Janet van Eeden a filmmaker, screenwriter and scriptwriting lecturer at AFDA
Durban recently participated at the London Screenwriters Festival (LSF) 2014, which
ran from 24 to 26 October, to represent the film school and to pitch a new feature
project The Hyena in Petticoats.
“At the London Screenwriters’ Festival, writers have just a few minutes at the Pitch
Fest to convince high-ranking producers to take on their project.’ explained Janet,
who pitched a short promo for a potential feature A Shot at the Big Time at the 2013 event . Of her new project pitch, van Eeden said, “It’s
a very topical subject and it has resonance around this world right now more than
any other film I’ve pitched before.’
As part of her participation at the festival, van Eeden attended a session titled Legal
Clinic where she discussed copyright issues commonly faced by filmmakers,
including herself, with specialist creative industries lawyer and editor of Blue Pencil
media Julian Wilkins.
“There tends to be a lack of recognition of screenwriters within the film industry,’
said van Eeden. “Directors are given full credit for making a film and the
screenwriters are often not even mentioned. I think this is remiss and those
directors and producers who give credit to the writers usually have an incredible
film as a result’.
According to van Eeden, a huge highlight involved spending an hour with Paul
Bassett-Davies, who has worked on a number of British comedies such as
Have I Got News For You and Spitting Images. “After
talking through the concept of my new project, I realised the best way forward to
writing the script in the most engaging way possible, thanks to his suggestions’, she
said.
