Ferdinand hails from Gauteng where he cut his teeth producing, directing, and writing film and theatre projects - a stage musical Reik Na Die Sterre which garnered 7 Naledi nominations. Ferdinand has been producing, directing, and writing full time for over 7 years. Before that he was an actor and vocalist with multiple tv and film roles under his belt. He has completed a three year diploma in Musical Theatre, and numerous producing, directing and writing courses. Ferdinand has had the opportunity to experiment with different film genres, from narrative shorts, music videos, full features, and documentary content (as with Lila, Haatklop, The Loft House, 8Days, Pointe Shoes, Prayers and a Pandemic). This past year Ferdinand has produced and directed a new Documentary film. Ferdinand’s work has been featured on SHOWMAX, kykNET Silwerskerm, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Hulu, Wildsoundfilmfestivalreview.com, MyFilmWorks.com – pick of the week, Extremescreenwriting.com, ScreenwritingU.com, Screenwriting Gods Podcast, GROOTFM and TBN Africa. Ferdinand is always on the lookout for new tasks and challenges. He loves searching for a better product, a better team, a better life, or a better world. He believes in making a decision, taking action, to look at the result and then learn. He focuses on the positive in a situation, celebrates every achievement and loves making everything more exciting and vital. It is good to be alive, work can be fun, and no matter the setbacks, he’ll never lose his faith in the endless possibilities of the human experience.

A filmmaker born and raised in South Africa. Her country’s rich heritage inspired her storytelling aspirations from a young age. At 18 she followed her dreams and studied Film & TV at NYU’s Tisch School of the arts. She has focussed her filmmaking career on true stories- highlighting ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Inspired by resilience and joy in the face of adversity, many of her films have thus far been centred around South African and Female lead narratives. Her latest film UMAMA was shortlisted for a student BAFTA and received the Gold Medal at the Student Academy Awards.

The best stories have dialogue that sparkles, but it’s easy for inexperienced writers to fall into common pitfalls like creating dialogue that’s wooden or too on the nose. Other writers end up with exposition awkwardly inserted into conversations, actors tripping over unnatural phrases, or characters who all speak exactly the same way. In You Talkin’ to Me?, Linda Seger and John Winston Rainey are here to help with all your dialogue problems

Our next amazing guest is Actor/ Writer Toni Miyambo, well known for his role in Wonder Boy for President alongs side Kagiso Lediga. Other acting roles include the 2019 series Chin Up! More recently Toni has been part of the brain child that created Grassroots, collaborating from the beginning and helping this incredible series come to life on the page then to the screen. 

This talented Creative Producer and Director has some
noteworthy credits including the hit SABC 2 variety show
‘Red Cake’. Dom was the Theatre Curator for the Inaugural
season of ‘The Centre for The Less Good Idea’ Founded by
William Kentridge. In 2016 Dom was Creative Director of The
22nd SAMA’s. He is also a double Naledi Theatre Award
Winner for 2015/16. Dom also directed SABC’s
Crime procedural series The Docket. Dom is the Chief Creative Officer of Clive Morris Productions and has recently had a major part in the hit series Grassroots. 

Dean • Wed, 7:44 PM

Bryan is a multi-award winning actor, director, writer, musician and voice artist.

Founding co-partner of production companies Team Best and The Youth League, Bryan has worked on both sides of the camera and deep in the writer’s room for commercials, stage, television and film. Bryan is a trained improviser and writer with a firm belief in creative collaboration across mediums and skill sets.

Wayne Kramer was born in South Africa, where he graduated from the Johannesburg School for Art, Drama and Music. His feature film debut came in 2003 with "The Cooler," a romantic drama set in Las Vegas and starring William H. Macy as a professional casino jinx and Maria Bello as the cocktail waitress who changes his luck. "The Cooler" was selected for competition in the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and opened the 2003 Los Angeles Film Festival. Alec Baldwin received an Oscar®️ nomination for his portrayal of an old-school casino boss, and won the National Board of Review's Best Supporting Actor award.

Most recently, Wayne directed the black comedy ensemble "Pawn Shop Chronicles," which was released by Anchor Bay in 2013. The film stars Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Elijah Wood, Thomas Jane, Vincent D'Onofrio and Lukas Haas.

Meren Reddy has been performing and writing for most of his life. He went to start Black Brain Pictures, a Film and Television Production Company, which he co-owned with four other partners. The company holds thirteen SAFTA AWARDS, and Meren singularly five. Four for Best Writing in a Comedy Series (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011) and one for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (2009).

In 2012, he decided to go solo, starting his very own Ghost Sheep Productions. He has head written numerous Television shows including City Ses'la (Fours Seasons), Sketch you Later (One Season), Ambomzala (One Season), Ses'top La (One Season), My Perfect Family (One Season), and recently with his joined forces company ROUS HOUSE PRODUCTIONS the MNET hit series Inconceivable. Meren hates strolls on the beach, doilies and Barbara Streisand movies

Working from a writer's perspective, this book explores these Three Wells and helps you 
consciously draw from them to develop new scripts, or strengthen old ones. It includes 29 exercises and techniques that help you to write stories that contain fresh ideas, intriguing characters, original scenes, inventive dialogue, unique locations, and important themes.

Gillian Breslin is a freelance screenwriter who has worked in the South African industry since 2002. She has worked as a researcher, producer, director, and screenwriter since. She has had Brad experience among several genres and been involved in numerous different works, including documentary, drama, comedy, and corporate.