Carlynn de Waal-Smit
Carlynn de Waal-Smit studied Dance and Musical Theatre at Pretoria Technikon receiving a diploma in Dance and Teaching, she went on to be a Company and Stage Manager for BOP dance company where she began her working career just as South Africa’s Democracy was born in 1994.
Living and working in the UK in 1995, Carlynn took up a position in middle management, where she gained additional business, management and communication skills. On her return to SA in 1996, she went back to Stage Management for a short stint. The opportunity arose to start working at Contractors Artists in the same year, a family business as an artist management agency, facilitating careers and managing performers in the professional entertainment industry. Contractors is a member of the PMA (Personal Managers Association) where Carlynn held the position of Vice Chairperson for many years.
She has been involved in the industry for almost three decades and continues to liaise with directors, producers, casting directors, production managers, advertising executives and artists facilitating productions of all natures. Her understanding of conditions, common practice, contracts and systems in the industry continues to add value to the media business and brings about a team environment for the benefit of each project.
The growing decline in standards in the industry and the rights of performers inspired her to collaborate with a few performers and initiate a Guild for Actors – SAGA South African Guild of Actors was born and officially Constituted in 2009. She continues to advocate for actors on every possible platform and every opportunity so that reform and regulation can happen in the South African industry. This is a social justice issue that inspires her to leave things in a better place than where she found it.