CityVarsity wishes you an incredible an enjoyable festive season!Before we forget, be sure to visit our exciting new-look website at www.cityvarsity.co.za.
It’s that time of year to sit back, relax and reflect on the year that was.Wow, what a year it was: filled with economic, creative and personal challenges.Many of our senior students are undoubtedly looking forward to their graduation ceremony.
For all you early birds out there, below are next year’s Graduation dates and venues.Your graduation invites will also be included in your reports sent to you in the mail.
Graduation Dates:
CityVarsity Newtown
Date: 18th March 2010
Venue: CityVarsity Campus; 39 Gwi Gwi Mrwebi Street, Newtown, Johannesburg
Time: To be Announced
CityVarsity Cape Town
Date: 25th March 2010
Venue: Life Conference Centre; 30 Main Road, Sea Point
Time: To be Announced
3 Men and a Little Lady Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon…all in a day’s work for CityVarsity graduate Marguerite Wheatley.She had a chance to share her views with Evert Lombaert
Having only graduated in 2003 from CityVarsity Cape Town, Marguerite has been steadily climbing the ranks as an actress.She’s appeared on Egoli and in local comedy Bakgat; yet nothing could prepare her for what was to come; starring as Nerine, Francois Pienaar’s (Matt Damon) fiancé in Clint Eastwood’s rugby drama, Invictus…
EL: Describe the working conditions with Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon?
MW: Mr. Eastwood trusts his actors and he does not give you any notes; he puts the camera on the floor and expects you to bring the scene to light. Matt is down to earth, respectful, full of jokes and one of the boys.It’s humbling to have experienced such professionalism.
EL: What was the shoot like throughout?
MW: It was an amazing experience to go from working on South African production to something where budget is no problem and where they took their time filming the scenes. Mr. Eastwood also finished three weeks ahead of schedule.
EL: How did your time at CV prepare you for the real world?
MW: CityVarsity is a good platform because you work with film and theatre. When I started working on Egoli in 2005, I was surprised at how little some actors knew about multi-cam. We're also taught to perform realism. I feel that during the time I spent at CityVarsity, we should have done more theory and more written exams, especially on theatre. Theory expands your knowledge on genres and different artists and that was something I had to go figure out for myself.People who get to the top, even top filmmakers are always influenced by previous genres and it’s important to have that know-how. But I don’t regret studying there, it is such a diverse place.
EL: What advice would you give to Drama students at CV?
MW: Show-reel, show-reel, show-reel!!! And stay humble, never just assume things will happen, you have to work hard at yourself. Your body is a tool, take care of it, be healthy and read a lot! EL: Where to from here for you?
MW: I will see where God takes me. It’s not an easy industry; it doesn’t matter how many jobs you’ve done you always have to start from scratch when the one ends. And I see this as good, because it keeps one grounded. Besides if you love what you do, it comes naturally.
THE CHILDREN OF SOUTH AFRICA – A Backstage Story Last month we mentioned the first collaboration between CityVarsity Newtown and Cape Town.Our students followed photographer Luca Zordan and stylist Alethea Gold around the country, recording their experiences as they create The long-awaited Children of South Africa coffee table book.Take a sneak peek at this touching project with the link below. http://www.thechildrenofsouthafrica.org/index.html
Snapping Awards Congratulations to Jenny Altschuler, head of Cape Town’s photography department.Jenny has recently been presented with the UCT Post Graduate Katrina Harries Print Collection Award for her portfolio’s exhibition.Congratulations Jenny!
Last word… Should you have any comments or queries, please email info@cityvarsity.co.za. Once again, have an enjoyable and safe festive season.And that’s a wrap for 2009!
