Peter Russell Workshop with Writers Guild of South Africa and KZN Film Com.

On the 12th May, Durban was delighted to host Peter Russell, Hollywood Script Doctor and writer, to the offices of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission in Musgrave, to share his invaluable advice and experience. Peter Russell was brought to South Africa by the Writers' Guild of South Africa and they kindly sponsored three tickets for AFDA Durban, two for staff and one for a student. Head of screenwriting Janet van Eeden, screenwriting lecturer Rudi Steyn, and third year writing student Amanda Dlamini, were treated to a day of new insights about what really goes on behind closed doors in Hollywood.

Russell's theories on the hero's wound that needs to be healed threw light on the tired old Hero's Journey theories which have been doing the rounds since the 90s. 

One of the most insightful pieces of information he passed on was that every Hollywood story has a hero/ine who is wounded. As Russell puts it, Hollywood films are about “a wounded hero who is offered a chance to heal by learning a truth about life. That’s all. Every time."

AFDA Durban would like to thank WGSA and KZN Film Commission for sponsoring this event. They wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

Here is Peter Russell, with myself and and KZN Film Com's Ziyanda Macingwane.

Here is Peter again with 3rd Year Screenwriting Major at AFDA Durban, Amanda Dlamini.

Peter Russell below with KZN Film Com's Teboho Petersen, Ziyanda Macingwane and AFDA Durban's Head of Post Grad, Janet van Eeden.

 Peter Russell with AFDA Durban's screenwriting lecturer Rudi Steyn and unknown delegate.
 

Peter Russell with Dr Mikhail Peppas and Sanabelle Ebrahim from the Bunnykats on the Run project.