In the next in our series
"10 Questions for South Africans" (who you may not yet know of, but should!) filmmaker and writer Terry Westby-Nunn gave us 10 fun and fascinating answers. Enjoy!
10 questions for Terry Westby-Nunn
- What place (in SA) do you call home, and why?
Home is a tiny cottage in Cape Town ruled by two spoilt fat cats. When I tire of my domestic serfdom to my feline masters, I escape up any of the many obscure gravel paths on the mountain. I know, I know, it sounds all very Capetonian: “Shoo-wah, I love the mountain, man,” but it’s sadly… true.
- Favourite place to have breakfast near(ish) where you live?
I’m a fan of
all-day breakfasts, particularly in my own bed… But, if I have to climb out of it, then I recommend
Starlings in Belvidere Road, Rondebosch (only open on weekdays 7.30am – 5pm) for its charm, and
The Olive Station (it used to be in Muizenberg, but is now in Rondebosch) for their wicked
Lebanese style French toast - made using free-range eggs and served with aubergine and ginger jam.
- What, exactly, do you do?
I’m a filmmaker and a writer – I shoot, direct and edit my own documentaries – I also have a passion for music videos. I’ve just finished my Masters in Creative Writing at UCT and am currently completing my novel.
- A documentary film of yours, White people also dream: The shamanic journey of a sangoma has just been accepted into the Durban International Film Festival as well as the Grahamstown Arts Festival’s film festival. Tell us a little about this film and what made you choose the subject.
The documentary tells the story of
Sheila Dorje, who received a calling to become a sangoma. While the film looks at what led Sheila onto this path, its primary focus is on the preparation and excitement around her most important ceremony after
six years of training: her graduation ritual.
The film follows Sheila’s family and friends as they embark on a long journey to the
Eastern Cape – they are yanked away from the comforts of
Cape Town and thrust deep into the heart of Pondoland in the Eastern Cape, where the only running water to be found is in a nearby stream and where candles and fires provide light and heat. The film explores a world that has often been
greatly misunderstood due to sensational muti murders through which some corrupted sangomas obtain body parts for destructive rituals.
The documentary raises controversial issues around animal slaughter, ritual sacrifice and the perceptions created by western structures of traditional customs.
To be honest, I stumbled onto this film. My boyfriend, Sybrandus, and I were planning a holiday to the Eastern Cape, and he serendipitously received an email about Sheila’s graduation. I took a
small unobtrusive video camera with me to document the ceremony and interviewed Sheila at a later date; she gave such a fantastic interview – it was so heartfelt - and I felt it provided a rare, accessible and
insightful look into the shamanic journey of a sangoma in the Xhosa tradition. Sheila’s interview gave the film its form – ultimately it is a
captivating, thought provoking anthropological voyage into the heart of Xhosa culture.
- What inspires you (in your work, every day, in life)?
I suppose I’m addicted to the process of “creating” something – in my film work, it’s the act of picking up a camera, and telling a story. I love the editing process, seeing your film take on a shape and a personality. It’s the same with writing – you begin with ideas and these are shaped and crafted through words. It’s a stimulating process – the creative process - and I enjoy interacting with it.
- To date, what has been your most rewarding (work) project and why?
Every project is magical in its own way – I loved working on the sangoma film because it was so different to anything I’d ever worked on, or even imagined working on. I also loved writing my novel for my MA in Creative Writing – it still amazes me that this somewhat bizarre story popped out of me!
- Tell us, briefly, about your best ever South African holiday / travelling experience.
It’s so cruel to make me choose as I love travelling in South Africa - the landscapes are so astonishingly diverse…
However, I’d have to go with the AfrikaBurn art festival in the Tankwa Karoo – it’s a remarkable experience – mind-blowingly different. Based on the Burning Man Festival, which happens annually in the Nevada desert in the USA, the festival has been described as a “radical art exhibition”. Although you pay to attend, the philosophy behind the event are those of self-sufficiency, creativity, community and gifting. It’s a cash-free economy - nothing is bought or sold at the festival – you can gift anything: food, art, advice, music, water… Last year we gifted a shower so that those sweltering in the desert heat could cool off. This year the festival runs from 9 – 13 September 2009.
- Who is your South African hero, and why?
Without a doubt, it’s
Zackie Achmat. He’s done incredible work in South Africa for the
Treatment Action Campaign – he’s brought issues around HIV / AIDS into the media spotlight and has given a voice to some of the most marginalized groups in the country.
- When you’re away from SA, what do you miss the most?
I was in The Netherlands recently, and I have to say (cliché, cliché) I missed
Table Mountain.
- What project(s) do you have in the pipeline?
Right now I’m working on two music videos for some super talented musos. I’m also working on a documentary about my grandfather (right), Letters from Teddy. It’s a very personal story, and I’m finding it challenging and sad – it’s a film that asks a lot of questions of me – in particular, what right do I have to tread on the past?
