ABOUT SANDI

WRITER, Film LECTURER

Sandi Durnford-Slater worked as a freelancer in film, media, and theatre from 2004 until 2018. Her work includes entertainment journalism, lecturing Film Studies, acting, writing as well as still photography.

“Pick up a camera. Shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you’re a director. Everything after that you’re just negotiating your budget and your fee.” — James Cameron

 

 

Professional

Sandi lectured Film Studies in some form or other from 1998 as well as doing part time freelance work from 2004 (until recently). She loves working with STORY and CHARACTER, collaborating with other creative people to tell stories which impact popular culture. Though she has worn many hats, that which currently forms the bulk of her time is writing.

Sandi has worked with TheSouthAfrican, SAPeople, Every Nation London, the BBC Schools Initiative, Selah Education, SACGD, DMI Productions, Liz Lugt, Future Productions, SVG Productions, The Sunday Times. Sandi is currently works with her husband in their family shipbroking company, DSB Offshore Ltd. She is responsible for marketing, website copy, HR and Finances. Sandi blogs at Nyamazela.com.

Qualified

Sandi holds a BA Psychology and Linguistics and an MA Film. She also has an FCP editing qualification from Soho Editors, and has completed courses in Script Supervising and Continuity for Visual Effects in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.

In addition to working with budding young film-makers, Sandi has run workshops and consulted for educators who wish to use the medium of video across various curriculum areas to enhance teaching and learning.

Passionate

Stories are her passion and she takes an active interest in, and enjoys commentating on and writing about issues that surround culture (and now also Shipbroking ;).

Sandi says: “When I was little, I loved playing pretend. My grandparents lived on a huge farm in South Africa, and my brother and I would play at being ‘Robin Hood’, ‘Die Swart Kat’, ‘Heidi and Peter’, ‘Army soldiers’, ‘Detectives’, ‘Cowboys and Indians’, and whatever else captured our imagination on TV and films. I have always been captured by the power of good story-telling, devoured books and loved films and theatre.”