

FirstPencil
FirstPencil is an all female 1 BB BEE Level 1 South African production company servicing clients in both South Africa and abroad. We are passionate about creating work that combines powerful aesthetics, real connection and careful consideration.
Cape Town & Johannesburg
Co – Founder & Director: Justine Puren-Calverley
Producer: Lebo Mabuela
Director & Co-founder | Justine Puren Calverley
Justine has worked on projects ranging from subtle and warm performance pieces to complex 3D animation, realistic visual effects, outlandish stop-frame, Big Data documentaries and even the collation of a Fashion Show. Her love for the craft shows in her attention to detail and scrupulous integrity to concept, regardless of the brief.
Producer | Lebo Mabuela
Lebo is the glue that keeps both the team and the production together. She’s our tie-breaker and our final decision.
With over 10 years of production experience, Lebo can negotiate any location, wrangle any crew and bring together any production – big or small.
- 2016 CICLOPE New Balance – Dean (Silver – Editing)
- 2016 New Generation Awards – Dstv From My Home to Your Home (Best Integrated Marketing Campaign by an Agency), (Most Innovative Digital Campaign by a Large Agency)
- 2016 Loeries – SANBS – Sit down to Save lives (Silver)
- 2015 Cannes – War Museum – Cup of Life (Bronze)
- 2015 Loeries – War Museum – Cup of Life (Gold)
First Pencil
13 9th Street
Mellville
Johannesburg
Gauteng
2109
Producer: Lebo Mabuela
lebo@firstpencil.tv
+27 071 687 0508
AWARDED BY IDIDTHAT
AWARDED: CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
First Pencil | Justine Puren-Calverley
Standard Bank ‘HeforShe’ (Directors Edit & Final Mix)
IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Marc Algranti, EP / Music Supervisor at Pulse Music
February 2020
Judge’s comment: “Justine’s direction drew me in from the very first breath of this film. She takes you along the emotional journey. Her point of view puts you right into these women’s feelings. We never get to see their faces, the brave faces they need to put on everyday. The shortness of breath upfront creates a sense of unease and this unease continues throughout the film. Justine has managed to portray a very uncomfortable reality that is very moving and has resulted in a powerful piece of work. Well done.”
AWARDED: CRAFT MENTION (DIRECTION)
First Pencil | Justine Puren-Calverley
Siemens ‘FABRIC’
IDIDTHAT Guest Judge: Xolisa Dyeshana, Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Joe Public
October 2018
Judges Comment: “This piece, whilst not being a traditional commercial is a beautiful idea and it’s beautifully shot. It’s very easy to switch off or for the mind to wander when looking at very technical type of visuals, but this one kept my attention till the end.”
FEATURED WORK
FEATURED STORIES
FEATURED
IDIDTHAT Craft Awards: February 2020
IDIDTHAT Craft Awards just got a whole lot more judgy mcjudgerson. As of this month, we will have TWO judges independently selecting South Africa’s Best in Craft. February’s IDIDTHAT Craft Award’s top dogs are, drumroll please, Executive Creative Director at TBWA Hunt Lascaris, Kabelo Moshapalo and Executive Producer and Music Supervisor at Pulse Music, Marc Algranti. Congratulations to all the winners!
Technically speaking with FirstPencil
FirstPencil dish on what it took Director Justine Calverley to complete some of their most technically daunting commercials - with a lil help from her tools as a stop motion animator of course.
Best in Film Craft: September 2019
Every month iDidTht teams up with an industry superstar to award South Africa’s best in Craft. For the month of September, we were joined by none other than Neo Mashigo. His credits are endless so in the interest of word count, here’s the highlights reel: CCO for at M&C Saatchi Group, former Chairperson & current board member of Loeries, Co-Founder of 'I See a Different You', on the Executive Committee of the Creative Circle, and basically won all the awards including Grand Prix at Cannes, legend. Thank you Neo, thank you!
Will these be the big Digital and Design winners at Loeries 2019?
As we build-up to this week’s shenanigans in Durbs, we've compiled a list of all the Print and Radio work entered for Loeries this year that either won or was featured at Cannes, One Show, D&AD and the Creative Circle Awards.




