From the team that brought you ‘HYPNAGOGIA’ comes a riveting new short film: ‘FULL SERVICE’ And we need your help to make it happen. LOGLINE When an unexpected complication changes the terms of their dysfunctional relationship, an escort, toying with the idea of embracing a more ‘conventional’ lifestyle, reluctantly accepts a marriage proposal from her perverted and twisted client-turned-boyfriend.
Sex-work, its social implication, the fight for its legalisation and the fact that it ‘alienates’ the conservative majority makes it a hot-button topic. Sex workers, particularly in South Africa, are still fighting to establish and maintain their humanity. As student filmmakers, we feel a responsibility to reaffirm the value of people in marginalised groups by telling stories that re-establish their humanity: representation in mainstream media matters. As we go into the final production cycle of our Bachelor of Arts Degree at The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, AFDA, we have taken on a story about resilience and fortitude and we need your help to tell it.
Full Service follows the decaying relationship between Thandi (a bold, striking and stubborn escort) and George (her rich client-turned boyfriend) as they attempt to cultivate a ‘conventional’ relationship in the glitzy space that is contemporary Cape Town.
The narrative starts off in a restaurant when George interrupts a dinner date between Thandi and a new client whom he’s picked out for her as part of a role-playing exercise in aid of sexual excitement. Thandi drags an intoxicated George into the bathroom where, after a little pleading, he proposes marriage to her: she accepts
Soon after, George introduces Thandi to his eccentric family over lunch. She strikes up a wonderful rapport with everyone except for George’s mother. When Susan, her prudish, uptight soon-to-be mother-in-law, becomes increasingly offensive and racist (under the guise of curiosity) Thandi reveals her explosive past to the deep irritation of the morally righteous Susan.
Like most conventional relationships, the initial excitement of their union begins to fizzle out as her anxiety over something unknown to audience and the characters continues to grow. George, noticing this, encourages her to go back into the world of sex work. He even offers to pick a new client: Thandi leaps at the chance.
What ensues is a highly violent and sexually charged exchange that reveals dark secrets and twists: ones nobody see’s coming.
Full Service, beyond being a dramatic representation of complex characters in a futile search for redemption, hopes to serve as a human look at sex-work as being just that: work. Despite the fact that it doesn’t take an overt stance on the political discussions around sex work (particularly around the area of policy and the campaign for legalization) it does offer insight into the humanity of a sex-worker. We hope that it is a true reflection of the indomitable spirit of those who have found not just purpose, but also power, in the sexual freedom this line of work often creates.
At ZAR 20,000, we will pretty much be able to shoot the film comfortably. No camera gimmicks or anything fancy: just a good solid story.
However, a girl (or in this case, an entire production team) can dream.
ZAR 40,000 will have us dancing in the rain (mostly because we’ll be able to hire that elusive rain-making machine – romance isn’t complete with a little waterworks). That being said, any contribution 1 Rand upwards will be treated with the reverence we accord it: it means that you believe in us. What we are doing therefore has value.
We encourage you to follow the action on our website, www.fullservicefilm.com .
We have an amazing interactive space where we curate opinions from influential women as we navigate these murky waters where state mandate meets sexual freedom [spoiler: they clash bitterly].
With everyone’s humanity intact #ThisIsWhatASexWorkerLooksLike
Thank you all
#FilmStudentsDoItBetter, the collective behind the AFDA Graduation short film – ‘Full Service’, is a movement created by student filmmakers pursuing a BA degree in Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA).
The purpose of the film, beyond acting as a tool for representing the community of Sex Workers in South Africa, is to tell a story of resilience, discovered in the face of personal threat to identity and freedom.
The team behind ‘Full Service’ is passionate about telling stories that have impact in aid of influencing social perceptions in the hope of effecting change that matters to members of society whose humanities have been false questioned.