23 January, 2017 - 06:54
Brent Quinn, multi-award winning writer/director and creative producer is the new Dean of AFDA Durban campus.
This ex-Durban boy is thrilled to be back on the East Coast. Says Quinn: Kwa-Zulu is for me South Africa's most interesting context for story and idea creation. Local screens and stages are hungry for novelty and Durban is alive with contrast, contradiction and such utterly fascinating, and often polar opposite lives. Our diversity is the best muti for really world-class ideas and new ways of navigating this ever-changing world'.
On AFDA students: AFDA Durban students are already making waves: the music performers, stage actors and film-makers from here have often outperformed those from our bigger campuses. Last year, a third year AFDA Durban graduation film, Homeless, directed by Nathan Rice was selected to represent South Africa at the student Oscars. Not bad for a campus only in its fifth year.' says Quinn.
On the staff at AFDA Durban, Quinn adds: Thankfully I have brilliant and talented staff across all disciplines and I will ensure, given my standing in the industry, that more top talents move here. In addition, lots of top production companies are well aware of the unique filming options here. Durban is more than just beautiful East Coast Africa - culturally and visually we reflect global diversity. I was just in Morocco where the film Black Hawk Down was shot because Somalia was a no go zone. When I think of what films or series can be filmed in Durban - well its simple - stories from the North, the South, the East and the West.'
On how to lead a campus, Quinn adds: For me it is an honour to nurture young talent and help build commercially competitive, creative entrepreneurs. That is what AFDA is all about - empowering brilliant ideas that intrigue and entertain. The focus is always on the student. As teachers we are not here to inspire our students, we are here to make them inspired by themselves - inspired and empowered to dig deep and create excellence. Our Bachelor of Commerce, our Bachelor of Computer Technology, our Live Performance and Motion Picture degrees teach the same thing - commercial success via creativity and thinking out of the box.'
Quinn has 30 plus years creating engaging story. He head wrote the local television hit Intersexions a show on South African sexuality. He executive produced the hit supernatural thriller on a young scientist/sangoma's twasa in the series Ubizo. His international advocacy work, mostly for the UN, UNICEF and other NGOs has garnered numerous International awards. One of these The Three Amigos, an HIV animated series, staring 3 stand-up condoms was awarded a prestigious Peabody Award, Quinn's second Peabody. The series has been translated into 47 global languages.
On awards Quinn says: The only thing that really counts is the reward of knowing you've got your audience to reflect upon, and hopefully to engage, pressing issues in their own lives - in a way that resists fear and judgement. To be a storyteller, be it on stage, behind the camera, designing an APP or seated at the edit desk, carries massive responsibility. South Africa does not only need talented artists, we need deeply thoughtful, conscious artists who create work that opens minds and challenges audiences. I am a teacher because I believe this is an imperative. I work at AFDA because our applied degrees offer the right balance between theory and practice.'
On his vision for the future of AFDA Durban, Quinn has this to say: I have inherited a small campus with a big mandate. The vision is simple: help build the creative industries in KZN. Obviously I walk in the footsteps of fabulous talents, already doing massively exciting work here. Art is a collective effort and I wish to work in sync with those making a difference. When our province's emerging talent start making a noise, and create waves locally and internationally, then and only then can I say I am doing my job. To be blunt, a teacher only really succeeds when the stent shines.
On how we judge success and how we determine if a student is prepared for the world of work, Quinn responds with more excitement: Great question, we do not produce graduates who leave AFDA looking for work. We produce graduates ready to employ others because, when they leave AFDA, they already know how to create work.'
On the age-old question about study and job security, Quinn, never short of things to say, responded this: The old ways are vanishing and job security is a myth. At AFDA we embrace the unknown, we embrace disruption and we embrace all innovation. This generation has grown with digital 21st Century thinking - where the old generation see confusion and fear, the youth see opportunity. They will create the skills they need and will create the future they want to inherit. Out job is to facilitate and facilitate. To the young person (and their parents) one of the biggest certainties is that in the future, people will want to consume more media, be entertained more and will want novel experiences via digital technology. If I had to lay a bet on what the most secure profession was: I would pity the lawyer or accountant not the person qualified here - at AFDA.'
For further information please visit the AFDA website:
www.afda.co.za
Film Training Courses
Africa South Africa
2a Highdale Road, Glen Anil 4051, Durban South Africa
PO Box 22049, Glenashley 4022
Tel +27 31 569 2252 | Fax +27 31 569 2317 | dbncampus@afda.co.za
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
08/12/2025
DENVER MediaKind, a global provider of cloud-based video streaming technology announced today that it is acquiring the video business of Harmonic Inc. for appro...
08/12/2025
NEW YORK Nielsen has announced that its Audience Segments from Nielsen Marketing Cloud (NMC) are now available across the Amazon Ads marketplace, including the ...
08/12/2025
Marshall Electronics showcases the CV355-27X-ND3 Optical Zoom NDI (NDI HX2, NDI HX3) Camera at ISE 2026 (Booth 4N900). Designed for users seeking high-quality ...
08/12/2025
Cinnafilm today announced the immediate availability of IPx LIVE and Tachyon LIVE, delivering broadcast-grade, real-time IP video transcoding and motion-compens...
08/12/2025
Following a successful 45th anniversary year in 2024, Hiltron reports increasing demand for its wide range of satellite communication equipment manufacturing, p...
08/12/2025
Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh is the first celebrity to be revealed for the s...
08/12/2025
Changing children's lives for good: A staggering 4.6 million raised in the 2025 appeal
The people of Ireland and people all over the world have once again...
08/12/2025
It's murder on the dancefloor as The Traitors Ireland legend Paudie Moloney ...
06/12/2025
In a live broadcast from the Reagan National Defense Forum, L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Ku...
06/12/2025
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A new survey from Pixitmedia by Datacore revealed a major shift in the Media & Entertainment industry in media archiving, with 85% of resp...
06/12/2025
HACKENSACK, N.J. LiveU has announced that the national public broadcaster Czech Television has completed one of the largest LiveU live production deployments fo...
06/12/2025
NEW YORK The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the Excellence in Production Technology Emmy Award to NASA+ and Dr. Tom Leight...
05/12/2025
2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nati...
05/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio DataThe company's Data Refinery offers users total control and governance over da...
05/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Sca...
05/12/2025
Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD SplitThe deal does not include WBDs sports assets like TNT Sports (US, UK, LatAm), Euros...
05/12/2025
FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championsh...
05/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the ...
05/12/2025
Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast f...
05/12/2025
As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ev...
05/12/2025
ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows fo...
05/12/2025
It's about that time! Awards season is in full swing, and the Film Independe...
05/12/2025
Every year, Spotify Wrapped offers a personalized look back at the audio that defined your year. It's a snapshot of your listening habits, designed to tell ...
05/12/2025
In 2025, Spotify's EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR programs celebrated women, LGBTQIA , and emerging artists who turned moments into milestones. From breaking record...
05/12/2025
In our latest blog, we explain how Wi-Fi 7 rollouts can drive consumer loyalty with value-add services such as consumer cybersecurity. We also explore how this ...
05/12/2025
LOS ANGELES Netflix announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Nielsens Gracenote has launched Gracenote Content Connect, a new ad platform that provides agencies, brands, supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-si...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK In an most important update to the workings of deal-based programmatic advertising, IAB Tech Lab has released version 1.0 of its Deals API for public c...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Pass the turkey. Pass the stuffing. Pass the cranberry sauce. All are common requests of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving Day with family and f...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Netflix announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's $1.02 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular in a decision that was issued sho...
05/12/2025
The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars From Yellow to Viva La Vida, Fix You to Paradise, this playlist goes back to the start.
December ...
05/12/2025
Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee The 32nd annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture series was held on Thursday, November 13, with guest...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the First Look for Land of Sin' - Premier...
05/12/2025
Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from LinkedIn Premium Published on Dec 5, 2025 Categories: Company News, Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Co...
05/12/2025
Friday 5 December 2025
A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exc...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Act...
05/12/2025
Tis the season of giving once again and this year we've taken our Give Back Fridays' concept and turned it on its head.
In the autumn we were approach...
05/12/2025
Brayden Gogis doesn't remember a time when he wasn't completely fixated on games in all forms. In preschool, when they asked us to dress up as what we ...
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux
More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...
04/12/2025
Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...
04/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be...
04/12/2025
SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Co...
23 January, 2017 - 06:54 
