IT SOMETIMES takes a little push, or a moment of realisation, to set you off on a journey to realising your dreams.
However, in Tavia Millward’s case, it was a burning desire to tackle the film industry and make waves from humble beginnings. At 22, Millward aims to be a successful screenwriter and is pouring all of her effort into getting to Canada to pursue her dream.
She has been accepted to the Vancouver Film School and is trying to raise R16 000 to secure her seat at the institution, excluding travel costs and tuition.
Earlier this year, she started a crowd fund project called “How to Fund a Dream” through the website Thundafund.
Crowd funding is a way in which friends, family, investors and backers can contribute capital to help someone achieve their project or aim.
Through the platform, Millward hopes to raise enough funds to start her career as a screenwriter.
She has raised R2 300 so far.
Millward started a YouTube channel at 13, and fell in love with film and began toying with the idea of a career in the industry. “Through high school I decided to start a YouTube channel where I was doing old films.”
She said she would impersonate characters from old movies she knew her peers would not have seen, like emulating Robert De Niro’s performance in Taxi Driver.
Millward submitted her work as part of her application to the film school. She said what drew particular praise was her original western tale called The Coffin Brothers, in which three brothers become embroiled in a murder mystery.
She said she had initially been sceptical about a career as a screenwriter.“I still remember… no I don’t want to be a writer. At the time I thought you were given a topic and you write about it, because that’s how it is at school. But, it’s not like that, you can write about anything that comes to mind.”
Millward believes everyone should be encouraged to follow their dreams and people should “just do it”. She warned she nearly gave up because of a lack of faith.
She applied to study medicine because she was worried about the lack of stability in the film industry.
“It’s a risk if you don’t have much financial support.But she realised where her passion lay. “I can sit the entire day and talk about Quentin Tarantino; I can have a debate, a full on debate about it (his films).”
She lit up with excitement when she spoke about the Vancouver Film School and how they admired her material. “When I sent (my application) it didn’t take them long, I think it was less than a month.”
The reality of being accepted hit her after she shared the news of her acceptance on social media, when her friends, family and followers reacted to her posts.
• If you would like to know more about her campaign and make a donation, visit: https://www.thundafund.com/project/howtofundadream/