How This Filmmaking Duo is Telling South African Stories One Script at a Time

OkayAfrica: What inspired you to pursue a career in filmmaking, and how has your journey been so far?

Quanita Adams (QA): I have been in the performing industry pretty much my whole career. I started in theater, straight after graduating from University. Working in film, even as an actor, locally and internationally, really made clear to me how powerful story-telling through the medium of film can be. Then, after twenty incredible years, I felt I was ready to write and also direct stories that felt right, that resonated with me. It feels like this is the right time to have made this transition to behind the lens.

Dominique Jossie (DJ): I initially wanted to be a journalist but the option to study film and drama while at the University of Cape Town opened up a new possible career opportunity that allowed me to explore the art of storytelling as a visual medium. My 12-year journey in the industry has been both challenging and wonderful. It allowed me to explore the country and travel to other parts of the world learning about other cultures and places, but I always felt drawn to creating films based on our own unique South African stories. I have had the privilege of meeting some amazing people, and worked with great talent through the films we produced. More recently, as a mom of two boys, balancing family and my career can be challenging, but my kids inspire me to keep going. Luckily, we are a team of moms so we get it and we support each other through it all.

What unique perspectives do you bring to the film industry?

QA : I think that being a woman who grew up in a working-class community, in a family both Muslim and Christian, my perspective on stories that don’t often get represented, is unique. I know the word authentic gets thrown around, and often elicits eye rolls, but I thrive on being able to tell stories that germinate from my community, in ways that challenge easy stereotypes or misrepresentations. These communities are often associated with darkness, hardship — and that’s true. But it is also true that people find joy in these spaces. They raise families and celebrate victories there. I bring all the things that made me, that are both unique but also, that are universally true. I also think that having been an actor for many years makes me a different kind of director. I’m a woman, a mother, an African, and this perspective is invaluable creatively.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as filmmakers in the South African film industry, and how have you overcome them?

DJ: The film industry is not as glamorous and lucrative as it seems on the outside. Yes, it's a lot of fun and very fulfilling, but as a business, it is unpredictable, high risk and hard to maintain momentum and financial stability. There’s a lot of work before the work begins. There will be many many no’s before you get a yes, but when the yes arrives, the victory is sweet! There are successful companies out there who have made it, and we look to them for guidance and inspiration, because if they could do it, then so can we. I have found that through partnerships and collaboration with trusted fellow filmmakers, we can work together, share the load, and stand a better chance of gaining success. This is why Blended Films works so well, and also the reason why we partnered with Story Oasis for the slate.

Is there a breakthrough moment you can share that impacted your career trajectory?

DJ: Personally, being selected for the Realness Netflix Episodic Lab was a major breakthrough moment for me. It was the tail end of COVID, I was at home with a three and one-year-old. This was when my career pivoted from producing to writing, and I suddenly unlocked a new skill that I have now come to love and value. Then last year, I was selected for the Film Independent Global Media Makers Residency where I got to spend five weeks in Los Angeles with fellow filmmakers from around the world. This opened up my perspective on the Hollywood industry model and made me realize how many of us face the same challenges but also that the bigger picture is possible.

Then, finally, the biggest breakthrough of them all was winning the NFVF slate funding with Story Oasis. I’ve wanted this for the past six years. I’ve closely studied the previous recipients and we worked so hard to put our proposal together in time for the deadline. When we heard the news, I was so happy and overwhelmed, my whole career flashed before my eyes. As a young company, this fund allows us to plan ahead for the next three years, in this very unpredictable industry. Yes, there is still work to be done and money to be raised but our plan is solid, our team is strong and we are excited to take on the challenge and make this a success.

How do you navigate the balance between creative expression and the commercial aspects of filmmaking?

DJ: This is a tough one. There is so much content out there and we all have our own unique tastes and dream projects that we want to make, but at the end of the day, we have to remember that this is a business, and we need to lean into some of the tried and tested ingredients that make a successful film. We are not making this for ourselves but for an audience. The uniqueness lies in the perspective, voice and nuances of the characters we create. The more truthful we are to our own experiences, the more we get to share our creative expression. While our focus for the slate is commercial, the female characters in our films are still unseen but familiar, so we lean into this to create that balance. From a development perspective, we are lucky to have Story Oasis guide this balance to ensure we hit the commercial marks while remaining truthful and authentic.

How does working as a team of women influence the creative process, and what strengths do you each bring to the table?

QA: I think ‘creatively’... this is an interesting question — I don’t know that there is anything that being a woman necessarily does..? Creativity is creativity. Story is story. What it does that’s different, is ensuring that teams look different. That there is gender parity. From the story writing room, to lead roles, to HOD’s, crew, techies. That’s where we can try to shift the paradigm. So yes, the Bechdel Test — how can we actively work to increase representation, on and off camera, in front of and behind the scenes? As women, we can craft female characters that ring true, that are nuanced, flawed and substantial. As for the Blended Films and Story Oasis combo — I think we each bring very strong skills — we joke that we are like the Power Rangers of the industry, with our powers combined!

There’s such a healthy respect and admiration, and very little overlap, so what we have is a seamless machine that works to craft and share stories. Dominique Jossie [is a] producer, director, writer, and a dancer! Tracey-Lee Rainers, a writer, editor, producer; Andrina Moodley, a storyteller, producer, administrative beast! And we also have trainees, junior producers, line producers, editors, story editors — this incubator of talent committed to nurturing young women in our industry.

DJ: To add to Quanita, I have also found that working with women brings sensitivity and human awareness to the filmmaking process. It's not just all about landing that deal or making that deadline. We are also mothers and wives, sisters and daughters so we allow time and space to consider each other’s personal struggles. We give each other grace when needed. This goes for us and those that work in our team. Mental health is a big issue in this industry. The stress is real and many people end up leaving the industry because of this.

What advice would you give to other women looking to break into the film industry, especially in South Africa?

QA: That it’s a good time to be a woman in the game. Trust your instinct to share the information, the resources, the texts, the contacts. Share everything, so that more and more of us show up. If you get to be in a room, make sure you keep the door open for those that can’t get in the room. If you must be a gatekeeper, then keep the gate open. Ask for help, and then have the grace to accept it when it comes. You don’t know what you don’t know.

How do you envision the future of African cinema, and what role do you hope to play in shaping it?

DJ: The future of African cinema is exciting and promising. We still have so much untapped talent and untold stories to share with the world and with streaming, the global boundaries are now more open than ever. We do, however, find that there is still a stereotyped idea of the African experience when it comes to pitching stories. This is why it is imperative to build international partnerships through co-productions to help change this view.

We currently have projects in development with Canada, France and the U.S. This allows us to stay true to our vision while opening up to an international audience. We hope to share the potential of the diversity of African cinema through these partnerships while being known for entertaining stories from an African female perspective.