Little Falls resident Enver Samuel has travelled the distance toward becoming a successful entrepreneur.
“It was in June 1996 when I decided to join the ranks of the freelance world as a producer or director of EMS Productions. I worked on numerous television productions and high-profile corporate videos, combining this with lecturing in television journalism and production at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism,” said Samuel.
He has recently finished filming a third TV series of Masterchef, which will be screened on M-Net towards the end of the year.
“I am proud of being a very successful TV director working on big productions like Survivor SA and Masterchef.”
According to him, Masterchef is one of the most famous cooking shows.
Samuel has studied both practical and theoretical aspects of film and television, locally and abroad – in England, Australia and Germany.
A scholarship enabled him to obtain a BA (Media Studies) degree from Edith Cowan University in Australia, where he studied from 1990 to 1992.
“I returned to South Africa after my studies and a short working stint at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney. I then joined independent TV production company Talent Consortium as a producer or director from February 1993 to December 1995. I also spent three months at Yorkshire TV in England on a work exchange programme in 1995.”
In addition to being a member of the Film and Publication Board since 1998, Samuel served on the National Film and Video Foundation’s training and bursary committee.
In 2012 and 2013, Samuel was a South African film and television awards judge.
He recently completed a two-week master class scriptwriting course at Monash University, South Africa and facilitated a three-week training course in Zambia for the Zambian Media Institute of Communications for television producers.
Samuel has also travelled extensively overseas and has a wealth of experience travelling in Africa, having visited over 30 countries on the continent.
Among the list of major programmes he has worked on since1993, is producing and directing a publicity series on Kaizer Chiefs Football Club for M-Net, as well as producing two documentaries, Walter Sisulu: The People’s Rock and Oliver Tambo for SABC, as well as inserts for Good Morning South Africa (a SABC production).
Outside TV, Samuel is an ambitious sportsman. He is a member of the Roodepoort Athletics Club and has taken part in many sport challenges.
“I am excited to have completed my second Comrades Marathon on 1 June at the age of 48. I was the last person in time to receive the Bill Rowan medal, awarded to those who finish in under nine hours. My time was 8:59:59 – I crossed the [finish] line with one second to spare.”
As someone who travels a lot, he feels that his Comrades achievement is remarkable as he does not get to train as much as other “normal” runners.
Details: Enver Samuel 082 4407001.
