Screenwriter,content developer and producer,Nena Tenacity has embraced a career in the creative sectors spanning over a decade and a half from humble early day beginnings to becoming 'The Çreator' _ a key content producer.
Her key interest is content and quality with information that expands knowledge and growth.
https://www.facebook.com/KirohoMtoto/
Initially, her inception into the film and television industry was on admin and crew tasks including the local ‘most watched’ South African soapie “Generations” , where she served as the director’s assistant
Thereafter several roles followed on various productions as a production continuity supervisor.
Eventually, she became involved in research and proposal writing for television producers submitting educational programmes for broadcast content including ‘People of The South’, a series that was hosted by Dali Tambo, a talk show celebrating key icons in South Africa.
Involved in multiple productions in key roles, eventually, her ongoing work reached fruition in 2008 when she produced a documentary “Dreaming the new” as well as a pilot on Madagascar on a completed 13-part docudrama series on tourism in the SADC region titled “Freeway Tours”.
Her first feature film “Stix and Stones”, a feature social commentary film exploring the cycles of violence and poverty delving into her personal life realms was developed through National film and video foundation SEDIBA initiative, headed by the acclaimed screenwriting executive and mentor, Alby James. The rights were optioned by a South African production company Ochre Media.
The rights to the film eventually reverted back to her when the production company that held rights changed management and operational structure.
She then ventured travelling with it to the Rotterdam film festival Babylon workshop and the film is currently on the market for possible production.
Her independent short film streams like ‘Struggles Continue’; ‘Breaking the chains’ and ‘Strike a Dice’ received development funds during the initiation of the National Film and Video Foundation that was established in South Africa with a mission towards growth and development in the film and television industry.
This was her tool to launch her career forward in the development of several concepts including a series title ‘Let our voices be heard’films from women’s perspective.
She was on board of a development team for a series called ‘A true state of affairs that was a series reflecting migration issues in South Africa and raised xenophobia and other related issues.
Currently, she is on a mission to promote a new feature film Úshujaa” : Mtoto wa kiroho kurudisha ulimwengu wetu
#WARRIOR
*spirit child taking back our earth, a language revolution film portraying
KISWAHILI is a liberating and uniting language across tribes and ethnicity. A Pan-African cause for our SOLIDARITY to wipe away colonial supremacy of language Sipho Mushwana
When a new spirit child is born with the ultimate Pan-African cause into an era of awakening, there is a calling to crumble the case and essence of the dominant based engraved world system...the English Language!
Key players on board include ‘Kiswahili Ambassadors’, Sipho Mushwana, Joseph Sarimbo as well as proudly Tanzania actor Kihaka GND as well as Neil Schell
Research and proposal preparation
- Eskia Mphalele Documentary
- Dorothy Masuku Documentary
- Women in Science Documentary
Her various role included a head researcher on ‘Wordart’ a series by Griffin Films celebrating South African writers and as a writer for Interrogation room a television series by Fremantle media.
Her other writing work included 15-minute films for Karlan Communications titled “Very Fast and not so furious “, a series reflecting film from the perspective of women
Producer
- Revolutionaries love life by Riaan Hendrick
- Documentary – Comrades runner Donovan Wright
- SABC 1 Going Home Ikhaya Malawi directed by Omelga Mthiyane
- BLACK ON WHITE SABC2 SERIES-Different Pigment
- Dreaming the New
- Freeway tours
Meet #CreatepreneurAfrica – #SHUJAA #WARRIOR #LANGUAGE REVOLUTIONIST Nena Tenacity
1.Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
My passion…My passion is an outlet of expression, primarily through the tool of language and words
2. How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I can’t remember the exact age, but I always remember my key interest in writing and journaling continuously
3.What about your passion appeals to you the most?
I always thought of it as a regular everyday activity, like eating, drinking and sleeping. It is only in very recent years that I realised the power of words. A life skill of proportional weight
4.What drove you to make money from your passions?
When I learnt it was possible to get an income for spending your precious time in mind spaces that you prefer to.
5.When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Tough one to answer! I guess payment was always there generally when people around you needed help with wording something or the other or preparing presentations, you would get rewarded in some way or the other. Actual money, my first memory is getting funded by the National Film and Video Foundation for developing my first short film ‘Let our voices be heard’, a short film speaking out against the exploitation and abuse of women.
6.What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
My self-will to battle against the odds and face trials and tribulations in the best manner I could. Other than those initiatives in the industry life the film foundation and many people including Alby James, Clarence Hamilton, Thandi Brewer, Julie Hall and a range of other key players in my personal and professional outlets
Akin Omotoso and Hakeem Kae Kazim, also played key role models in my stance to keep at it.
7.What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
I live by the motto of all and anything you want and desire is possible
8.What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
Keep doubting. My precious time is not there to cater for counselling your ‘doubt’ condition
9.What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
All I can say is there will be falls, sometimes harder than others, but persist, keep the vision and endure being what you want to be. Nobody has to conform to fit within social expectations. Rise above and rise high.
