NEW DEAN OF AFDA BRENT QUINN’S VISION FOR KZN’S CREATIVE ECONOMY
“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.”
Multi-award winning writer/director and creative producer, Brent Quinn began as the new Dean of AFDA Durban campus at the start of 2017, and is thrilled to be back in his home town on the East Coast. Says Quinn, ‘Kwa-Zulu is for me South Africa’s most interesting context for story and idea creation. Local screens, stages and creative industries are hungry for novelty and our diversity is the best muti for really world-class ideas and new ways of navigating this ever-changing world’.
Brent has over 35 years of experience working in feature film, television, commercials and animation including numerous social awareness projects both local and international. His diverse scope of skill and roles covered in productions including titles such as Writer, Executive Producer, Story Editor, Director, narrative consultant and more. He has picked two Loeries awards for social awareness commercials he worked on which were Victims of Violence and New Voice. In television, he was Head Writer of Intersexions, a South African television series, and it won the Best Script and Best Drama Series awards at the SAFTAS in 2012. Other acclaimed works Brent has been involved in include Soul City (Season 11), Ubizo (mini-series), Ten Years of Freedom (Documentary series), Let’s Talk (sitcom), Blitz Patrolie (feature film) and many more.
When asked how and where Quinn finds the time for his writing, he says, ‘After a full day at AFDA I sleep early, not later than 10. My writing day starts at 4 a.m. sharp. If one is called to story, one does not have a choice but to get up. Then of course there is the day job, but somehow it fills one with the inspiration to get up and keep typing away’.
Quinn is settling into and loving his role as dean of AFDA Durban. He is particularly impressed with the creative work coming from the students and their endless energy of passion, resilience and commitment in their programmes. ‘It is all about finding inspiration and pushing boundaries’, says the Dean. He thrives on this philosophy and continuously encourages it in his students and staff.
‘With Kwa-Zulu Natal being the province with the largest population, I believe the potential for a flourishing creative economy is here and that is what I want our campus to realise. As the economic axiom goes, people create industries, industries do not create people,’ says Quinn. The campus boasts a staff body that includes top industry experienced practitioners such as the likes of Richard Green, Roel Twijnstra, Janet van Eeden, Arish Sirkissoon, Penny Flascas and more. ‘Together with my team of tremendously talented staff, and the passion, innovation and culture within our student body, I am sure we can collaborate with local and national industry to boost the local economy.’
On Friday 16 June, AFDA Durban will host its annual Experimental Film, Television and Performance Festival, showcasing our student’s vision and celebrating their unique voices through the progress of their projects. For further information, contact Hannah Hannahs@afda.co.za
On Saturday 24 June at 10am, the campus will be hosting one of its Open Days about all the programmes we offer including the new BCom Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Computer Technology and Higher Certificate in Radio and Podcasting. For further information or to book a consultation, contact Simone Logan on +27 31 569 2252 or dbncampus@afda.co.za