Fifteen hearing-impaired young people will get to immerse themselves in the dynamic industry of film production thanks to a new internship programme by the Wits Centre for Deaf Studies.
Johannesburg, South Africa (07 October 2024) – Opening the door to artistic expression and the exciting industry of film production to the deaf community is the Wits University Centre for Deaf Studies (CFDS).
The centre recently launched an innovative film production internship, offering 15 deaf youth the opportunity to explore their passion for filmmaking and develop their skills, all while being attentive to their unique needs.
The six-month internship has been made possible through a generous grant from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). It is exclusively designed to work with the unique strengths and learning strategies of deaf individuals.
Interns will be guided through the entire filmmaking journey from concept to story, script adaptation and videography to post-production.
The internship will culminate in a short film which will premiere at the CFDS’ Deaf Film and Art Festival scheduled for March 2025. The festival will celebrate the unique contributions of deaf artists and promote greater inclusion and accessibility in the arts.
CFDS will also host experiential training opportunities for South African Sign Language interpreters ahead of the festival to ensure that deaf South Africans can fully access the arts.
“This is a monumental step towards inclusion, empowerment, and artistic expression for the Deaf community. We are grateful to the NLC for their grant,” says Prof. Claudine Storbeck, Associate Professor at the Centre for Deaf Studies.
Project lead and film producer Nenio Mbazima, who is a member of the deaf community himself, believes that the internship will open doors for the youth.
“The goal is for them to not only gain entrepreneurial skills but also be able to find employment in video production companies, where their deafness will not be seen as a limitation, but rather as an asset.
“Through this project, I want them to have the confidence and skills to thrive in the media industry and contribute to greater inclusivity in the workforce,” says Mbazima who lost his hearing at the age of 10 due to meningitis.
Although his early schooling years were particularly difficult as he was the only deaf learner in a mainstream school, Mbazima persevered to complete his studies and follow his passions.
Through the encouragement of friends, he earned a certificate in TV Production and Theory at Wits.
Today, he is a skilled video producer at CFDS and is excited to lead the groundbreaking internship, contributing to the artistic expression of the deaf community.
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