The mad-cap adventure and fairy tale, film story of a quixotic, middle-aged woman who won't give up on her dream and ends up in every scrape imaginable.
Newsletter 4 – My ill-fated, 2018 fundraising campaign
Dear friends
My 19-year-old, fellow classmates' optimism had a profound effect on me: it rubbed off. They were bursting with ideas and idealism. After our course was over and we all flew our separate ways, my youthful friends had planted a seed; "what if I started a crowdfunding campaign to raise the fees to study filmmaking full time?"
They assured me crowdfunding worked. Just keep it light and funny, they said. They had all raised the funds they needed to come do the YWAM DTS and SVP courses. They even had a friend, who could not afford the course, who raised the tuition fees through a GoFundMe account. (I didn't want to hurt their feelings by pointing out that it was probably donated by the same people who played Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy every year).
So childlike. So naïve. So wet behind the ears. Yet enthusiasm is contagious, therefore I still gave it the old college try. Here is my humble effort.
Free an Aspiring Filmmaker-Dreamer to become a Doer
I always dreamt of being a Method actor, writer and director, the likes of Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Kevin Costner, and work in the international entertainment industry. Ridiculous, I know. Who did I think I was to dream so big and aim so high?! I was getting way too big for my shoes, that's who!
I even went to an AFDA open day (the best film school in South Africa) in 2005 because even way back then, 12 years ago when I was 25, the dream was strong and insistent in my heart. But to no avail. Finances. Always the inevitable obstacle. As usual.
I was scolded by so many realists to stop dreaming and grow up. Who was I to think I could work in the film industry? I was no actress some said. "You are NOT a media missionary", another said. Accept your situation, they would all say.
After 15 years of doing left-brain jobs I hate, for minimum wages and still living on the breadline, I decided it was time to go big or go home. Yes, even at age 37! If I was going to be the proverbial, penniless artist, at least I was going to be poor in pursuit of my right-brain dream.
So I embarked on a mad-cap adventure. I got on a plane, flew to Cape Town, and did a condensed, three month course in film and video production, with only half the funds. As just He could, my faithful Father provided once again.
Boy, did I feel like a bird released from her cage for the first time in a very long time.
The journey doesn't end there. The training I received was great, but just an introduction. It just whet my appetite for more. The next step is AFDA, The South African School of Motion Picture Medium. In my progression to the next faith step, I must continue my film studies and complete an in-depth, accredited, four year degree course in Filmmaking.
Please help me turn my decades-long dream into a reality.
Thank you
To my fellow dreamers out there: There is nothing more important than following your God-given dreams. The world needs your specific gifts. Don't let people who gave up on their dreams, talk you out of yours. Pity them. Forgive them. But never give up! It will be hard. Life is unfair and maybe it's supposed to be. The hardships make us stronger and prepare us for our Promised Land.
Go dream big dreams and change the world, one dream at a time!
God is the Dreamgiver and He is more than able.
Yvette van Os
Filmmaking, scriptwriting, directing, cinematography and Method Acting aspirant, media missionary, dreamer and doer in Christ Jesus.
PS: After a year I had raised exactly zero Rands. Not even one cent. Once again I had to put my dreams on the back shelf to gather dust. It was back to reality for me.
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