Paulet House alumn, Keenan Martin, has joined the South African television soap opera Suidooster as Junior Storyliner.
Keenan was a participant of our 2025 Longhope TV Writing Project residency in partnership with M-Net Channels. He obtained a BA in Film and Television from City Varsity, Cape Town, with a focus on scriptwriting. He answered a couple of our quick questions about his new role:
What made you decide to follow a career in the arts, and specifically in television?
I think I’ve always been drawn to the arts and TV, though I never really saw it as a viable career in the long term until I actually found myself being on set and immersing myself in that world. Sometimes it takes a first-hand experience to set you on your journey, and that’s how it happened for me.
How did your time at the Jakes Gerwel Foundation’s Longhope TV Writing Project residency help you prepare for your professional endeavours?
My residency with JGF taught me the importance of a routine, which meant showing up for myself and putting in the work every day, regardless of how I felt. Even if I wasn’t at my best, or most creative, being creative doesn’t always mean working off inspiration; sometimes you have to treat it like any other 9-5, just show up and do the work.
What is your current role, and what does it entail?
I’ve just been contracted as a Junior Storyliner, which entails supporting the storylining team in shaping and breaking down storylines, while developing my skills through active participation, observation, and guided feedback.
What does it mean to you now to work for Suidooster and to write for its viewers?
It’s an immense privilege, not only to write for a TV show, but one that has been a pillar of the Afrikaans and Coloured community since its inception. I hope that my time with Suidooster will allow me to craft compelling stories which authentically represent the communities that have shaped my identity.
Do you have any words of advice for other up-and-coming writers, or even established writers in your industry?
To any emerging writers, don’t be pressured by a culture that has prioritised being exceptional, letting failure make you feel like you’re unexceptional. Be yourself, as cliché as that might sound, but we all have our own individual timeline for success. Here I am, a screenwriter with no degree who got his first writing job at 29. It’s never too late, or too early, to follow your dreams.
