A former Stellenbosch University (SU) student recently secured one of five spots at the Jakes Gerwel Foundation’s (JGF) mentorship, in partnership with M-Net Channels.
This was according to Theo Kemp, executive director of JGF.
Pictured above is former Stellenbosch University student, Gita Fourie. Fourie was nominated for best upcoming artist at the Kyknet Fiëstas 2023 and won best upcoming artist at Kanna 2023, an awards ceremony for artists who took part in the Klein Karoo National Festival, said Fourie. PHOTO: Anri van Helsdingen
The foundation received over 100 submissions for the mentorship programme that will take place from 18 to 30 September, said Bronwyn Davids, publicist at JGF.
Gita Fourie graduated from SU in 2022, with a degree in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Drama and Theatre Studies.
The requirements differ with every mentorship depending on the genre, including playwriting, short story writing and now, screenwriting, explained Davids.
From university to acclaimed artist
After graduating, Fourie was nominated for best upcoming artist at the Kyknet Fiëstas 2023 and won best upcoming artist at Kanna 2023, an awards ceremony for artists who took part in the Klein Karoo National Festival, said Fourie.
“I’m excited to learn from my co-mentees and mentors from the JGF (…) You always think that you already know how to write until you have to write a new genre,” said Fourie.
Tina Kruger and Mbulelo Grootboom are the mentors who will guide the five chosen mentees, including a former Stellenbosch University student, Gita Fourie, for the Jakes Gerwel Foundation (JGF) mentorship programme, said Bronwyn Davids, publicist at the JGF. The programme is hosted in partnership with M-Net Channels, said Davids. PHOTO: Anri van Helsdingen
Industry insight
The mentorship programme is hosted at the Paulet House in Somerset-East in the Eastern Cape, said Kemp. This house is owned by JGF and is used for writers’ residencies, explained Kemp.
Two well-known names in television, Tina Kruger and Mbulelo Grootboom, are the mentors who will guide the five chosen mentees, according to Davids.
“They will further develop their writing, rewrite, get insight [into] the industry and [about] what decision makers are looking for,” said Kemp.
M-Net Channels also include guaranteed internships in the mentorship programme, said Davids. The internships grant mentees the opportunity to get acknowledged by commissioner editors, he added.
“As we partner with M-Net Channels, I believe that this mentorship programme will help the mentees get a foot in the door of the industry,” said Kemp.
The mission of the Foundation is to help tell stories that need to be heard, read and seen, said Kemp.