South African Animated Film Director/Writer
Living in Cape Town Area, South Africa


Wayne Thornley's Overview

Current
Freelance Writer/Director at various companies

Past
Creative Director at The Crucial Project
Director of "Adventures in Zambezia" at Triggerfish
Freelance Writer at various publications

Education
Rhodes University (CityVarsity)

Wayne Thornley's Summary
After graduating I worked as an actor for seven years. In that time I also worked towards becoming a director. I entered the Vuka! Awards twice and directed a TVC spot for Hyundai.
Eventually I realised that animation was going to be the best medium for all my interests and I co-founded The Crucial Project to begin developing an animated TV series. Out of that initial development work, directing work started coming in and I jumped at the opportunities. Three years later I was directing my first feature film - Adventures in Zambezia. I am now developing my second film, based on that original TV show idea.

Specialties: My years of acting experience gave me a solid foundation for directing actors and also drawing great performances out of animators.

Wayne Thornley's Experience

Freelance Writer/Director
various companies

2006 - Present (7 years) Cape Town Area, South Africa

Co-writer and director of "Adventures in Zambezia", South Africa's most successful film export in 30 years.
Creative Director
The Crucial Project

2005 - 2013 (8 years) Cape Town Area, South Africa

My main responsibility is to lead the development of entertainment properties for The Crucial Project. At this stage our focus is on animated feature films. We're currently in script development on an animated feature project with another one close on its heels. I also offer directing and writing services to other animation studios on a freelance basis.

Director of "Adventures in Zambezia"
Prod: Triggerfish
Partnership; 1-10 employees; Animation industry

2008 - 2011 (3 years) Triggerfish Animation Studios, Cape Town, South Africa

Completed the animated feature film "Zambezia" in October 2011.
Freelance Writer

various publications

2003 - 2007 (4 years) Cape Town Area, South Africa
Wrote for several business-to-business publications in the Cape Media stable.

Wayne Thornley's Skills & Expertise
Feature Films
Animation
Acting
Creative Writing
Directing
Drama
Short Films

Wayne Thornley's Languages
Afrikaans

Wayne Thornley's Projects
Adventures in Zambezia
June 2009 to November 2011
Team Members: Wayne Thornley, Triggerfish Animation Studio

Triggerfish Animation Studios feature film. One of the biggest films ever made in South Africa and a major milestone for SA animation. Currently the highest grossing SA international cinema release since "The Gods Must Be Crazy". 2013 SAFTA winner: Best Animation.

Adventures in Zambezia
February 2010 to July 2011
Team Members: Wayne Thornley, Simon Anderson, Jako Tromp, Quentin Vogel, Sandy Sutherland, Sue-Mari Sauer, Lindsay van Blerk, Matthew Lowry, Mike Buckland, Anthony Silverston, Stuart Forrest
Life At The Pond "The Rise And Fall Of Tony The Frog"
2007 to 2007
Team Members: Wayne Thornley, Triggerfish Animation

45min episode. Client provided finished voices, I directed the camera and animation performance.
Me & Jessie D. "The Fish Fry"
2008 to 2008
Team Members: Wayne Thornley, Triggerfish Animation

15 min episode of a children's show "Me & Jessie D." Service project for a US client. They delivered voice and character design. I directed storyboarding, camera, lighting and performance.
Tura "Supremes"
2008 to 2008
Team Members: Wayne Thornley, Triggerfish Animation

Directed 2 30" TVC Spots for Tura Soap Nigeria.
http://www.animationsa.org/pressrelease/breaking-african-animation-market

Wayne Thornley's Honors and Awards

2011 Top 200 Young South Africans List
Mail & Guardian
2011

http://ysa2011.mg.co.za/category.php?youngid=5&categoryid=1
International Emmy Juror
July 2012

I had the honour of being on the judging panel for the semi-final round in the Kids Animation category, hosted by South Africa.
2012 Best South African Film
33rd Durban International Film Festival
July 2012

http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=30699
https://twitter.com/DIFFest/status/229268832299143169
SAFTA Nominee for Best Director (Adventures in Zambezia)
South African Film and Television Awards
March 2013

Wayne Thornley's Education
CityVarsity
Diploma in Film Directing and TV Production Techniques, Film Directing
1999 - 1999
It was a two-year diploma, but I was allowed to skip the first year.
Won the award for Best Script Of The Year.

Rhodes University
BA, Journalism and Drama
1996 - 1998


Source:
http://za.linkedin.com/pub/wayne-thornley/18/94b/706

_____________


SVENSKA / Swedish
Wayne Thornley. Regissör född 1979 i Sydafrika. Efter examen i skådespeleri vid Rhodes University flyttade Wayne till USA där han arbetade som skådespelare men även som regissör för bl.a. kortfilmsserien Jungle Beat. Nu är Zambezia, Waynes första långfilm och den första animerade 3D-filmen från den afrikanska kontinenten, klar.

Source:
http://cinemafrica.se/zambezia/