At a dinner hosted by producer Anant Singh of Videovision Entertainment
(“Yesterday”, “Mr Bones”)in Durban on 22 June, the Trevor Jones Scholarship,
which will see a South African student awarded a bursary to study at the UK’s
National Film & Television School, was announced.
Jones is the world-renowned composer of scores for films such as “Last of the
Mohicans” and “Mississippi Burning”. Born in South Africa, Jones is based in
the UK and is chair of the National Film & Television School.
Said Jones: “I was fortunate enough to have received bursaries from age 13 and
know how a bursary can change one’s life. The bursaries took me from my humble
beginnings to work with the best in the world of filmmaking. For this reason I
want to put back into the pot that was given to me. I see a vision of South
African filmmaking on a par with the best in the world and want to play a part
in the development of the industry’s growth.”
Each year a South African student will receive a bursary to study in any
aspect of filmmaking at the UK school over a two-year period. The student will
receive tuition fees, living expenses and two return trips home. The
scholarship is co-ordinated by the National Film and Video Foundation of South
Africa (NFVF).
Jones referred to Singh as “inspirational” and “one of the most exciting
people in filmmaking in the world”.
The Videovsion Entertainment dinner was attended by visiting filmmakers of the
Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), including Danny Schechter (“In Debt
We Trust – America Before the Bubble Bursts”), Nina Davenport (“Operation
Filmmaker”), and Darrell James Roodt (“Meisie”, “Yesterday”).
Apart from honouring Jones, Singh paid tribute to Peter and Monica Rorvik and
Nashen Moodley, the organisers of the DIFF.
