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| Valencia Joshua Image Credit: Navlee Photoworks & Design Studios Pty Ltd |
“I don’t want to just tell stories...I want to transform lives” Valencia is determine, ambitious, talented and a human being passionate about transforming lives.
1. Who is Valencia Joshua?
Valencia Jo-Ann Joshua, a small town girl, desires to impact lives. Growing up, her passions
surfaced in different forms. Valencia is now a National and international Writer/ Director with variants into film, stage and live performance shows, advertising, series, and has recently launched into acting.
2. Where it all started? What was the inspiration to go into film?
“It all started when I was ten years old and walked into a dimly lit room and caught a glimpse of my then twenty year old brother, (Justin) illustrating star constellations on a massive canvas. He invited me to assist him and together we created the universe. It continued from the dark of that night into sunrise the next morning. I proceeded to watch him, over time, create master pieces in his little art studio at the back of our home in Verulam, and would often sneak in when he was absent and pretend to do the same. I remember getting sent to detention at Primary school, also known to us in Indian communities as “special class” for drawing all sorts of things that lived in my mind, unfortunately during class time. I also then went on to win “Art piece of the year” for the very drawing that had gotten me in trouble. The drawing captured the freedom of a springbok jumping through the clouds. It was then that my love for art was birthed.”
3. Achievements? Milestones in her career thus far?
“I completed my B.A Honours Degree in Film Directing and Screen writing at AFDA Cape Town. My graduating film “Juncture”, landed 7 nominees and was awarded in each of the seven categories nominated for. I was selected and granted thereafter a Masters Bursary by AFDA Cape Town and am currently completing it part time.
My first international short film screenplay, exploring the complexities of the South African Indian society, was shortlisted by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa and after a 6month workshop, shortlisted as one of top ten that was thereafter directed in mid 2014. “
Valencia was then selected by National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa along with Film Market Access to represent SA as one of four in the Toronto International Film competition in which she competed against the best up and coming film makers internationally. She won the creative mind award in the category of “TIFF Best Screenplay”.
Valencia recently made a surprise performance debut in a Bollywood film opposite Akshay Kumar.
Valencia is passionate about the empowerment of woman, human, child and animal rights. She believes in keeping magic alive in young minds, generosity, humility, and spends much of her free time in the company of children, her family, animals and nature and is largely involved in charity and educative awareness.
4. Was this path an easy one?
“ I was once asked by a relative if I was going to study something else as a “backup plan”, should this not pan out as I hoped it would. My response was “Back up plans are excuses for failure, there’s no room for back up plans when your love for creating is as essential as the life you possess”.
5. Your History in Verulam? Where did you live?
“My History in Verulam stems from a fantastic tale. During the time of South African apartheid, Indians were given specific living restrictions in terms of areas in which they could call home. My dad, one of the wisest men I know, in the year 1982 chose the beautiful little town Verulam, as he felt the simplicity and purity of the town would be a great environment to bring up his children. We lived on a street known as Everest Heights in a beautiful home.”
6. Education? Which Schools did you attend?
“I attended Everest Heights Primary, Verulam Secondary and Mount Edgecombe Independent.”
8. Where would you like to see Verulam in the next 5 years?
“Verulam is a phenomenal town. In the next five years, I would hope that it remains a place of purity but that the hearts and minds of its children become one that is exposed to greater things. I would hope that educators would take the time to appreciate children for their unique gifting, be it artistic, athletic or academic. That they would be exposed to greater things and challenged on a global perspective rather than a cultural perspective of what greatness really is. There are great artists, poets, athletes, and academics hidden within the walls of this great town. Some of the greatest achievers in South Africa stem from Verulam. Astronauts, physicists, architects, doctors, film makers, business power heads, commercial directors and so much more. Let the land not change in its greatness but let the people of the land reflect the greatness of it.”
9. Favourite Director and Favourite Movie?
“That is a very difficult question to answer. I have far too many directors I look up to and respect. Two of my favourites are Baz Lurman and Deepa Mehta. I can’t select a favourite film either, however, amongst my favourites are: The Great Gatsby, The Life Of
Pi, Amelie, Hugo, Million Dollar Arm, Slumdog Millionaire, Water, Water for elephants, Perfume, Pride and Prejudice, The Boy with stripe pyjamas and Saving Mr Banks.”
10. Best memory of growing up in Verulam?
“Verulam carried too many wonderful memories. I loved playing cricket at home with my brothers and hitting the ball into our neighbours beautiful flowery garden. I loved the fruit trees in our back orchid. I loved the puppies that grew into dogs that were born under my care and returned to heaven in my care, but never left my heart. I love the teachers that told me that I’d become nothing in life if I couldn’t sew a piece of fabric because I proved them wrong. I love the friends I made, the awesome Vet at the corner of Wick street who yelled at people if they didn’t take good enough care of their pets. I love the day care centre where we spent much of our youth in the company of such loving old people. I love the memories with my beautiful mom, dad and brothers.”
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| Valencia Joshua Image Credit: Navlee Photoworks & Design Studios Pty Ltd |
11. What do you hope to achieve?
“I hope to be a voice to the world in every essence of it. I hope for my work to leave souls feeling enriched on some level. Be it a single line of dialogue or a simple scene within a piece of work in which a message would remain. I hope to be instrumental in the transforming of lives, to assist in the respect and equality of humankind, animal kind, and in nature. I hope to represent the possibility and tangibility, the dignity, class and humility of a successful woman in the 21st century.”
12. Any word of advice?
"Believe in the power of your dreams. Never stop pursuing great things, and once achieved, celebrate it for a brief moment and move onto the next. Don’t allow anyone to tell you that you’re incapable of doing anything you want to, because you can. You don’t need to be the richest, smartest, handsomest/ prettiest person around to succeed. All you need is faith, determination, commitment and you to will rise. Remember that every professional was once a beginner. Almost every great success story was birthed within a difficult circumstance. Walt Disney was bankrupt when he created Mickey Mouse, Einstein didn’t speak till he was four and write till he was seven, and was thought to be handicapped. He turned out winning a Nobel Prize. Oprah Winfrey was abused and molested as a kid, she overcame her struggles as well as poverty and turned out to be the first African American Billionaire. What stops you? You can overcome every obstacle and become a world changer, and when you do, because you will, remain humble and help others reach their best potential too. May the Lord Almighty Bless you always."
Follow Valencia’s Journey on:
Facebook Page @Valencia Joshua
Instagram @VALENCIAJOSHUA
Special Thanks to Valen Peters-Govender
For more images of Valencia's day in Verulam click on www.facebook.com/iHeartVerulam
