1. CURRICULUM VITAE: Lee Otten
29 Bordeaux Road, Milkwood Park, Cape Town, South Africa
Mobile: +27 (0)83 453 3556
Email: skyespirit@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Matriculated with Exemption, Clarendon High School, East London 1981
Bachelor of Social Science, University Of Cape Town 1984
Majors: Psychology and Social Anthropology
Sub-major: Archaeology
Diploma in Public Relations
(PRISA)
ABOUT ME:
I am currently the co-owner of Shoot the Breeze Productions.
I have been involved in all aspects of the Television Industry for the past 24 years, from
Producing, Directing, Editing, Research, Sound recording, and Camerawork.
I am passionate about high quality work, and I always deliver the best that I possibly can. I am
motivated, hard working, and strive for perfection.
I have managed a staff of 9 employees for the last 8 years, and am considered to be a person
who always has time for my staff, and who encourages them and inspires them to do their very
best in their respective jobs. Besides being a leader, I am also a very good team player, which
I believe is imperative in this industry
I am passionate about animals and scuba diving and I am currently adding to my list of skills by
doing a lot of underwater videography and photography.
AWARDS:
FREE SPIRIT Golden Horn for Best Magazine Show at the SAFTA Awards in 2008.
LOVE, COMMUNISM, REVOLUTION & RIVONIA: BRAM FISCHER’S STORY
Voted Best South African Documentary at the Encounters Documentary Festival in 2007
Nominated for a SAFTA in the Best Documentary Feature Category & a KANNA Award in
2008.
MASINDY’S STORY
AIBD World Award for Best Documentary focusing on HIV at the Asia Media Summit in 2007.
Best South African Documentary at the Apollo Film Festival in 2007.
GOOD VIBRATIONS
World TV Award for Promoting Religious Understanding & Tolerance at the Asia Media
Summit, 2006.
Nominated for a Best Documentary Award at the GodonFilm in New York in 2005.
PITCH FEVER
Nominated for a Golden Horn Best Documentary Award at the SAFTA Awards in 2006.
NTVA Stone Awards
27 Awards across actuality genres from 2001-2003 including two craft awards for producing

2. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1995 - PRESENT: DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/EDITOR/CAMERA
I started Shoot the Breeze Productions with Sharon Farr in ‘95. Our FREE SPIRIT mind body
spirit lifestyle magazine series aired on SABC 2 and SABC 3 from 2001 to 2009 and many of
our broadcast documentaries received awards at local and international film festivals and
industry awards.
Shoot the Breeze Productions – Director of company, 50% ownership
1985 – 89: ESKOM VIDEO UNIT
I produced, edited, scripted and directed the award winning Eskom Video News in Zulu and
Sotho for 4 years. We travelled through out the country filming the latest events happening
internally in Eskom and edited them into a weekly half hour Video News Letter, to keep staff
informed and inspired.
1990-1992: CORPORATE VIDEO
I was employed by Corporate Video, who offered me a job while I was still at Eskom and I felt it
would be a good opportunity to grow and gain experience in a different environment. Whilst at
Corporate Video, we produced and directed many corporate videos for organisations like
Santam, Checkers etc
CAMERAWORK , DIRECTING AND EDITING:
Video Lounge: Behind the scenes of GT Bank Commercial and stills shoot (camera)
ITN: fixer and camera on a 10 minute piece on domestic violence in South Africa
Okuhle
My Night Matric Dance Reality Series (DOP and editor)
WEITA: promotional video for the NGO, Wine Industry’s Ethical Trader’s Association on
farm workers rights – DOP and editor
Swisscontact Fundraising Video for their Youth Entrepreneurship Programme in
Informal Settlements (DOP and Editor)
Kwela insert on an endurance swim around Cape Point in aid of a children’s charity.
Filmed the swimmers from a rubber duck in very high seas.
Horte Sempre – a video for an NGO featuring the work they are doing with farmers in
Mozambique (DOP and editor)
50/50 Environmental Series on SABC 2
50/50 insert on Broad nosed 7 Gill sharks - DOP (on land and underwater), and Editor
50/50 insert on Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations - DOP (on land and
underwater), and Editor
Shark Appeal – An episode for the series Caretakers’ that is a documentary film project
about South Africa's rich natural heritage, and the dedicated people who care for it. We
featured Marine Biologist, Alison Kock, and the work she does with great white sharks

3. One Billion Rising – various inserts for this global initiative against violence and abuse
of women and children. Also project managed the live broadcast of the V Day event to
160 countries.
“To Hell and Back” - 6 part Docu – Reality series for SABC 2, following 6 Addicts
through a month long rehabilitation programme at Harmony Clinic. (Primary
Cameraperson and second editor– 2012 - 2013)
Southern African Customs Union – a promotional documentary about SACU, which
involved filming in Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland
Earth, Wind, Air and Fire – 48 minute docie for Issues Of faith, SABC 2 (DOP and
editor)
Murdered for Loving Women – documentary focusing on the rape and murder of
Lesbians particularly in Informal Settlements in South Africa
MASINDY’S STORY
A 48-minute documentary profile on a remarkable HIV positive woman who works in the
Khayelitsha area as an HIV peer counsellor and activist.
AIBD’s World Award for Best Documentary focusing on HIV Aids at the Asia Media Summit in
2007.
Best South African Documentary at the Apollo Film Festival in 2007. First broadcast on SABC
2’s Our Nation in Colour, the film also screened at the Encounters Outreach Film Festival in
2006 and received the 2007 (Producer/Director/Lighting Camera Operator)
The Life and Times of Charlotte Bunch – Anderson Gold Films (filmed SA leg of the
Documentary)
THE WILD WEST OF LOXTON, 26 minutes, Broadcast on etv, 2000
Silver Medal at the NTVA Stone Awards & screened at the Apollo Film Festival in 2001.
(Producer/Director/2nd Camera and Editor)
Voices of Women – Parliamentary Millenium Programme’s Profile Video featuring an
overview of the Programme’s projects and objectives. 2009
48 minute documentary
TEARS awareness video – animal rescue organisation
Carte Blanche - Current Affairs Series
Narcolepsy
Dishonest Pharmacists
Community Service
FREE SPIRIT A weekly 26-minute Mind Body Spirit lifestyle magazine show on SABC 2 from
2001 to 2003 and SABC 3 from 2004 to 2009. Received a Golden Horn for Best Magazine
Show at the SAFTA Awards 2007. (Director, Producer,
Off line Editor and DOP)

4. INSERTS FOR FREE SPIRIT – My favourites only (too many to list over 8 years
and 351 episodes!):
Baboon Matters
Drakenstein Lion Park
Cat Assistance Team – Polsmoor Prison
Anti-Canned Lion Hunting Campaign
Save our Seas Foundation
Jody Abrahams - Profile
Sivanna Health Centre
Pagan Traditional Wedding
Fire Tribe – fire poi
Laughter Yoga
Transformational Breath work
Hemporium
Master Del Pe
Sophia Warner - Pebbles Project for farm workers
Belly Dancing
Elizabeth Mudge and sound healing
Palmerston Pre Primary Schools
Paul Weinberg Photographer - Profile
University of the 3rd Age
Dorothy Kowen Children’s Books
Green Energy Herbals
TEARS Animal Rescue Organisation
Shirley Botes – Ocean View Community Worker
Elana Meyer & JAG Foundation
Cape Institute for Allied Health Studies
Salesian Institute Green point.
Pewter Tarot
Origami with Kyoko Kimura
Gong therapy with Renata Cegnowski
Marc Maingard’s Guitars
Tabankulu Secondary Addiction Centre
Vondi’s Pet food
Nigel Hartmann Reconnective Healing–
Joan Aronowitz Transcendental Meditation
Over Toning with Chris Tokolon
Art of Living
Leon Botha – Progeria suffer
Township Animal Rescue in Somerset West
Pikkewynkie Creche
Planet Kids
Bottle Craft
Natalie Becker Profile
Centre for Abused Kids in Khayelitsha
Judy Miller Crystal Healing

5. Massage in Masiphumelele
Brave Foundation
Coffee Bean Tour
Belville Christian Mission
Sweat Lodge
Watsu
High Hopes Healing Centre
School of Philosophy
Isipili Mirrors
Care Clowns
Sound healer
Joshua Shamanic Healer
Tina Schouw Profile
Montrose Equine Assisted Solutions
Fillers for Free Spirit
Holistic vet 1 – Massage & acupuncture
Holistic vet 2 - Underwater Treadmill
Holistic vet 3 – Herbs for Pets
Holistic vet 4 - Accupuncture for Horses
Holistic vet 5 - Chiropractic for Animals
Uses of Herbs Part 1 – 6
Book reviews - various
Astrology readings with Rod Suskin - various
10 x inserts on Aromatherapy Oils
Expresso Inserts
Pick n Pay Argus lead up
Kauai 15th Birthday
Incubator Campaign
Healthy Teeth inserts x 5
4 x restaurant reviews
Organic Food market – Stellenbosch
Food & Wine tasting – Stellenbosch
USN Training for a Marathon X 5 inserts
High Heeled Run for Charity
How to start your own garden x 3 inserts
Mountain Bike Riding
Jo-Anne Strauss – YOU cover shoot
Jo – Anne Strauss’s Princess Project
Men’s Health Fashion Show
Sunflower Fund
Rocking the Daisies Music Festival
Healthy Gym Workouts with Tinus x 4
Hello Doctor
Stem Cell Rejuvenation
How Healthy is your Boss?
Other

6. Investec iSelect Corporate video
Parliamentary Millenium Programme’s Profile Video
SAIIA Schools Quiz (DOP and Editor)
Sanlam Advertorial
Golf Mate – Kids training video endorsed by World PGA
Launch of UCT Children Institute’s Gauge Book
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/EDITOR:
Total Soccer “One Language Many Goals” 24-min documentary on partnership with
Charlton Athletic FC police from Cape Town & London and Ajax Cape Town running
soccer coaching and life skills programmes with teenagers. Screened on e.tv as part of
the Total Soccer Series. (Producer/Director 2008)
Total Soccer “Irie-Style” A 24-minute documentary about the Marcus Garvey Rastafarian
Community’s Soccer Team for the Total Soccer Series which aired on e.tv. 2008
(Producer/Director)
48 Countries, One Goal
A 48-minute documentary on the Homeless World Cup held in Cape Town in September 2006.
First broadcast SABC 2’s Our Nation in Colour in December 2006. (Producer/Director)
GOOD VIBRATIONS
A 26-minute documentary that explores how different religious and spiritual traditions in South
Africa use sound to connect with the Divine and suggests that there is a common vibrational
sound that is our primordial link with God.
First broadcast on SABC 2’s Issues of Faith in 2005, GOOD VIBRATIONS received the World
TV Award for Promoting Religious Understanding and Tolerance in 2006 at the Asia Media
Summit. It was also screened at South Africa’s Exploring Consciousness Film Festival and
New York’s GodonFilm Festival where it was nominated for a Best Documentary Award and
went to the Zanzibar International Film Festival and Cuba’s International Festival of the New
Latin American Cinema in 2007.
(Producer/Director)
THE WILD WEST OF LOXTON, 26 minutes, Broadcast on etv, 2000
Silver Medal at the NTVA Stone Awards & screened at the Apollo Film Festival in 2001.
(Producer/Director/2nd Camera and Editor)
IN SEARCH OF THE GODDESS, 26 minutes, Aired on SABC 2’s Issues of Faith, 2000
Documentary screened at the Exploring Consciousness & SA Women’s Film Festivals in 2001.
(Producer/Director)
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD’S RELIGIONS, 2 x 26-minute documentaries
Broadcast on SABC 2’s Issues of Faith, 1999
(Producer/Director)
THE BRIDES OF CHRIST, 48 minutes, e.tv, 1999
Screened at the Parliament of the World’s Religions Film Festival in 1999 & The Exploring
Consciousness Film Festival in 2000.

7. (Producer/Director/Editor)
NON-BROADCAST DOCUMENTARY – SHOOT THE BREEZE PRODUCTIONS
1. Inauguration of Lebanese Consul in Cape Town - 10-minute video for Lebanese
government's Dept of Foreign Affairs and broadcast on Lebanese TV. 1997
2. The People's Housing Process. 12-minute programme on new housing policy for Western
Cape Provincial Administration Housing Department -English, Afrikaans and Xhosa versions.
1996
3. Marconi Beam/Joe Slovo Park Housing Development Funding Video. A 10-minute
documentary video covering the launch of the Joe Slovo Park Housing Development
(Produced by Shoot the Breeze for the Development Action Group.)1996
4. Monterey Integrated Day Pre-Primary Education Model. 12-minute video to promote this
educational model. 1997
5. Coastal Management Development Policy Video – A 12-minute documentary video used
to introduce policy issues at workshops along the coast feeding into the policy-making process.
(Shoot the Breeze was subcontracted by Evergreen Pictures for Common Ground Consulting
and the Department of Environmental Affairs.) 1997
6. Nazareth House Fundraising Video - A 12-minute video featuring Nazareth House Home
for children and babies with HIV/AIDS. 1997
7. Launch of the Robben Island Museum Logo & Ferry “Makana” – A documentary video
covering the launch with dignitaries, Frene Ginwala and Jeff Radebe. (Produced by Shoot the
Breeze for the Robben Island Museum.) 1997
8. International PeaceJam Weekend Conference: Robben Island, March 1998. A 12-
minute video covering a weekend conference facilitated by Nobel Peace Laureates Archbishop
Desmond Tutu and Betty Williams from Northern Ireland. (Produced for the sponsors, Hard
Rock Café, Cape Town, the video screened at their international conference in Miami as well
as being used by PeaceJam International for promotional purposes.) 1998
9. Global March Against Child Labour, April 1998: An 8-minute video documenting the
Cape Town leg of the march on Human rights Day. (Commissioned by RAPCAN for the Global
March Office in London, the video was screened at the Global March Geneva Conference.)
1998
10. Norwegian Royalty’s Visit to Robben Island. A promotional video for the Robben Island
Museum documenting this historic visit and given to the Norwegian king and queen as a
keepsake. 1998
11. Robben Island - Museum Development Symposium Video. A 35-minute highly visual
video covering a two-day symposium with 60 heritage conservation delegates. (Produced for
the Robben Island Museum.)1998

8. 12. E-Section’s June 16 theatre-in-education programme. A 10-minute video documenting
a theatre-in-education collaboration between Robben Island Museum staff and the cast of
Grahamstown festival play “E Section”. (Produced for the Robben Island Museum’s use and
distribution.) 1998
13. Bluefin Holdings Company Launch. A 10 minute marketing video covering the history
and launch of all-women Hout Bay fishing company Bluefin Holdings. 1998
14. Robben Island Spring School video. A 10-minute video documenting the process and
results of a week-long workshop teaching disadvantaged children the skills involved in
marketing and presenting a museum exhibition - part of the Robben Island on the Move
programme. 1998
15. Nazareth House – “Building a Dream” Funding Video. An 8-minute video featuring
Nazareth House Home for children and babies living with HIV/AIDS. (Shoot the Breeze was
subcontracted by Nick Chevallier Productions for Nazareth House and sponsors.) 1998
16. District Six Museum - “Keeping the Memories Alive”. A short promotional video on the
District Six Museum focusing on the work of the Education Division and profiling the
community’s history. Produced for their visit to Sweden and general fundraising and
promotional applications. 1999
17. The Appleton Foundation - “Building a Nation, One Scholar at a Time”.
A 12-minute fundraising video sponsored by The Appleton Group to promote the benefits of the
educational bursaries they provide through their non-profit programme, The Appleton
Foundation. The documentary video profiles a day in the life of three Appleton scholars. 1999
18. Centre for Rural Legal Studies Fundraising Video - “New Rights, New Struggles”. A
12-minute documentary reflecting the history of the struggle for land in South Africa and the
Centre’s work empowering farm workers through education on new legislation and rights &
legal advice service. 1999
19. Blue Horizon Fishing – Black Empowerment in Action. A 16-minute promotional video
profiling the six companies that merged to form Blue Horizon Fishing, covering the company
launch and providing dramatic visual insight into the live lobster export industry. The video is
used to promote the company locally and to establish new markets internationally. 2000
20. “GAAN SHARON GAAN – Gelyke Regte vir Vroue Plaaswerkers. “ A 35-minute
educational video on the Employment Equity Act aimed primarily at woman farm workers. The
video focuses on Maternity Benefits, Equal Work for Equal Pay and Sexual Harassment.
Dynamic dramatised scenarios around those three issues were workshopped by 12 woman
farm workers and The Pretty Ladies (an a cappella cabaret group made up of Stellenbosch
farm workers) to make the video authentic and accessible to women on farms. Produced in
Afrikaans for the Centre for Rural Legal Studies. 2000
21. “The Homeless People’s Federation: Collecting Money, Collecting People” - A 22-
minute documentary reflecting how savings schemes run by women from South Africa’s
poorest communities facilitate a social movement of the urban poor, empowering people to
build houses and establish sustainable communities. Produced as a resource video for the
Homeless People’s Federation and as a fundraising tool for People’s Dialogue, an NGO which
partners and supports the HPF. 2000

9. 22. “Bringing the Past to Life” - A documentary video showcasing how the Robben Island
Museum Education Department’s Theatre-in-Education partnership with actors from The New
Africa Theatre Programme brings to life tours of the island for school groups visiting the Island.
2002
23. “Progress through Learning” – A half hour video showcasing pilot projects of the
University of the Western Cape’s CHESP (Community Higher Education Service Partnership
Programme). The video and Cd Rom copies are being used to educate people about and
promote this national initiative of partnerships between academics at university departments,
students, community members and leaders as well as service providers such as NGOs,
hospitals, clinics and libraries. The idea is that while students gain practical experience in their
field of study, service providers are given greater capacity and thus able to provide better
services to the communities they work with. 2002
24. The Island & The Applebox - The Robben Island Museum’s Education Department runs
an ongoing theatre-in-education schools programme throughout the country with actors from
the New Africa Theatre Programme performing a 40-minute play called The Island & Apple
Box. In an animated and entertaining way, the play chronicles the history of South Africa
through the story of Robben Island. After the performance, learners are encouraged to ask
questions and then given copies of the script so that they can act out the play themselves to
complement what they are learning in history and drama classes.
The Robben Island Museum wanted a video that included the performance of the play so that
learners would have a visual reference for the script and could find similar props to use in their
own productions. Ex-political prisoner and tour guide, Lionel Davis, answers frequently asked
questions after the play, to give the pupils background information and insight into historical
content of the play. 2003
25. “A Place of Quality, A place to Grow, From Hope to Agency through Knowledge”. A
half hour documentary video showcasing pilot projects of the University of Transkei’s CHESP
(Community Higher Education Service Partnership Programme) in the rural and urban areas
surrounding Umtata. The video and CD Rom copies are being used to educate people about
and promote this national initiative of partnerships between academics at university
departments, students, community members and leaders as well as service providers such as
NGOs, hospitals, clinics and libraries. The idea is that while students gain practical experience
in their field of study, service providers are given greater capacity and thus able to provide
better services to the communities they work with. 2003
26. “Working for Water” – an hour long docu – drama on alien vegetation clearing techniques.
We delivered this in 7 languages.
27. INVESTEC’s iSelect Corporate video. A corporate video for South Africa’s web-based
launch of the Asset Management Department’s iSelect platform for a primary audience of
Financial Advisors. The short film combined dramatized scenarios using INVESTEC staff with
traditional documentary interviews and visuals. See www.iselect.co.za. 2008
28. Parliamentary Millenium Programme’s Profile Video featuring an overview of the
Programme’s projects and objectives. 2009

10. 29. Parliamentary Millenium Programme’s Voices of Women Project in Gauteng. In depth
coverage of a weeklong workshop with 60 marginalised women from Gauteng learning quilting
and life skills as they write a story about “What Democracy Means to Me” or “A Day I will Never
Forget” and depict their story on an embroidered cloth. The cloths and stories are framed and
exhibited at national Parliament and Provincial Legislatures. Researchers go through the range
of stories and write up reports and recommendations to the relevant national and provincial
portfolio committees. The project fulfils PMPs objectives of promoting democracy and nation
building by giving marginalised women a voice and empowering them.