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08 January 2019 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Charlene Stanley
Film and Visual Media
Johanet Kriel-De Klerk, Chris Vorster, and Martin Rossouw in the auditorium at the Visual Hub, where a lot of time is spent watching and analysing films.

Three years ago, an oblong yellowish-green building arose between Pellies Park and the Beyers Naudé male residence, housing state-of-the art filming, editing, and viewing facilities, and sporting the promising name ‘Visual Hub’ on its exterior.  With this, an exciting interdisciplinary honours degree in Film and Visual Media was introduced.

While the interior and facilities still provide a brand-new impression, lecturers reflect that they’ve come a long way over this period, finding a delicate balance between practical and academic components. 

Not traditional “film school”

“This is not ‘film school’,” lecturer Chris Vorster explains. “Although we have an intensive practical component that sees our students producing a short film at the end of their training, our emphasis is on equipping students with a thorough academic knowledge of film history and analysis.”

Only 15 students can be accepted each year. Applicants should have a degree in the Humanities, scoring at least a 65% average in their final year.

Over the course of a year, students are given a viewing list of selected movies, illustrating different aspects of visual storytelling, film development and techniques, but which also relate to the societies that produced them in revealing ways.

Broadening students’ viewing experience

“Most people tend to get stuck in their favourite genre when it comes to watching movies. We considerably broaden students’ viewing experience,” says Vorster. “We give them as wide a base as possible. When they walk out of here, they can go on to specialise in anything from directing to writing film reviews.”

He usually advises students to see the year after completing their degree as a ‘practical year’, doing volunteer work in as many fields of film production as possible to see what they enjoy most, and then work hard to become a specialist in that field.

“The film industry is a tough world. You really need a great amount of talent and drive to make it.” 

LECTURERS’ FAVOURITE FILM GENRES:

Chris Vorster: DRAMA AND THEATRE ARTS

Science fiction crossed with psychological thrillers, and all that shouts, explodes, devours, hits, and disgusts.

Johanet Kriel-De Klerk: HISTORY OF ART AND IMAGE STUDIES

Indie (independent) films, as they strike a good balance between profound art and everyday entertainment.

Debeer Cloete: DRAMA AND THEATRE ARTS

Science fiction. A great favourite is Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence [2001]. Spielberg was asked by Stanley Kubrick’s widow to direct this film after Kubrick’s death in 1999. It stays true to Spielberg’s own aesthetic approach while incorporating Kubrick’s approach to cinematography and fragmented narratives.  

Martin Rossouw: HISTORY OF ART AND IMAGE STUDIES

So-called boring philosophical art films, such as those of Terrence Malick.

News Archive

Kovsie student trailblazing to literary stardom
2013-10-24

 

Ace Moloi with a copy of his book In Her Fall Rose a Nation
Photo: Jerry Mokoroane
24 October 2013

Ace Moloi proves that ambition and self-belief are key ingredients in achieving your dreams. At merely 21-years of age, this Kovsie student made his entrance onto the literary scene with the launch of his first novel. In Her Fall Rose a Nation tells the story of a young girl who leaves her rural home to further her studies in the city. Loosing herself in the excitement of student life, she gets kicked out of university. As a result she has to find refuge in the streets that devour her last bit of hope of rising again. The novel, published by New Voices Publishing, was introduced to an eager audience at the Bloemfontein Campus.

Moloi, a third-year Communications student and prime of House Tswelopele, says his book is a unique offering that will inspire and intrigue.

"The inspiration behind this project emanates mainly from the realisation that as much as we bemoan the lack of reading among young people – particularly in the townships and rural areas – we haven’t taken the initiative to write books that will speak to them and their day-to-day circumstances."

The talented writer, who is also a content contributor for News24 and a former IRAWA Post news editor, says he has been influenced by the writings of extraordinary individuals such as Kwasi Koranteng, Steve Biko and Dr KPD Maphalla. It took him three years to write the book, Ace says, mentioning that it first started as a Sesotho novel, that was later turned into English.

Already working on his second manuscript, Prey and Predators, Ace’s message to fellow students is to never underestimate the power of dreams. "By nature, dreams are unique, and so is yours. Own it up. Defend it. Realise it. Most importantly, never allow anyone to make you feel guilty for having great ambitions, for without ambition there is no meaning at all to life."

* In Her Fall Rose a Nation sells for R100 and can ordered from Ace at ace.moloi@gmail.com. The book can also be ordered online for R150 from New Voice Publishing online bookstore at www.newvoices.co.za.

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