Please use “PDP / your name and surname”

Please upload Proof of Payment (for non-members) to the RSVP