A Q&A with Zoey Black

Zoey Black is a transgender woman of colour living in Cape Town. She is trans rights activist, actress, freelance writer and digital content creator. She is employed with Gender Dynamix, a non-profit organisation with a focus on championing human rights for trans and gender diverse persons and communities in Southern Africa. Zoey is the organisation’s Legal and Education Advocacy Officer and leads the legal, policy and educational reform initiatives and projects. In her personal capacity, Zoey publicly advocates for trans rights and visibility, and broadens the scope of trans representation and narratives through her social media and online platforms, including her recently launched Youtube channel. Her channel acts as a resource in providing accessible information on trans specific issues, including accessing hormone replacement therapy, and changing one’s name and gender marker at the Department of Home Affairs. Working in tandem with her YouTube channel, Zoey runs a blog, which focuses on sharing her personal experiences and narrative as a transgender woman, including issues around discrimination and violence, mental health and wellness, and acceptance and tolerance. In addition, Zoey is studying toward a Bachelor of Laws, with intensions to enhance her capacity to further assist vulnerable persons and communities in accessing their rights, as well as contributing to the development of policy and legislation which will enhance, promote and protect the rights of marginalised members of society.

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A Conversation with Lucie de Moyencourt

Lucie de Moyencourt is an artist best known for her many exhibitions of suburbs in and around Cape Town. As a former architect, Lucie loves drawing the city, observing people going about their daily lives. Lucie has spent many years backstage, watching her mother perform as a dancer in various productions and is thrilled to be back in the wings to draw over 60 projections for the play Happy New Year (A Play With Songs) at The Fugard Theatre. The play coincides with a solo exhibition at the Voorkamer Gallery at Chandler House, of 300 Cape Town sketches painted over the summer of 2018/2019. Both the play and the exhibition celebrate Cape Town and the people who live and pass through it.

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A Conversation with Eva du Preez

Eva du Preez is an award-winning TV and Film producer, script supervisor and editor. In 2013, she made her producing debut with the multi-award winning short film Toevlug directed by Christiaan Olwagen. Her other editing credits include Die Seemeeu, Ander Mens, Die Boland Moorde, Die Boekklub, Fynskrif, Toevlug and Die Leeftyd van ‘n Orgidee. Her highly anticipated debut feature film, Kanarie, will arrive in theatres on October 19th following a successful premiere at this year’s Silwerskermfees, which awarded Eva an award for her edit of the film.

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A Conversation with Karen Meiring

Karen Meiring is the Director of M-Net kykNET channels, a position she’s held since 2013. She joined M-Net in 2009 as the head of Afrikaans channels and brought an extensive knowledge of the South African entertainment industry to her position. She has cemented kykNET as the leading producer of Afrikaans film and television content and ushered in successful projects under kykNET such as the Fiëstas, Ghoemas and the Silwerskerm Film Festival. She has also been honoured with numerous awards for her contribution to the arts and entertainment landscape in South Africa. Karen also founded the first ever Afrikaans Arts festival, the KKNK, and was later appointed as the CEO of the festival. She is also one of the founding memebers of Cutt Glas, an internationally renowned Afrikaans a cappella band. We sat down to chat with her during this year’s Silwerskerm Film Festival. Continue reading

A Conversation with Diaan Lawrenson

For 13 years, actress and producer Diaan Lawrenson charmed South African audiences by starring on 7de Laan. Since leaving the series, she has gone on to star in critically acclaimed films such as Raaiselkind, Sink and her latest film Susters which is now playing in select theatres. An accomplished theatre actress, she is also the co-founder of Jester Productions, a multimedia production company that she founded alongside her husband, and fellow actor, Jody Abrahams, which focuses on facilitating, developing and producing original South African concepts.  Continue reading

A Conversation with Julia Anastasopoulos

Julia Anastasopoulos is an artist, illustrator, designer and actress. In 2014, she launched her “bite-sized do-it-yourself” web series, Suzelle DIY, which instantly took South Africa by storm. During the course of her career, Julia’s work has spanned several artistic mediums including a successful career as a stage actress, theatrical set and costume designer and illustrator. Her work has been exhibited locally and abroad and has included a series of large illustrated print murals for the City of Cape Town Micity Bus stations. She is a twice-published author and is also the creative director of Sketchbook Studios, which she co-founded with her husband Ari Kruger. But it’s Julia’s latest project, Tali’s Wedding Diary, that has everyone buzzing. We sat down with her at Sketchbook Studios to chat all about creating these iconic characters.
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A Conversation with Nicole Fortuin

Nicole Fortuin is the true definition of an artist. As an accomplished actress, dancer, photographer and director, Nicole has managed to take the film, theatre and television industry by storm since graduating from UCT only three years ago. Impressive credits aside, Nicole has made it a priority to use her platform as a young creative to bring awareness to the causes that she believes in. We sat down to talk about her success, staying grounded and navigating the world of social media.
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A Conversation with Frankie Murrey

Frankie Murrey worked in the book trade for a number of years before becoming the Festival Coordinator of Open Book Festival, which runs from September 6th until the 10th right in the heart of Cape Town. In addition to working on the core festival programme, she works closely with others on CocreatePoetica, Comics Fest and the Youth Fest. She is the facilitator of the Mentoring Programme and the Open Book School Library Project. In 2015, she was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Continue reading

A Conversation with Barbara Loots

As the creator of Theatre Scene Cape Town, Barbara Loots has managed to take her passion for theatre and turn it into a digital initiative sharing what the thriving Cape Town theatre industry has to offer, all in the name of getting “bums on seats.” In five short years she has managed to transform Theatre Scene Cape Town into a thriving online resource. She is also a director of Cape Town Angels, an NPC that believes in spreading the magic of compassion. In addition, she also makes up half of the dynamic duo known as Loots Digital. Barbara has managed to effortlessly achieve all of this while balancing her full-time career in law.  Continue reading