Jackie Viviers

Jackie Viviers spends her working life in the edit, the room where hundreds of hours of footage slowly become a story someone will carry home with them. She co-owns a small production company with her partner, Warren, who shoots much of what they make. He gathers the raw material; she finds the story inside it.

Her recent work includes Pangolin: Kulu's Journey for Netflix and The Green Buffalo for Patagonia, two films about conservation and sustainability that are, in the end, really about people. That instinct for the human thread is what brought her to Dignity to Rise, and it's what she now gives away every second week at the Hermanus Learning Hub.

We asked her four questions.

Tell us about yourself, what inspired you to make a difference?

I'm an editor and post-producer, and I co-own a small production company with my partner, Warren. He shoots many of the films we produce, and I shape those stories in the edit.

Through this work, I've become increasingly aware of how valuable it is for companies and organisations to share meaningful stories about the lives they touch. Behind every programme or project are real people, communities and experiences that deserve to be seen and understood.

"When told with honesty and care, these stories can build empathy, demonstrate meaningful impact and inspire others to get involved."

What project are you most proud of, and why?

It's difficult to choose just one, I’ve worked on many amazing projects over the years. But two recent ones stand out.

Pangolin: Kulu's Journey, made for Netflix, follows Kulu, a baby pangolin rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, and Gareth, the man who devotes himself to rehabilitating Kulu and preparing him for a return to the wild. It's an important conservation story, but its emotional power comes from the relationship between the two of them, and the way their journeys of healing become intertwined.

The Green Buffalo, made for Patagonia, tells the story of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota and its pioneering use of industrial hemp to build healthier, more sustainable homes. The film explores how that initiative is helping the community address housing needs, create employment and strengthen its independence, while reconnecting with the land and its cultural identity.

I'm particularly drawn to character-led films like these.

"In the edit, I love discovering the small, honest moments that reveal someone's humanity and stir the heartstrings."

These films show that subjects like conservation, sustainability and social development become much more powerful when they're experienced through the lives of real people. For me, that's where meaningful storytelling lies: allowing an audience to connect emotionally with a character while also helping them understand the larger issue surrounding that person's journey.

If you could make one big change in the Overstrand, what would it be?

One of the biggest things missing in the Overstrand and across South Africa is a safe, supportive space where young people can grow, gain practical experience and learn from mentors who are genuinely invested in their development.

There are many talented young people with enormous potential, but they often lack access to guidance, opportunities and professional networks. I would love to see a space where experienced people from different industries could share their skills, offer mentorship and give young people the confidence to discover what they are capable of.

It should be a place where young people are allowed to learn by doing, make mistakes safely and gain meaningful experience.

"With the right guidance and consistent support, even one opportunity can change the direction of a young person's life."

What would you say to someone who wants to help, but isn't sure how?

Start small and be consistent. Meaningful change doesn't always come from reaching hundreds of people it can come from making a lasting difference in the life of just one.

"I believe it is better to help one person meaningfully than to help a hundred people superficially."

Offer someone the knowledge, skills or opportunity to move forward independently. As the saying goes: rather than giving someone a fish for a day, teach them how to fish for a lifetime.

You don't need enormous resources to make a difference. Share what you know, commit for the long term, and focus on creating an impact that can continue beyond your immediate involvement.

Which is, of course, exactly what she is doing. Every second week at the Hermanus Learning Hub, Jackie leads the Overberg Filmmaking & Storytelling Workshop freely given, over six months handing her craft to young people from across the Overstrand.

She has spent her career finding the moment where a story turns. Now she is building the room where a few of them might begin.

Jackie Viviers is a film editor and post-producer, and a Dignity to Rise Changemaker.