Natalie Victor

As a young lesbian aspiring television and film producer, life hasn’t always handed me opportunities on a silver platter.  I was ten years old when I first realised I was gay – and yes, this may seem young to most, but even then it was the one thing I was certain about. It was five years later when I was sure about yet another important decision in my life, that one day I would be a media mogul, entertaining and inspiring people around the world with television and film. After following my dream and graduating from University I soon realised the battles of being a female in the media industry and an even larger obstacle of being a ‘gay’ female in the industry. Never-the-less, in February 2009, after working in feature films for three years, I took the plunge and moved to the bustling City of Gold, Johannesburg, and made up my mind to push myself to the limits and prove that despite being different to what society expects, I would indeed succeed in the shark infested media territory. Its two years later and I’m still trying to find my feet in Johannesburg, my new home away from home, and working 24/7 doesn’t exactly help anyone’s social life. I’m currently still driving around with a GPS stuck on my windscreen and a confused look plastered across my face.

I have since worked with people such as Paris Hilton, Mads Milkensen, Daniel Craig, Leon Schuster, Grey Hofmeyer, Naomi Campbell, just to name a few. But recently I fulfilled a life long dream, by meeting the woman that I held in high respect, the woman on my top 3 list of people to meet, the woman that changed my life forever.  I have a list of goals and dreams scribbled down on an old piece of paper along with a list of 3 people I want to meet before I die, my own more detailed bucket list.  At number one on list of 3 people to meet is the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The man that changed music forever and sang and danced his outrageous moves all the way into my heart. Sadly we all know that number one will never be accomplished due to his unexpected death.  At number two on my list is the most influential woman on the plant and the Queen of Talk Shows, Oprah Winfrey. Number three holds unsteady with my most shallow decision yet, I am still in a toss up between the gorgeous sultry Elizabeth Hurley or the poised yet beautiful Julia Roberts.

Never did I think I would be achieving one of these goals so soon in my life, but have just finished a documentary shoot with The Queen of Talk Shows, Oprah Winfrey. 

After travelling around South Africa filming for South African Tourism, I got a call offering me a position on the crew that would be making a documentary about Oprah and the school she opened in 2007 located an hour outside of Johannesburg in Henley on Klip. No doubt I didn’t even have to think twice about accepting the offer.

After much anticipation and preparation, I collected the American film crew from O.R Tambo Airport on Tuesday the 8^th of March and headed straight through to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls where it was said that Oprah had just arrived. After unloading copious amounts of equipment and setting up for filming her grand entrance into the school, which is said to be quite a sight, and waiting for four hours… only to find out she has decided to only make a public appearance the following day. (Are you kidding me!!! I just broke my back setting up more than 100Kgs of equipment… and she’s only showing her face TOMORROW?) Despite mounting frustration and aching muscles in every possible region of my eager body, I had to think that, well, tomorrow really isn’t that far away considering I had never thought I would be fulfilling this dream so early on in my life… Oh I’m sure I can wait one more day.

I never got much sleep that night, and let’s be honest, who would if they knew they would be meeting one of the most powerful, most influential woman in the world the following day. It was 11am on Wednesday 9^th of March, after setting up the large amounts of heavy equipment in the OWLAG Theatre did everyone on the school grounds fall silent and scurry to their places. I stood watching in amazement as every girl and every teacher in the academy had a role to play when Miss Winfrey arrived, a seat to take, a door to open, a pathway to clear and with no warning of when we should start recording, in walks the most graceful yet powerful woman I have ever had the opportunity of meeting. The air literally buzzes with energy and you can feel a feeling of awe wash over every cell in your body, this is not just because she is one of the top three people on my list and one of my icons… You feel this weather you like it or not, fan or not a fan, you cant help but feel intimidated by standing in the same room as her, let a lone meeting her and filming and working with her for a week. She gives you absolutely no option in that.

As embarrassing as this may be for me, I couldn’t help but feel nauseous all the way to my core and feel increasingly light-headed every time we were around her. It’s almost as if I wanted I wished I could be the watch on her wrist, travel with her wherever she goes and have her look at me every five minutes, even if its just to tell the time. I have had the opportunity to meet some of the sought-after celebrities in tinsel town but this past week of my life has been the most incredible life changing experience yet. To top it all off, I have had an offer to work on the rest of the documentary which will continue to be filmed in Johannesburg in April and again in September. There is no doubt I will be buying a ticket to California to attend the world premier with Oprah Winfrey and the biggest names in the industry in an attempt to raise over $80 million to help pay for the matrics of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy of Girls to attend University both in South Africa and in the United States. Let’s hope I get invited back to the $50 million ‘Promised Land’ mansion in Santa Barbara, If not… It wont be a problem, I’ve scaled many walls in my life and I’m sure her walls wouldn’t be a problem either. Look out Oprah Winfrey.

Throughout the next month, Samsung will be filming me for their new national campaign, documenting my life while I use their products in the adventures of my life and work, showing that young vibrant people with a taste for life use their products while jetting around South Africa and working on film sets and adventure sports and then making the video clips into a series of commercials and online clips. Relax time… what’s that?

In the next following issues Ill also take you through a journey where I have taken on the task to climb the worlds 7 highest mountains to raise 7 Million rand for 7 Charities/Organizations around the world. It has becomes my dream to travel the world and inspire the youth, to write a book and create a movement. In today’s society so many of our youth lose sight of what is important in life and sometimes lose faith in themselves because of the stereotypes given to people in our society  - you need to be healthy, rich, straight and attractive to get anywhere in the world - And that’s not true – your life and future is what you make it. I want to inspire and show the youth and ladies specifically, that no matter how sick you are or how young you may be, you can achieve anything you put your mind to!

I will be taking on the challenge of summiting the extraordinary mountain of Kilimanjaro first, a kind of ‘warm up’, before attacking the next 6 mountains while panting and wondering ‘why did I ever think I could do this’. The national campaign which I startedin July 2009 has gained press from around South Africa including numerous newspaper and magazine articles and interviews on 5fm with DJ Fresh. The campaign has gained a significant amount of sponsors throughout the last few months and will continue to grow with support from companies and individuals around our country. 

Let’s all pull together and make life extraordinary.