Oluwatoyosi Fowode gives highlights of her internship in South Africa

Oluwatoyosi Fowode, a top-tier graduate at the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) programme, was awarded a two-week internship at the MTF graduation. In this blog post, she shares her experience and insights post interning for some of the productions in South Africa.

How does it feel to receive this opportunity from MTF?

I feel favoured. It's truly wonderful! I am also incredibly grateful as the MTF covered me financially to step out and live my dream in a country I am close to in heart.

What were your expectations for the internship?

I wanted to network with other young creatives, learn about the work culture in South Africa and have the opportunity to work on a production.

How did the internship meet (or not meet) your expectations?

The internship exceeded my expectations. I had the opportunity to job-shadow hardworking senior and junior commissioning editors, participate in pitch meetings and, share my voice at the table. I am pleased to say that I felt valued in the company of these experts, despite only being an intern. I also had the honour of meeting Duma Ndlovu and experience first-hand set creations for a movie and series.

What were the most valuable things you learned during the internship?

The healthy workspace and culture is one to emulate and to take home to my country. The pitch meetings where stories were picked for development and commission was enlightening to say the least. I learned how to effectively put a pitch deck together and, understand what the commissioning editors would be looking out for.

How did the internship help you develop your skills and knowledge?

As a producer, it's helped me pay closer attention to detail, be more thorough and patient – with my team and with myself. I've acquired profound insights into the artful process of crafting compelling narratives and securing their greenlight for production.

What projects did you work on, and which skills did you use?

We weren't assigned on any project. However, for the review of two of the episodes of the new series OUTLAW, I was able to use my post-production supervision skills.

What challenges did you face during your internship experience?

While the work pace is incredibly fast and one which I needed to adjust to, I feel it worked in my favour as I learned valuable lessons I wouldn't have learned otherwise, which I feel have set me up for success in my future career.

What did you enjoy the most from this experience?

I enjoyed meeting other creatives across diverse job specs. From the writers to the focus pullers, I learned so much about their vocations and, had the privilege of witnessing how each role comes together to create a film masterpiece. Also, experiencing the professionalism, serenity and healthy work culture was memorable and, one which I will carry close to my heart for the rest of my vocational life.

How did the internship help you network with professionals in your field?

I got to attend varied sets; attend writers' workshops and the wrap-up dinners helped me to network with creatives across different fields of production. The conversations were informative and helped me better understand where I next want to go on this journey.

How did the internship help you make connections to your future career goals?

The internship allowed for creating meaningful conversations with the commissioning editors. This I am certain, is going to help me attain my dream of finding work in South Africa. It also helped me to start creatively thinking of storylines where cultural tapestries can be merged through the art of filmmaking.

What advice would you give to other students who are looking to secure an internship with the MTF?
Network. Don't be shy to step out and extend a warm handshake to peers in industry. Despite what's reported in the news, I found that South Africans are polite, warm and helpful.

Would you recommend this internship to others?

Absolutely. It brought out the best in and for me.

What do you plan to do post the internship?

Go back to the drawing board and refine my work by putting into practice what I have been fortunate to learn.