Yoav: Mentoring has been really exciting, fun and fulfilling. Deji and I clicked, so it's been a laugh hanging out, and a really pleasure to see him grow in confidence, ability and stature!
Deji: The highlights of mentoring have been reading books on how to write meaningful stories - and going on the set of Netflix series Top Boy. I've learnt that writing is hard, but so rewarding. I've also learnt how the industry works at a basic level, and how if I want to succeed I'm going to have to work very hard at an entry level to get where I want to be.
Yoav: Deji has an amazing passion and hunger to learn and grow. We spent the beginning of the year building his film and story understanding with lots of different books on comics, sequential story, the act structure, Aristotle's poetics, directing interviews...etc. Deji then started work on a script that we channelled all this learning into. He's an excellent writer and it's been a treat to see the script go from strength to strength and impress industry professionals. We also drove really hard for exciting work experience opportunities - at post-production/edit houses and on set experience. Deji stepped up to the plate every-time.
Deji: Going to Top Boy was obviously really great, but I think giving a speech at an event may just top it. Just talking to everyone there, and in general having people telling me they like what I wrote.
I really hope Arts Emergency continues to exist to help others. It has been amazing and I will continue to recommend it to all. I also hope that one day I can do a lot with Arts Emergency to help other people like me.
Deji
Yoav: The best bit was when, after months of hard work, Deji realised his script was about a young man grieving the loss of his sister and not being able to talk about it with everyone, and him saying it out loud being the climax of the script. This kind of subtle, yet dramatic storytelling, is what great writing is all about.
Deji: Arts Emergency has done more for me than ever thought possible, it has opened doors I thought were closed. It has given me hope, hope that tells me my dreams aren't futile.
Yoav: Arts Emergency is important to me because it gives me a chance to be very useful to someone like Deji and create opportunities that he wouldn't otherwise have access to. I really enjoy mentoring and get a lot of satisfaction from seeing Deji succeed.
Deji: I really hope Arts Emergency continues to exist to help others. It has been amazing and I will continue to recommend it to all. I also hope that one day I can do a lot with Arts Emergency to help other people like me.