Diana Ginsburg
Diana Ginsburg is a South African, later American, editor, film maker, author and photographer.
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Also known by her married name, Diana Friedberg.
Contents
Biography
Has a BA in Drama from the University of Cape Town Drama Department (1967) and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Cinema from the University of Southern California (1976).
Co-author, with Lori-Jane Coleman of the books Make the Cut: A Guide to Becoming a Successful Assistant Editor in Film and TV (2010). [1] and Jump Cut. How to Jump Start your Career as a Film Editor.
She started out as an editor and director in South Africa (see the next section below) then relocated to Hollywood with her husband and family in 1986. With an MFA from USC in film production Friedberg has edited and produced features, episodic television, animation series and non-fiction productions for companies as diverse as Disney, National Geographic, The History Channel, A&E, Discovery, NBC, USA, Stephen J. Cannell, and Leonard Nimoy Productions.
Married to Lionel Friedberg, she also uses her married name, Diana Friedberg, on occasion.
Contributions to South African theatre, film, media and performance
Editing career
She started working in Cape Town as an Assistant Editor for AKA Productions (doing commercials) (1967 -1968) and similar work as assistant editor with internationally acclaimed director Ashley Lazarus for Audio Kine Africa in 1968 (their clients including the cigarette companies Peter Stuyvesant, Rothmans, Dunhill and Lexington).
In 1969 she worked as an Editing Intern for Universal Pictures MOW on John Blackburn’s 1962 thriller novel The Gaunt Woman (adapted into a television film called Destiny of a Spy, directed by Boris Sagal, starring Rachel Roberts and Lorne Greene, at Pinewood Studios, London, 1969).[2]
On her return to South Africa she became an Assistant Editor, Script Supervisor and and Editor, with companies like Cavalier Films, Capital Films, C-Films and Bevil Films.
Afrikaans and English feature films edited in the period 1970-1974 include: Crazy People, Abashokobezi, Pens En Pootjies, The Virgin Goddess, House Of The Living Dead, Die Spook Van Donkergat (which she also directed), My Broer Se Bril, Die Lewe Sonder Jou, Zebra, A New Life, Vicki, Gold Squad, Die Drie Van Der Merwes, Sien Jou Môre.
Producing and directing career
She moved from editing to directing as an assistant director and supervising editor on Abashokobezi for C Films and then became one of first women in South Africa to direct a feature film when she did Die Spook van Donkergat for Capital Films (1973).
She then went on to producee, direct, and/or edit more than * South African documentaries, dramatic TV shows and -series to between 1977 and 1986.
Legacy – 6 X 30-Minute Shows Portraying The History Of The Jewish People In South Africa And The Social, Political And Economic Contribution Of This Minority Group To The Cultural Life Of South Africa. Astranova Films /Sabc (South African Broadcasting Corporation). Across The Rubicon – Astranova Films/Pbs 90-Minute Docudrama. Performers Of The Dawn – 2 X 1-Hour Documentaries Featuring Colored People Who Were Part Of The Eoan Group, The Earliest Performing Arts Cultural Group Involved In The Production Of Opera In South Africa. Astranova Films/Sabc. Hot Snow – 1-Hour Drama. Astranova Films/Sabc.
Art And About – 13 X 13-Minute Shows Featuring Young People Involved In The Fine And Performing Arts. Sabc’s Contribution To The International Year Of Youth. Astranova Films/Sabc.
From Barter To Banknote – 2 X Half-Hour Shows Dealing With The History Of Money With Reference To South Africa. Astranova Films/Sabc. A Delicate Balance – 6 X 30-Minute Shows Examining The World’s Environmental Problems And The Devastating Impact On South Africa. Astranova Films/Sabc. Half A Century Skywards – 30-Minute Film Celebrating 50 Years Of Civil Aviation In South Africa. Astranova Films/Sabc. 50 Years Of The Flying Springbok – 20-Minute Film Commemorating The 50th Anniversary Of South African Airways. Astranova Films. Released Internationally And As An Inflight Show. On The First Day Of February – 20-Minute Film Covering The Events And Festivities During The 1984 Anniversary Celebrations Of Saa. Astranova Films/South African Airways. Portrait Of Hout Bay – 30-Minute Documentary Investigating The History, Character And Lifestyle Of One Of South Africa’s Oldest Fishing Communities. Astranova Films/Corporate. Editor Jantjie -Television Feature – Dramatic Love Story About A Young Colored Man’s Affections For A Childhood Friend Played Against A Backdrop Of Racial Tension And The Border War In Namibia. Sabc. Itreyni (The Train) 11 X 30-Minute Dramatic Series. The Story Of A Train Conductor And His Adventures During The Course Of Duty. C Films/Sabc. Isihogo Sisemhlabeni (Hell On Earth) 1-Hour Dramatic Film. A Firefighter Suffers From Amnesia As A Result Of Serious Burns. He Has To Make A New Life For Himself. C Films/Sabc.
Awards And Recognition:
Winner Of Tonight Award.
Mrs Dumbleby 2 – 13 X 7minute Animation Programs For Young Children. C Films/Sabc. African Fireside Tales – 13 X 13 Puppet Animation Series Based On African Legends. C Films/Sabc. Mrs Dumbleby – Series Of 13 X 7 Animation Programs For Young Children. C Films/Sabc. Coast Watch – 30-Minute Documentary Examining South Africa’s Fishing Industry. C Films/Sabc. The Cape Malays – 60-Minute Documentary Examining The History Of The Muslim Community In The Cape. C Films/Sabc. The Sorcerer – 39 X 13 Min Animation Programs Featuring Electronic Puppets. African Fireside Tales And Legends. C Films/Sabc (African Language). Maberone – 7 X 13 Min Dramatic Love Stories Playing Out In An Ancient African Tribal Setting. (African Language) C Films/Sabc. Dr Kleiman (Clayman) – Series Of 13 X 5 Min Clay Animation Series C Film/ Sabc. Intergalaxy – Series Of 26 X 26-Minute Computerized Puppet Animation Series C Films/Sabc. Maripane – Series Of 13 X 13-Minute Dramatic Love Story Set In Tribal Africa. C Films/Sabc (African Language).
Awards And Recognition:
Tonight Award For Best Drama Series
Space Cadets – Series Of 13 X 26-Minute Computerized Puppet Animation Series. C Films/Sabc (African Language) Sewer Rats – Series Of 13 X 26-Minute Dramatic Series. C Films/Sabc. Parent And Child – Series Of 13 X 13-Minute Educational Programs. C Films/Sabc. Thabure – Series Of 26 X 26-Minute Adventure Dramas. C Films/Sabc (African Language).
– 40-Minute Documenting The History Of Cotton And A Current Investigation Into The Cotton Industry In South Africa. Corporate. – 40-Minute Examination Of The Bus Services In Johannesburg. Corporate. – Documentary Overview Of The Scenic Attractions Of The Cape Peninsula. Sabc.
Tonight Awards For Best Director, Best Presenter And Best T.V. Documentary Series.
Marigolds In August, Winners 2, Follow That Rainbow, [[Makoma]], Their Frontier, The Sea, They Came From The East, Then Came The English, Fairest Cape, Putco Buses, The Unbroken Thread
Her other South African feature films include:
For a listing of all her South African and international work, see https://dianafriedberg.com/about/
Sources
https://dianafriedberg.com/about/
http://www.worldonastringproject.com/about_diana.php
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2034659/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064229/fullcredits/
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