Ifieniya Lott –Swali, Bayelsa State
During the scriptwriting workshop in Lagos, I learned that other people’s contributions to a story are important to add ‘spice’ to the story, and I learned about the importance of teamwork. I also learned that becoming infected with HIV is not only something that happens to street girls or prostitutes and being “innocent” is not a guarantee against infection.
I enjoy writing because it gives life to things and it is also a good way of keeping records. Although I was not inspired to write more, rather I was inspired to tell better stories. The workshop helped me write short beautiful stories about the pictures I sent for a photo competition. The scriptwriting workshop helped me arrange my pictures in a better way to tell a more moving story.
Florence Kakandar –Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
The scriptwriting workshop that CFC organized made me understand that there are things to consider and to look out for in scriptwriting, such as the characters, plot, and scenes. I also learned that the script should relate to the environment you are portraying and that a story can be a reflection of your immediate environment.
The workshop made me more confident in myself. It has made me want to write more stories. I have now developed a love and interest for writing scripts,.
I hope the Bayelsan Silhouettes dramas will sensitize young people and cause them to change their behaviour and perceptions of HIV, giving them more knowledge on how to protect themselves, minimize their risky behaviour and cause them to campaign against the disease.
I like to write because I want to touch lives and change the society for good by creating awareness and knowledge. I also like writing because it is an agent for development and information.
I want to write as a hobby to affect and change lives and not necessarily as something from which to earn a living.
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Tamarakuro Oweifie – Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
I was glad to be part of the scriptwriting workshop in Lagos. I learned how to address my target audience and the workshop also reinforced my belief in teamwork.
The workshop inspired me to write more since I belong to a profession (I work for the National Television Authority in Yenagoa) that allows me to reach out to people. I believe that the workshop is a wake-up call to do something for the society such as creating programs with messages on HIV & AIDS. I hope that the drama will make more young people be careful in their sexual behavior.
I like to write because I want to reach out to as many people as possible and share the social messages in my heart with society through writing. While writing, I hope to make some money and hope to be a feature writer for movies.
Sinikasamu Ogbara
Gift Sorgwe – Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
I learned about the scriptwriting test in Yenagoa from someone who gave me the flier and I decided to try out because I am a scriptwriter and was also hoping to succeed and eventually visit Lagos.
At the scriptwriting workshop, I learned how to create a story out of simple things and put them into scripts. I also learned new things about HIV & AIDS and how to protect myself.
I have been inspired to create more stories but have not done much since then in the area of writing scripts.
I hope that the Bayelsan Silhouettes dramas will make young people know that sexual activities without protection is risky even when you are in love, as some people believe that to have unprotected sex is a way of showing true love to their partner.
I like writing because I want to be a feature film writer and to make a living through writing (and acting). I would like to see my scripts developed into movies someday, and I also enjoy seeing people acting and putting life into my scripts.
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Humphrey Odoko:– Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Preye Karamo –Gbarantoru, Bayelsa State
I learnt about the scriptwriting test in Bayelsa from the flier and I was hoping to visit Lagos and spend one week there at the CFC scriptwriting workshop. I was also hoping to improve my skills in scriptwriting.
I learned about social behavior and relationships with other people, and how HIV can be contracted. The most important lesson I learned, however, was that being positive is not the end of one’s life.
I have been inspired to write more about other things and HIV & AIDS since I went back home to Bayelsa. The book given to me by Professor Ahmed Yerima (who facilitated the scriptwriting workshop) has also been a source of inspiration for me.
I hope that the Bayelsan Silhouettes dramas will educate young people more on their sexual behavior and to be more conscious about their sexual activities.
I want to write plays like Professor Yerima and Prof Wole Soyinka. I want to use my writing as a tool to pass messages across to people and hopefully make money in the process.
Patrick Obudulu –Famgbe, Bayelsa State
I learned about the scriptwriting test from the handbills distributed in Famgbe town in Bayelsa, where I live. I was hoping it was going to be an opportunity to put my ideas I nto writing.
At the scriptwriting workshop in Lagos, I learned how to write a good script and the different techniques to apply in writing. I also learnt about HIV, how to protect myself and how it can be contacted. My view towards my own sexual behavior changed after what I learned at the workshop.
I have been inspired to write more after the scriptwriting workshop. The workshop gave me the real knowledge I need and an enthusiasm towards writing. I can do more writing on real life issues now because I have been taught how to write.
I hope that the Bayelsan Silhouettes dramas will teach young people the benefits of abstinence, to be faithful to their partners and the effective use of condoms; I also hope that their perception of people living with HIV & AIDS (PLWHA) will change and that they will be more informed about places they could go for help.
Writing is part of me. I like to put my thoughts and imaginations about my environment into writing; I would like to be a creative writer like Wole Soyinka. I would also like to use my writing to create an impact on people’s lives and highlight areas that needs changing in our society.
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Ann Ogari –Swali, Bayelsa State
I got to know about the scriptwriting test from two CFC staff members that came to my school. I was hoping I would be selected so I could visit Lagos for the first time.
I learned how to write a script during the workshop in Lagos, something I had no knowledge about previously. I also learned more about HIV & AIDS. About Lagos, she says, “I saw things I have never seen in my life at Silverbird Galleria, like the escalator. Also it was my first time of being in a cinema.
I have been inspired to write but I have not done much writing because of my exams. But I have been inspired because I now know the techniques involved in writing a script.
I hope young people will learn not to discriminate against people living with HIV & AIDS (PLWHA), not to have unprotected sex, and to have more knowledge and information about where to go for help.
I enjoy writing because you can enlighten people about things they didn’t know about. I want to write about issues in my environment and get my writing to be produced in a film. I want to be a successful writer and also use my writings to change lives.
Evelyn Torru –Okutukutu, Bayelsa State
I got to know about the scriptwriting test in Yenagoa from a friend who saw the handbills and got interested. I thought it was going to be a real examination but found it easy to write. I hoped to know more about scriptwriting and was looking forward to becoming a professional scriptwriter.
Some of the things I learned at the scriptwriting workshop were how to be focused, how to think fast and coordinate my thoughts before putting them on paper, and how to write a good script. I also learnt how to protect myself from being infected with HIV and how to relate to people who are HIV positive.
I was inspired by the scriptwriting workshop to write more. When I traveled back home, I was inspired to practice all I learnt at the workshop by writing more and calling friends to read my stories.
I hope the drama will change individual behavior and make people want to know their HIV status. I also hope it will make them have a more responsible behavior towards relationships
When I was in secondary school my English teacher was a scriptwriter; when I was doing my OND, my English lecturer was also a scriptwriter. They related well with people and they were well known and respected in the community. That is why I want to be a scriptwriter, they are my role models.”
I hope to be like Professor Ahmed Yerima (who facilitated the scriptwriting workshop) and would like to use my writing to highlight social issues and to affect change in the society. I would also like to make money from writing.
Isayah Ahara: Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
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