SABC will be broadcasting programmes produced by students of Video Technology at the Television School at the Durban University of Technology.  The programmes, which include 5 dramas, 6 music videos and a documentary, are starting from next week on the 22nd April on SABC 2. These programmes have been written, directed and edited by 3rd year and BTech students in Video Technology.

"The productions are of an exceptionally high standard" said Cary Burnett, tutor of the student productions and  Programme Leader for the Bachelor of Technology degree in Video Technology. "The drama 'Seeing Soul' (which will be broadcast at 23h30 on 22nd April) displays brilliant cinematography and a real feel for editing", she said. The 3 parrallel storylines revolve around an assassin killing the wrong person. Appropriate to South Africa today, the protagonist 

decides to take the law into her own hands and begins killing criminals for what she believes to be the "greater good". 

'Seeing Soul' was written, directed and edited by Lauren Oliver, with cinematography by Marcello Maffeis, both of whom were BTech students at the DUT Television School last year. For Lauren, working with lead actress Trynity Silk was a positive experience. "I used Trynity for her unusual looks and powerful presence. She never let me down once and was always prepared for every shoot. Even though she became violently ill with glandular fever in the middle of filming she still arrived on set on time and worked without a complaint", said Lauren. Others in cast include Bryan Hiles, Rowan Bartlett, Peter Court  and Sans Moonsamy, all professional actors.

The powerful documentary "Talking to earth worms" will be broadcast on 29th April at 23h30. It is a 26 minute lifestyle documentary based on the life and thoughts of one of South Africa's most knowledgeable and charismatic organic farmers Brett Muller who owns and runs an organic farm in the hills of Assagy, Durban. Here he lives out what it means to be environmentally sustainable. He shows how something as simple as his small earth worm farm makes a profit of almost R100 per day, with no work required. 

The documentary, directed and edited by Jeremy Martin, follows Brett on his journey to creating a completely self sustaining homestead and his personal dreams of educating and spreading the word about organic farming and sustainable living. "I have had such a positive response from people who have seen my doci" said Jeremy. "I was amazed that people would be so captivated by something like organic farming. People are just starting to think this way and my doci seems to be at the forefront of this 'critical mass' of interest. I am hooked by advocacy programme making and was inspired by Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. My programme is coming off the same base"  said the young director.

For Jeremy the biggest challenge wes editing the huge amount of material into a 26 minute programme. "Jeremy has succeeded admirably in hooking the interest of the audience with subject matter that might otherwise have been dry" said Cary Burnett. "Extra touches like music by internationally recognised musician Faryl Purkiss have also added another dimension to his work" she said.

Tune in and watch the creative outpourings of the DUT Television School and see more programmes including music videos featuring Durban bands such as The Arrows, Love Jones and The Kiff, as well as solo artist Dave Fisher (which will be flighted on the 6th, 13th and 20th May at 23h30 on SABC 2).  

For more information, please contact:

Cary Burnett 031-3736627 or 084 5129912

 And

 For students' comments contact:

 Lauren Oliver 083 2356421

(View Durban University of Technology (DUT) Profile)