AFDA Durban appoints Laszlo Bene As Head of Television School

AFDA (The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) has appointed versatile producer Laszlo Bene as the Head of the Television School at the Durban Campus.

Laszlo Bene, a producer and director has worked on a number of national and international productions. Having received his education and work experience in the trenches of the Hollywood film community, Laszlo has produced over a dozen motion pictures. In 2006, Bene swapped Hollywood for Johannesburg where he entered the realms of television. He has worked on a number of productions, including the popular children’s series, Takalani Sesame and created/produced a number of projects, such as the Afrikaans family game show, "Dis Rugby!” which was based on one of South Africa’s favourite past-times, rugby, the show was kykNET's biggest hit in 2007. While working in the industry, Laszlo has been also involved in academics.

Since 2010 Laszlo has been working at AFDA as a guest lecturer, teaching production related subjects at the Johannesburg and Cape Town campuses. Recently Laszlo has moved from producing to directing when he started working on Nigeria's top television show, Gulder Ultimate Search. Taking the show to new nights and even higher ratings, Laszlo has directed season 9 and 10 of this epic series. "I am excited to head up the television school in AFDA Durban. I believe this newest AFDA campus has the potential to not only produce future television professionals in the KZN area but through this has a chance to grow the local industry as well. I am looking forward to following the AFDA tradition of nurturing highly creative and talented individuals who upon graduation will become the future of South Africa's and KZN's television industry” says Bene.

Dean of AFDA Durban Campus, Franco Human said “We are excited to have Laszlo head up the Television School here at the Durban Campus, a person of his calibre and experience is very much appreciated and he surely will add to the high level education that we give to our students”.

For more information about AFDA you can contact Milena Gevers on (031) 569-2252 or e-mail her on milenag@afda.co.za.

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AFDA Durban Campus Launch Assist Programmes for their Students

The AFDA Durban Campus have launched a series of Assist Programmes for their first and second year students in the various schools of Live Performance, Film and Television Production with partners such as iKind Media and the iconic Catalina Theatre.

Students in the School of Live Performance which is headed by AFDA Lecturer Lloyd O’Connor have been working at the Catalina Theatre getting a firsthand experience on how to run a theatre from General Manager of the Catalina Theatre, Francis Bigara. Through her guidance the students have been put through administrative paper work, ticket sales, equipment maintenance, ushering, networking and so much more.  “The aim is to help bridge the gap, step by step over the years, between 'student', 'amateur', 'semi-professional' and 'professional', to equip the students with the current active skills and knowledge required to realistically make a living in their chosen careers” says Donna Steel, a Discipline Champion for First Year Stage Acting.

AFDA students in the School of Film will be working in collaboration with iKind Media, a Durban based Broadcasting and Media Production Agency, on a thriller feature film trailer called ‘Intruders’.  “We have already began constructing the set for the shooting of the next scene within the trailer of the film on campus, students have been able to gain firsthand experience in building a professional set and from next week we will start shooting” says head of the School of Film and Filmmaker, Richard Green. 

The AFDA TV Department is working on a SABC 1 program called Hosanna with AFDA Lecturer and Executive Producer at Dynamic Vision Productions, Ailsa Kaminski. Hosanna reflects the different textures and forms of Christianity in communities around the country. The format includes music, prayer, ministry, personal testimony and insight into the impact of faith on people’s lives. “For the purpose of providing assist training for the first year AFDA students certain elements were designed to be filmed in the AFDA studio, namely interviews, presenter links to camera, inspirational messages by ministers and music items shot on green screen….the students were great, it was a pleasure working with them, wonderful to see their enthusiasm and energy, and their eagerness to learn” says Ailsa Kaminski.

AFDA Durban Campus will be hosting an Open Day on Saturday, 03 May from 09:00 to 13:00, for more information on the event or about AFDA you can contact Milena Gevers on (031) 569-2252 or e-mail her on milenag@afda.co.za.

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