The South African Film and Television industry has grown significantly over the last 20 years and this dynamic growth together with exponential shifts in technology, local and global competition and the emergence of online platforms and business opportunities. This has created a need for short courses that are aimed at upgrading existing skills, switching areas of professional focus and developing new skills for opportunities and challenges of the future.
AFDA Professional short courses are aligned with the national skills development strategy as mapped out by the department of higher education & training. In addition, AFDA programmes are NQF 5-9 (Higher Certificate, Bachelors, Honours & Masters degrees) are fully accredited by the council of higher education (CHE). AFDA Professional aligns skills development & training with the vision of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) & B-BBEE accredited certification. AFDA Professional short course certificates are awarded for competence or attendance. Certificates of competence are awarded to candidates who complete practical assignments according to brief.
AFDA PROFESSIONAL introduces international standard short courses, aimed at empowering entertainment industry professionals, to grow and sustain Pan-African film, television and media industries.
AFDA is an internationally recognised institution and a member of CILECT - The International Association of Film and Television Schools - which represents 160 audio-visual educational institutions from 60 countries on all continents around the world.
AFDA PROFESSIONAL offers intensive short courses to assist industry professionals stay abreast of rapidly transforming digital technologies and entertainment industry innovation. Be ahead of the curve. Evolution is the new revolution. Short courses on offer are: Broadcast Design, Fundraising, Pitching & Proposal Writing & Marketing African Content to International Broadcasters. (view course outlines tab for more details)
The minimum requirement for an AFDA Pro course is 5 years experience in the industry or a relevant degree in the field.
Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) may be accepted, contact us to learn more.
*Please note that all courses require a minimum number of registrations in order for them to take place
Broadcast Design
Broadcast Design is a cutting edge digital art form that is growing exponentially due to the expansion of Transmedia as film, television and online media become increasingly integrated and 21st century entertainment platforms hybridise. This course will empower participants to stay ahead of the curve by combining a two and three dimensional application of Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator and Cinema 4D software packages.
In this Master Class, participants will create professional projects using video material and graphic elements created in Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator and Cinema 4D. Using these software packages, the participant will create on air imaging and opening sequences for film, television and multiple online platforms.
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Fundraising
Attracting financial support for a film or television production requires the project to conform to evaluation criteria as stipulated by the National Department of Arts and Culture in order to access public funding platforms like the NFVF, DTI & GFC. Successful fundraising and project finance is determined by the concept or story, the premise, genre, structure, characterisation, marketability, audience reach, social impact and global positioning strategy (NFVF 2015).
This short course on Fundraising and Film Financing is facilitated by award winning filmmakers, producers and representatives of each of the major public funding bodies including the NFVF, DTI & GFC. Participants will learn how to draft a finance strategy appropriate for the concept/story. Once a multi-pronged financial strategy is developed and production budget drafted for an envisioned project, the participant will engage prospective investors
Pitching and Proposal writing
The Pitching & Proposal Writing for Television Master Class will be facilitated by Commissioning Editors from the major Broadcasters including SABC and M-Net. This Master Class will develop an inside understanding of the commissioning process and what broadcasters are looking for. Commissioning Editors will explain why so many proposals fail to grab the attention of the intended reader.
The ability to pitch your ideas succinctly, in written and verbal forms, is a key skill the screenwriter needs to have because you are unlikely to get an established producer or director, agent or studio executive to read your treatment or script without first giving him/her a good reason to read it, and in a form that is easily consumable, because they are busy people who always have a pile of scripts and treatments waiting for them to read (NFVF 2015).
In this Master Class on Pitching & Proposal Writing, participants will articulate concepts verbally in pitches, as well as in the written form as a proposal for national broadcasters. Participants will read the Commissioning Editors briefs, and will brainstorm ideas that meet these briefs, and pitch ideas as concepts with a discernable three act structure and the five major dramatic turning points.
Marketing African Content to International Broadcasters
This Master Class will be facilitated by international experts who host Television Master Classes at MIPDoc, the international factual entertainment television conference, such as Peter Hamilton, a senior consultant who works with Factual industry leaders worldwide on their marketing and business development projects. His clients have included CBS, NBC, Discovery, A E Networks, Scripps, National Geographic, Smithsonian, BBC, Canal , ABC Australia as well as governments and NGOs (documentarytelevision.com).
In this Master Class on Ma
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The South African Film and Television industry has grown significantly over the last 20 years and this dynamic growth together with exponential shifts in technology, local and global competition and the emergence of online platforms and business opportunities. This has created a need for short courses that are aimed at upgrading existing skills, switching areas of professional focus and developing new skills for opportunities and challenges of the future. 
