Arts writer
THE Triggerfish Story Lab has received a whopping 1 378 entries from storytellers and film-makers from 30 countries across Africa and its diaspora, all eager to write the continent’s next animated blockbuster or hit TV series. “When I told people I expected over 1 000 submissions from across Africa, everyone laughed at me.
Ha! Now who’s laughing? Oh wait, I have to read all of these…”, says Anthony Silverston, head of development at Triggerfish Animation Studios.
After the international success of its first two feature films, Triggerfish established The Triggerfish Story Lab with the support of The Department of Trade and Industry and The Walt Disney Company. Industry experts will now evaluate the 1174 feature submissions and 204 TV series submissions. These experts include British director Peter Lord; Hollywood writer Jonathan Roberts ( The Lion King); script consultant Karl Iglesias ( Writing For Emotional Impact); and development executives from The Walt Disney Company, as well as storyteller Gcina Mhlope, comedian David Kau and Triggerfish’s development team of Anthony, Wayne Thornley and Raffaella Delle Donne.
“I’m honoured and delighted to be a small part of the Triggerfish Story Lab,” says Lord, who co-founded Aardman Animations, the four-time Oscar-winning studio behind the likes of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. “I believe it’s vitally important for every country and culture to tell its own stories. Much as we may enjoy Hollywood storytelling, it is not the only way; there are so many different stories to be told, and so many voices demanding to be heard. I look forward very much to immersing myself inauthentic African storytelling.”
The Story Lab called for uplifting, family-friendly stories. Kau, says, “I’m looking forward to helping unearth new African talent in animation, and telling stories from Africa that will show the world that there’s an Africa beyond the genocide, Aids, corruption and dictatorship that’s the daily gospel of most news outlets about Africa.”
Shortlisted storytellers will take part in workshops in November before making final pitches, and the finalists will be announced in December.
l triggerfishstudios.com