THE BOSS!

CHRISTA SCHAMBERGER - YOUNG
(B.A. L.T.C.L.)

    Ex DOP / Writer / Director Digby Young dropped out of Pretoria University and the Pretoria Onderwyskollege (Teacher Training College) in 1973 to hop on the shiny new SABC TV bus, part of the first group of crew trained under BBC & Thames TV instructors. In spite of nearly being fired as a “Kommunis”, he eventually became Principal Film Cameraman.
    The prospect of a desk job scared him away to Helsinki, Finland, where he freelanced as a DOP on commercials for two years while writing his first film script. A short trip back to South Africa in 1981 to shoot the film became permanent when the film collapsed and local TV Drama contracts piled up six months in advance.
    He then co-wrote several TV series for the separate and not at all equal “Black” TV channels while directing hundreds of TV commercials. Taking yourself seriously while selling frozen chicken is a mental-health hazard, so he seized the opportunity to become second unit cameraman on the BBC “Rhodes” series and other international productions.
    Six weeks of helping his Casting Director wife Christa Schamberger-Young set up her studio turned into a whole new career.

STUDIO CAMERA OPERATOR
(& Standby Editor)

WILLIAM MORRISON

One of the ways in which we strive to provide a supportive audition environment is to use professional actors as "Readers". Being a good audition Reader requires sensitivity, generosity and above average acting skill.  We try to use Readers who are not eligible for any of the roles being auditioned - however, the pool of suitable volunteers is small.

In cases where an artist is also eligible for one of the roles - or is asked to audition by a Director prepared to re-think the role - the Reader's own audition is scheduled for another day, for which another Reader is used if at all possible. This policy ensures that the Reader has time to change their "head space" to concentrate on the role as an Actor and helps allay fears of favouritism.

Although a small gratuity is paid to Readers, most make themselves available because they discover that being a Reader - especially at Call Backs - is a fantastic opportunity to work with a variety of Directors with an international profile. Even first-round auditions provide a unique opportunity to observe and learn from a variety of actors they might not normally get to work with.