The Callsheet Issue 5

ISSUE 05 | 2015

+ NAMIBIA: FURY ROAD TO FILM HUB

+ STUDIOS: SA’S BEST

+ SOUTH AFRICANS AT CANNES FILM







CONTENTS | 01www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

02. SA Short Orbis Selected for Hot Docs

05. Jameson First Shot 2015 Winners Announced

06. CICLOPE Festival Tour Reaches Cape Town Shores

09. iROKOtv to Launch Two Linear TV Channels

10. Avengers: Age of Ultron Hits SA

11. Presenting Jongo: Africa’s First Mainstream Superhero

12. A Chat with Adrian Lazarus of Bokeh Fashion Film Festival

14. In Production

16. The South African Presence at Cannes Film 2015

18. SA Studios in 2015: The Backbone of Africa’s Film Industry

24. Film Production Companies: Pushing Boundaries in Africa

32. African Film Hub: Morocco, Tanzania, Nigeria, Namibia

36. Financing and Co-Productions in South Africa

39. Opportunities

40. A Snapshot Look at SA’s Other Booming Industries

42. Movers & Shakers

44. MIPTV 2015: In the Business of Breaking Down Borders

45. A Chat with PRISM Award Winner Monica Braganca

46. Associations

48. Directory

JONGOAfrica’s first mainstream superherohas local and international distributors clamouring for deals.

IN PRODUCTION IN SAFind out which films and series are currently in production on South African shores.

AFRICAN FILM HUBSMorocco, Tanzania, Nigeria and Namibia are fast becoming filmmakers’ favouriteshooting locations.

SOUTH AFRICAN FILM COMPANIESTurn to page 24 for The Callsheet’s comprehensive list of SA’s finest film companies.

© SoldierSeven

02 | NEWS www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

for global economic trade. This heavily fortified security zone processes thousands of containers each and every day of the year. Dictated by a larger capitalist system, Africa’s raw materials are exported to the Far East and imported back as consumer products to feed an expanding middle class.”

“Overlooking the harbour, a majority of Umlazi’s population of half a million, live on less than five dollars a day. For thirty days, two adults and two children were observed, juxtaposing dreams with reality. In the background the machines of industry are omnipresent contrasting commerce and labour,” Wood explains. Orbis screened at the

A short documentary by Director Simon Wood has been selected for competition at Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North

America. Orbis, an exploration of the circular notion of life, was shot on location in Umlazi for one month last year. “My first film, Forerunners, took three years to finish,” Wood says, “My next film, Untamed, is still not finished after four years of work, so Orbis is response to that. I wanted to see if it would be possible to make a documentary quickly, so I decided to shoot every day for one month. We met all the characters in the film by chance which lends itself to an honest observational approach. After filming was completed we edited for 30 days, so the whole process was finished very quickly.”

Orbis was brought together in a rather organic manner, he says. “The only predetermined choice was the location of Umlazi: a vast township by the Indian Ocean, situated 12km from Africa’s busiest port: Durban – the continent’s principal gateway

Durban International Film Festival last year and is created by Wood’s company, SaltPeter Productions.

Their most recent documentary, Forerunners, was selected for IDFA, the world’s largest documentary festival. It also received the Dikalo Special Jury Prize at the Festival du Film du Pan Africain.

Orbis was nominated for a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) in 2015 in the Short Documentary category. Hot Docs is the largest documentary festival, conference and market in the North American hemisphere and presents its 22nd annual edition from April 23 to May 3.

SA Short Orbis

strikes gold in SA with R1.2m Opening WeekendStrikdas

Quirky new comedy, Strikdas – ‘n Familie Gedoente, earned a whopping 1,2-million in its opening weekend at the South

African box office recently. It held onto its position as number five on the Industry Top Ten behind blockbusters like Fast & Furious 7, Cinderella, and Insurgent and remained ahead of Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling. Strikdas is also the first Afrikaans feature to be released worldwide simultaneously, in theatres across the country, as well as online to international audiences through VOD platform www.scatzy.com. “We are really thrilled that the public reaction to the film has been so positive,” says Producer Stefan Enslin. “We have also been monitoring the response to the film on several social media platforms and everyone who has seen it is raving about how much it makes you laugh – especially the fact that you can enjoy a laugh with the entire family. It’s a delight for us

as the filmmakers, especially because we wanted to make a family comedy that would appeal to everyone.”

The story follows Vossie, played by Kaz McFadden (Knysna) who falls in love with Willemien, played by Leandie du Randt (Mooirivier), the spoilt daughter of a wealthy farm owner. Not only does he have to prove his worth to her, but also to her family. Of course, hilarity ensues. It is produced by Faith in Motion Productions and Philo Pieterse’s Philo Films, the company behind Afrikaans musical Platteland. “As the local distributor of the film, it’s been exciting to have the unique opportunity to release a film that South Africans across the world can watch at the same time as their families back home are doing so,” says Helen Kuun, CEO, Indigenous Film Distribution. “Given the success of the film on its opening weekend, we are keen to see how it performs online.”

© Faith in M

otion & Philo Film

s

Selected For Hot Docs

© SaltPeter Productions

© SaltPeter Productions

Cape Town: +27 (0) 21 511 3300Johannesburg: +27 (0) 11 258 5000

www.mediafilmservice.com

04 | CPI www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

In recent years, the South African government has made a concerted effort to stimulate the movie industry in South Africa. Amongst the most notable of

these, are the tax rebates available through the Department of Trade and Industry.

However, there are various other resources available to the local filmmaker, which are very often not tapped into. If you have employed ANY person between the ages of 19 and 29 since 1 January 2014, you qualified for the Employee Tax Incentive (ETI). This incentive immediately lowers your tax amount payable to SARS on your EMP201. This stimulates more employment opportunities. In the same manner, monthly payments to the Skills Development Levy (SDL) equal to 1% of your taxable payroll components, creates an opportunity to

better train and qualify your employees by using these SDL funds. Obviously, there are specific terms and conditions that have to be met before you can make use of these incentives. This is where CPI comes in.

It all starts with having the right systems in place. CPI has been at the forefront of accurate payroll solutions for the past decade, and since 2007, we have been actively involved in the film industry – supplying unmatched payroll and HR solutions! From handling 26 000 extras’ payment in one production, to managing 10 employees of a production company. The scalability of the CPI system and services gives us the edge.

With our state-of-the-art online payroll and HR solution; making use of available incentives offered by government becomes a

walk in the park! Access our system from anywhere, from any connected device. You can even allow your employees / extras / actors / crew access to selective parts of the system; to view a timesheet, get a copy of a payslip, or even to download historical IRP5’s. Set your system to other currencies and languages! And just to make sure we touched all the bases – you can upload an employee picture, important documents and set reminders. You can also load physical profiles for your extras’ database to make finding the right extra as easy as drawing a report.

Or, allow CPI the opportunity to do all of this for you, while you can still access the system to see first-hand what we are doing. The right system and skills = CORE TO SUCCESS!

CPI: The Systems and Skills for Success

NEWS | 05www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

The Jameson First Shot competition winners for 2015 were announced on 14 April this year. South African writer Mark Middlewick made the cut along

with Travis Calvert from the United States and Stephan Tempier from Canada. The three lucky winners will be bringing their scripts to life with the help of Adrien Brody, Kevin Spacey and Trigger Street Productions. The winners were chosen from over 1 700 entrants from eight countries and will be travelling to Los Angeles to begin production as soon as possible. They will each be fi lming their short scripts over two days, with the fi nished products premiering as early as June.

Mark Middlewick is a part-time writer and director, whose fi lm, Mascot, tells the story of a seemingly mundane, normal man with an alter ego who is an exuberant mascot for a basketball team.

Stephan Tempier, a French-Canadian fi lm lover, “epitomises the spirit of Jameson First Shot” according to their offi cial release. “With little training or experience in the fi lm industry, Stephan’s entry Boredom was his fi rst entry into any fi lmmaking competition. His First Shot tells the story of a man who sees things through a kid’s eyes, seeing interesting things in everyday life that other people wouldn’t even notice.”

Travis Calvert is an aspiring fi lmmaker from Nevada whose story, The Library Book, tells of an encounter between a librarian and a man with an overdue book –with an unexpected outcome.

The overall standard of entrants this year was above expectations, leaving Trigger Street impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions. “I continue to believe in opportunity for those starting out in this business and have been honored to be a part of the Jameson First Shot,” Spacey told The Hollywood Reporter when the news broke.

Both Adrien Brody and Trigger Street Producer Dana Brunetti hope that this helps give emerging fi lmmakers a fi ghting chance. “We’re giving people the opportunity to come in and work with a professional crew, get attention and exposure from the competition and also work with a high-calibre actor, which is going to amplify that exposure even more,” Brunetti said.

The application process required entrants to submit a seven-page short fi lm script,

which Trigger Street used to narrow down the applicant pool to around 20. The remaining group was then required to fi lm and submit one of three predetermined short scenes and a video bio. The First Shot team then took all these components into consideration and whittled it down to the fi nal three.

“The fi rst thing I do is look at the story,” Brunetti says. “Is this something that keeps me engaged and makes me want to keep turning the page? Is it something that I would want to see on-screen? Then I go into producer mode. Is it going to be possible for us to make this with the limitations and resources that we have?”

He and Spacey have been involved with the contest since its inception in 2012 and, as with prior wins, surprised the fi lmmakers with a hearty congratulatory call over Skype.

Jameson First Shot 2015 Winners Announced

Adrien Brody talks Jameson First Shot in a special video clip by Jameson and Triggerstreet.

© Jam

eson First Shot

04 | CPI www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

In recent years, the South African government has made a concerted effort to stimulate the movie industry in South Africa. Amongst the most notable of

these, are the tax rebates available through the Department of Trade and Industry.

However, there are various other resources available to the local filmmaker, which are very often not tapped into. If you have employed ANY person between the ages of 19 and 29 since 1 January 2014, you qualified for the Employee Tax Incentive (ETI). This incentive immediately lowers your tax amount payable to SARS on your EMP201. This stimulates more employment opportunities. In the same manner, monthly payments to the Skills Development Levy (SDL) equal to 1% of your taxable payroll components, creates an opportunity to

better train and qualify your employees by using these SDL funds. Obviously, there are specific terms and conditions that have to be met before you can make use of these incentives. This is where CPI comes in.

It all starts with having the right systems in place. CPI has been at the forefront of accurate payroll solutions for the past decade, and since 2007, we have been actively involved in the film industry – supplying unmatched payroll and HR solutions! From handling 26 000 extras’ payment in one production, to managing 10 employees of a production company. The scalability of the CPI system and services gives us the edge.

With our state-of-the-art online payroll and HR solution; making use of available incentives offered by government becomes a

walk in the park! Access our system from anywhere, from any connected device. You can even allow your employees / extras / actors / crew access to selective parts of the system; to view a timesheet, get a copy of a payslip, or even to download historical IRP5’s. Set your system to other currencies and languages! And just to make sure we touched all the bases – you can upload an employee picture, important documents and set reminders. You can also load physical profiles for your extras’ database to make finding the right extra as easy as drawing a report.

Or, allow CPI the opportunity to do all of this for you, while you can still access the system to see first-hand what we are doing. The right system and skills = CORE TO SUCCESS!

CPI: The Systems and Skills for Success

NEWS | 05www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

The Jameson First Shot competition winners for 2015 were announced on 14 April this year. South African writer Mark Middlewick made the cut along

with Travis Calvert from the United States and Stephan Tempier from Canada. The three lucky winners will be bringing their scripts to life with the help of Adrien Brody, Kevin Spacey and Trigger Street Productions. The winners were chosen from over 1 700 entrants from eight countries and will be travelling to Los Angeles to begin production as soon as possible. They will each be fi lming their short scripts over two days, with the fi nished products premiering as early as June.

Mark Middlewick is a part-time writer and director, whose fi lm, Mascot, tells the story of a seemingly mundane, normal man with an alter ego who is an exuberant mascot for a basketball team.

Stephan Tempier, a French-Canadian fi lm lover, “epitomises the spirit of Jameson First Shot” according to their offi cial release. “With little training or experience in the fi lm industry, Stephan’s entry Boredom was his fi rst entry into any fi lmmaking competition. His First Shot tells the story of a man who sees things through a kid’s eyes, seeing interesting things in everyday life that other people wouldn’t even notice.”

Travis Calvert is an aspiring fi lmmaker from Nevada whose story, The Library Book, tells of an encounter between a librarian and a man with an overdue book –with an unexpected outcome.

The overall standard of entrants this year was above expectations, leaving Trigger Street impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions. “I continue to believe in opportunity for those starting out in this business and have been honored to be a part of the Jameson First Shot,” Spacey told The Hollywood Reporter when the news broke.

Both Adrien Brody and Trigger Street Producer Dana Brunetti hope that this helps give emerging fi lmmakers a fi ghting chance. “We’re giving people the opportunity to come in and work with a professional crew, get attention and exposure from the competition and also work with a high-calibre actor, which is going to amplify that exposure even more,” Brunetti said.

The application process required entrants to submit a seven-page short fi lm script,

which Trigger Street used to narrow down the applicant pool to around 20. The remaining group was then required to fi lm and submit one of three predetermined short scenes and a video bio. The First Shot team then took all these components into consideration and whittled it down to the fi nal three.

“The fi rst thing I do is look at the story,” Brunetti says. “Is this something that keeps me engaged and makes me want to keep turning the page? Is it something that I would want to see on-screen? Then I go into producer mode. Is it going to be possible for us to make this with the limitations and resources that we have?”

He and Spacey have been involved with the contest since its inception in 2012 and, as with prior wins, surprised the fi lmmakers with a hearty congratulatory call over Skype.

Jameson First Shot 2015 Winners Announced

Adrien Brody talks Jameson First Shot in a special video clip by Jameson and Triggerstreet.

© Jam

eson First Shot

Ciclope Festival Tour Reaches Cape

Town Shores


After a sold-out edition in Berlin last November, CICLOPE International Festival of Craft is on the road with festival tours. It is the only

international event fully dedicated to the ‘craft’ in moving image and has in recent years become a platform for directors, creatives, artists, producers, digital creatives and clients to meet and share in knowledge, inspiration and celebration.

The CICLOPE World Tour reached Cape Town on 16 April 2015 to showcase winners and to give locals a glimpse of the future of craft and creativity. Guest speakers for the evening were Gareth Pearson, Co-Founder of First Thursdays, Daniel Levi, CICLOPE’s Director, and Lyall Sprong, Co-Founder of ThingKing. The event was supported by Groundglass, Inc. and Media Host.

Janette De Villiers, CICLOPE Cape Town Event Organiser says that the turnout was really good with around 100 people in attendance. “Our speakers were Daniel Levi who spoke about staying true to the creative process and that it’s time we stopped fussing over the minor details and looked at the big picture – and being truly creative. Good isn’t good – great is good! Gareth Pearson from First Thursdays spoke about creating experiences and communities

and told us about his exciting journey with First Thursdays.”

De Villiers says that they chose to host the Cape Town evening because she had heard of CICLOPE for a long time from respected industry professionals. “When I was introduced by a friend in London, I jumped at the opportunity to introduce Francisco to the local market. We need to find more reasons to talk clients into being creative again, and platforms like this allow such opportunities.”

“CICLOPE Festival is the only international event focusing on craft, so it becomes a global hub for people working in the creative and production side of the industry to understand what is going to happen with brands in the early future,” says Francisco Condorelli, who runs the festival. “The crossover between creativity – technology – craft is so determinant for brands today that it is unthinkable not having a proper space to discuss it. And, of course, it’s also a great opportunity to see great work and meet new people.”

“We’ve started the tour in the US, with presentations in Los Angeles and New York,” Condorelli continues. “Then we did it in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and then Cape Town. After Cape Town, we’ll be in Sydney, Auckland, Shanghai and Tokyo. We decided to stop in

South Africa because of two reasons: the high level of craft, which is really impressive, and the second one is called Janette De Villiers, who made the impossible possible by including Cape Town on the international tour. I’m extremely pleased, because we spent an amazing time there and I can’t wait to get back.”

The 2014 event received over 800 entries worldwide, which resulted in an incredibly eclectic shortlist of works including films by renowned directors like Wes Anderson. The international jury awarded over 50 entries to prestigious companies such as Iconoclast, Somesuch & Co. and Blink Productions, among others. Unlike advertising festivals, CICLOPE Festival focuses on the art of execution rather than the ideas. From TV commercials and mobile apps to interactive installation, a good execution is as important as a good idea, and, according to the event’s vision, extremely influential to the consumer’s experience. CICLOPE has been held annually since 2010, gathering world-class professionals to share their knowledge, discuss issues in the business and to celebrate the best work in the sector. The two-day event comprises a conference and an award show, with inspiring talks and case studies, seminars and workshops.

All images ©

Groundglass

Blackmagic URSAThe world's first user upgradable digital film camera

features 4K Super 35 sensor with global shutter, fold

out 10" monitor and more! Available in PL and EF

lens mount models.

Learn moreLens and accessories not included.*All prices subject to VAT, exchange rate fluctuation and import duties.

From US$4,995

Blackmagic URSAThe world's first user upgradable digital film camera

features 4K Super 35 sensor with global shutter, fold

out 10" monitor and more! Available in PL and EF

lens mount models.

Learn moreLens and accessories not included.*All prices subject to VAT, exchange rate fluctuation and import duties.

From US$4,995

08 | NAMIBIA FILM COMMISSION www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Namibia is a gem for those in search of an unexplored panorama. Namibia, on the southwest coast of Africa, is a large country with one

of the lowest population densities in the world. The Namib Desert laid out in the Erongo

Region is very popular with international filmmakers. It stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola well into South Africa. Films such as Flight of the Phoenix, The Cell, 10 000 BC, Beyond Borders and recently Mad Max: Fury Road were filmed in this magical landscape.

With 300 days of sunshine on average per year; Namibia is truly a sunny place. Namibia has unique locations that give one the feeling of complete seclusion, and “being in the middle of nowhere”. Desirable locations are only a few minutes’ drive from important amenities such as 5 star accommodation, private hospitals, suppliers, etc. Furthermore, the Erongo region houses a number of experienced Namibian service facilitators with experience in facilitating studio films, as well as a database of experienced crew.

With beautiful landscapes comes the perfect weather conditions for filmmakers. It is

the second-most arid country in Africa; along the coast annual rainfall averages 0 – 10mm per year. Namibia is scarcely populated and vast, there is virtually no pollution or smog, and during the dry season - the sun shines undisturbed from clear blue skies, making sunsets and sunrises unforgettable experiences.

Professional service providers are an important advantage for international producers due to their local knowledge and experience. They can offer producers a rebate of 15% from VAT claims on qualifying

expenditure – making Namibia… Africa’s Best Kept Secret.

Email: [email protected] | Web: www.nfc.na

COME TO NAMIBIA:Africa's Best Kept Secret

© N

amibia Film

Comm

ission

The Namib Desert laid out in the Erongo Region is very popular with international filmmakers. It stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola well into South Africa. Films such as Flight of the Phoenix, The Cell, 10.000 BC, Beyond Borders and recently Mad Max: Fury Road were filmed in this magical landscape.

“

“

©2015 W

arner Bros Ent.NEWS | 09www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Popular Nigerian video streaming service, iROKOtv, recently announced a deal with StarTimes to have two new television channels, iROKO Play

and iROKO Plus on the digital TV operator’s platform. The move has the potential to increase the VOD platform’s reach considerably, especially since StarTimes currently has 4.6 million subscribers across 14 countries. The deal was signed at MIPTV in France this year.

“Launching iROKO Play and iROKO Plus on Startimes is an exciting milestone for iROKO,” says iROKO CEO Jason Njoku. “We’re known primarily for leading OTT content delivery across Africa through IROKOtv.com, but with digital migration spreading rapidly throughout the continent, now is the right time for us to diversify our distribution model and expand into the linear TV market. StarTimes are very much focused on bringing the very best entertainment to as many people as possible at an affordable

price – an ethos that is close to our hearts, which is why this new landmark partnership is so befitting.”

The channels will air exclusive Nollywood content, with iROKO Play available on the StarTimes Basic Bouquet and iROKO Plus on the Unique Bouquet with an updated and premium selection of Nollywood films. The monthly access cost is N1,000 (US$5) and N3,000 (US$15) respectively.

The partnership will see iROKOtv’s content – which has streamed online exclusively until now – available offline and its audience demography stretched out to something more varied than its current base.

“The deal with iROKO is a significant advance in our quest to become the home of premier African film and television content,” says Michael Dearham, Vice President of StarTimes. “Throughout the global African Diaspora, iROKO is synonymous with

high-quality, cutting-edge Nollywood filmed entertainment and their extensive catalogue of prime-time Nollywood movies resonates well with StarTimes’ vision to provide every African family access to high-quality digital entertainment. Our exclusive partnership with iROKO allows us to nurture an ‘axis of content excellence’, as well as more clearly differentiate our value proposition, which in turn gives us the means to deliver the very best Nollywood movies and series to our subscriber-base.”

iROKOtv’s catalogue is the second largest after Africa Magic, allowing StarTimes to take on DStv’s competition on the Nigerian content front. iROKOtv also recently announced a partnership deal with Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV service, famous for shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. The partnership will position the company as the African section of Netflix, putting Nollywood on the international radar.

iROKOtv to Launch Two Linear TV Channels

08 | NAMIBIA FILM COMMISSION www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Namibia is a gem for those in search of an unexplored panorama. Namibia, on the southwest coast of Africa, is a large country with one

of the lowest population densities in the world. The Namib Desert laid out in the Erongo

Region is very popular with international filmmakers. It stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola well into South Africa. Films such as Flight of the Phoenix, The Cell, 10 000 BC, Beyond Borders and recently Mad Max: Fury Road were filmed in this magical landscape.

With 300 days of sunshine on average per year; Namibia is truly a sunny place. Namibia has unique locations that give one the feeling of complete seclusion, and “being in the middle of nowhere”. Desirable locations are only a few minutes’ drive from important amenities such as 5 star accommodation, private hospitals, suppliers, etc. Furthermore, the Erongo region houses a number of experienced Namibian service facilitators with experience in facilitating studio films, as well as a database of experienced crew.

With beautiful landscapes comes the perfect weather conditions for filmmakers. It is

the second-most arid country in Africa; along the coast annual rainfall averages 0 – 10mm per year. Namibia is scarcely populated and vast, there is virtually no pollution or smog, and during the dry season - the sun shines undisturbed from clear blue skies, making sunsets and sunrises unforgettable experiences.

Professional service providers are an important advantage for international producers due to their local knowledge and experience. They can offer producers a rebate of 15% from VAT claims on qualifying

expenditure – making Namibia… Africa’s Best Kept Secret.

Email: [email protected] | Web: www.nfc.na

COME TO NAMIBIA:Africa's Best Kept Secret

© N

amibia Film

Comm

ission

The Namib Desert laid out in the Erongo Region is very popular with international filmmakers. It stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola well into South Africa. Films such as Flight of the Phoenix, The Cell, 10.000 BC, Beyond Borders and recently Mad Max: Fury Road were filmed in this magical landscape.

“

“

©2015 W

arner Bros Ent.

NEWS | 09www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Popular Nigerian video streaming service, iROKOtv, recently announced a deal with StarTimes to have two new television channels, iROKO Play

and iROKO Plus on the digital TV operator’s platform. The move has the potential to increase the VOD platform’s reach considerably, especially since StarTimes currently has 4.6 million subscribers across 14 countries. The deal was signed at MIPTV in France this year.

“Launching iROKO Play and iROKO Plus on Startimes is an exciting milestone for iROKO,” says iROKO CEO Jason Njoku. “We’re known primarily for leading OTT content delivery across Africa through IROKOtv.com, but with digital migration spreading rapidly throughout the continent, now is the right time for us to diversify our distribution model and expand into the linear TV market. StarTimes are very much focused on bringing the very best entertainment to as many people as possible at an affordable

price – an ethos that is close to our hearts, which is why this new landmark partnership is so befitting.”

The channels will air exclusive Nollywood content, with iROKO Play available on the StarTimes Basic Bouquet and iROKO Plus on the Unique Bouquet with an updated and premium selection of Nollywood films. The monthly access cost is N1,000 (US$5) and N3,000 (US$15) respectively.

The partnership will see iROKOtv’s content – which has streamed online exclusively until now – available offline and its audience demography stretched out to something more varied than its current base.

“The deal with iROKO is a significant advance in our quest to become the home of premier African film and television content,” says Michael Dearham, Vice President of StarTimes. “Throughout the global African Diaspora, iROKO is synonymous with

high-quality, cutting-edge Nollywood filmed entertainment and their extensive catalogue of prime-time Nollywood movies resonates well with StarTimes’ vision to provide every African family access to high-quality digital entertainment. Our exclusive partnership with iROKO allows us to nurture an ‘axis of content excellence’, as well as more clearly differentiate our value proposition, which in turn gives us the means to deliver the very best Nollywood movies and series to our subscriber-base.”

iROKOtv’s catalogue is the second largest after Africa Magic, allowing StarTimes to take on DStv’s competition on the Nigerian content front. iROKOtv also recently announced a partnership deal with Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV service, famous for shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. The partnership will position the company as the African section of Netflix, putting Nollywood on the international radar.

iROKOtv to Launch Two Linear TV Channels

After months of anticipation, Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron has finally come to South Africa. The film hit cinemas on 24 April and

is said to be an epic follow up to the biggest superhero film of all time. Part of the film was shot in Johannesburg’s central business district in January 2014, putting the city of gold on hundreds of millions of screens across the globe.

When Tony Stark jumpstarts a dormant peacekeeping programme, things go awry and Earth’s mightiest heroes – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye – are put to the ultimate test as they battle to save the planet from destruction at the hands of the villainous Ultron. The film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk and Chris Evans as Captain America, together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, who reassemble to fight James Spader’s character Ultron, a terrifying technological villain who is hell-bent on human extinction.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is written and

directed by Joss Whedon and is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963. Look out for the Johannesburg skyline and some amazing inner-city action in key sequences as the battle of super-strength continues.

“The balance of these movies has always been big, huge beautiful stage sets, but then you also have to go outside and see the world,” says executive producer Jeremy Latcham. “You have to open up the scope, which is one of the things we’ve really tried to do on Avengers: Age of Ultron. We wanted to go to new locations that haven’t been seen on film as much, like Seoul, South Korea, downtown Johannesburg, South Africa and the Aosta Valley in Northern Italy. The new locations really add a fresh feeling to the film and show that the Avengers really do protect the world.”

Preproduction and production took place in London, and included a three-week shoot in Joburg. The cityscape provided the backdrop for one of the largest action sequences in the film, and involved Iron Man and Hulk.

“Johannesburg has a very particular look and style to its architecture that I really liked,”

says Joss Whedon. “It has very much its own rhythm, its own feel, its own tones, and there’s an earthiness to the way it looks. It is very different from the other locations we shot. You know immediately you’re not in North America.”

Setting up the sequence in the film, director Whedon relates, “The team has come to the coast of Africa to find Ultron and Scarlet Witch who has gotten to Banner and basically given him a nightmare experience so overwhelming that he becomes not just The Hulk but The Hulk Hulking out. He is completely out of control and he comes to the middle of the city almost by accident and then he’s just overwhelmed by noise, the lights and so many people. It’s not Super Hero Hulk; it’s a really scary version and as much as he’s fighting him, Iron Man is also making an effort to just get him out of the city and away from populated areas so he can put him down long enough to get Bruce back.”

Avengers: Age of Ultron released 24 April in South African cinemas nationwide, in full-on 3D and immersive IMAX 3D theatres in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.


Avengers: Age of Ultron Hits SA

The Avengers: Age of Ultron ©

Marvel 2015


Motion Story, an independent television and film studio based in Joburg, recently changed focus from iconic brands

like Mercedes-Benz, Investec and PwC, to scripted drama after international author and screenwriter, Gareth Crocker joined the studio in 2014. The result is Jongo, the world’s first African superhero television series.

Although the show was first introduced at Discop Africa last year, the trailer was recently released along with news that it had secured an Emmy Award-winning distributor in Amsterdam – FCCE – with international broadcast offers already rolling in. The series is written by Crocker, who also co-directs with Fred Wolmarans, and with Nick Keulemans as Cinematographer. Actors’ names have yet to be released.

Jongo is a comedy drama at heart, following the story of Eli King who becomes superhuman

after a crystal is found at the Cradle of Humankind. The mysterious stone is left to him by his father, an enslaved miner who is murdered shortly after escaping the cave. Set in modern-day South Africa and Zambia, Eli must grapple with the powers of the crystal while hunting the men responsible for his father’s death.

“While Jongo will be sold as an international superhero series, we wanted the show to have a distinctly African soul,” Crocker explains, “Moreover, we wanted to showcase the beauty and dynamism of the continent and of South Africa in particular. Jongo will emphasise all that is wonderful and positive about this great continent of ours. Our vastly experienced production crew has worked in some 30 countries and our cast features diverse and exciting talent from across the continent. While we’re not yet ready to reveal the identity of our lead actors, we are extremely confident that

Jongo: many of these talented people will soon become household names.”

“With the huge success of drama series at free-to-air channels, digital channels and VOD platforms like Netflix we automatically see a growing demand for high-quality drama series,” Justus Verkerk, Chief Commercial Officer at FCCE says, “In our constant search for top-quality content, we see more and more great storytellers and high-quality drama productions coming from new territories. Jongo is one of the best examples of that trend and we’re very confident audiences on the African continent, as well as in Europe and the US, will enjoy the mystery and charm of Jongo. It combines all the elements that the public is looking for: mystery, heart, crime, supernatural powers combined with high-quality drama, thrilling Crav Magra and uplifting dance scenes. Prepare yourself for some serious binge watching!” Watch the trailer for Jongo on: www.motionstory.co.za.

© M

otion Story

Africa’s First Mainstream Superhero


Motion Story, an independent television and film studio based in Joburg, recently changed focus from iconic brands

like Mercedes-Benz, Investec and PwC, to scripted drama after international author and screenwriter, Gareth Crocker joined the studio in 2014. The result is Jongo, the world’s first African superhero television series.

Although the show was first introduced at Discop Africa last year, the trailer was recently released along with news that it had secured an Emmy Award-winning distributor in Amsterdam – FCCE – with international broadcast offers already rolling in. The series is written by Crocker, who also co-directs with Fred Wolmarans, and with Nick Keulemans as Cinematographer. Actors’ names have yet to be released.

Jongo is a comedy drama at heart, following the story of Eli King who becomes superhuman

after a crystal is found at the Cradle of Humankind. The mysterious stone is left to him by his father, an enslaved miner who is murdered shortly after escaping the cave. Set in modern-day South Africa and Zambia, Eli must grapple with the powers of the crystal while hunting the men responsible for his father’s death.

“While Jongo will be sold as an international superhero series, we wanted the show to have a distinctly African soul,” Crocker explains, “Moreover, we wanted to showcase the beauty and dynamism of the continent and of South Africa in particular. Jongo will emphasise all that is wonderful and positive about this great continent of ours. Our vastly experienced production crew has worked in some 30 countries and our cast features diverse and exciting talent from across the continent. While we’re not yet ready to reveal the identity of our lead actors, we are extremely confident that

Jongo: many of these talented people will soon become household names.”

“With the huge success of drama series at free-to-air channels, digital channels and VOD platforms like Netflix we automatically see a growing demand for high-quality drama series,” Justus Verkerk, Chief Commercial Officer at FCCE says, “In our constant search for top-quality content, we see more and more great storytellers and high-quality drama productions coming from new territories. Jongo is one of the best examples of that trend and we’re very confident audiences on the African continent, as well as in Europe and the US, will enjoy the mystery and charm of Jongo. It combines all the elements that the public is looking for: mystery, heart, crime, supernatural powers combined with high-quality drama, thrilling Crav Magra and uplifting dance scenes. Prepare yourself for some serious binge watching!” Watch the trailer for Jongo on: www.motionstory.co.za.

© M

otion Story

Africa’s First Mainstream Superhero

12 | SPOTLIGHT www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

The Mercedes-Benz Bokeh South African International Fashion Film Festival has been hailed as one of the most inspiring events on the fashion

film calendar. Bringing together creatives from the film, fashion, artistic and technical industries, it takes place twice a year in Cape Town and Johannesburg. This year’s event took place on 27 and 28 March in the Mother City at the luxurious African Pride 15 on Orange.

Winners for the 2015 festival include:• The Legend of Shalimar by Bruno Aveillan,

who won Best Cinematography and Best Direction

• Risky Dancing by Kuba Lubniewski, who took home the Best Art Direction Award

• David Oyelowo, who won Best Actor for his role in 206 by ContentMode by J Cooper

• Sonja Kinski, who won Best Actress in The Purgatory of Monotony by Ace Norton

• Etro The Encounter by Valentina Bea, who won the award for Best Fashion.

The Callsheet attended the event and managed to bag a quick chat with Adrian Lazarus, Owner of the Bokeh Fashion Film Festival.

The Callsheet: What is the benchmark for a film to be considered a fashion film?Adrian Lazarus: In my opinion, a fashion film is a brand video that is shot in a fashionable way – currently most of them centre on fashion, but that is really just a function of the campaigns being shot.

Watch, car, fragrance and luxury brands are the biggest champions of this emerging genre of marketing and content creation.

The Callsheet: In fashion films, is the story the message, or the message the story?Lazarus: I think that the story is the message in most of them, with a large part of the attraction being the beautiful imagery. The films are meant to convey the essence of a brand through lifestyle and product placement. The products are woven into the film in a subtle and pleasing way.

The Callsheet: You mentioned that fashion films are imperative to have in one’s arsenal of marketing material. Are fashion films brand-specific? What is it about the brand that can be told through film?Lazarus: Fashion, especially, loves a fashion film as clothing was always meant to be seen flowing and moving on an actor or actress. Some brands need to be experienced in a short film in order to fully convey their appeal and style. As the fashion films celebrate the DNA of a brand with an approach to lifestyle, they become a way in which fans can identify with the brands, without them feeling as if someone is selling them a product. The more we interact with media on mobile devices, and as bandwidth gets cheaper and faster, the more consumers are chewing up video content. The big brands know that fans of a brand will share content that’s relevant, fun and appealing. What better way to get your brand into consumers’ hands?

The Callsheet: If these films are a form of marketing material, in what way do they impact or add value to the film industry in South Africa? Lazarus: Well, if we take the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival in California, they had 11 000 submissions last year. That’s a lot of fashion

films! We are encouraging people involved in fashion design, film schools, advertising schools, agencies and all related industries to look at this genre and see the potential for creating job opportunities. This all translates into many more films being shot. Imagine if with every commercial or stills campaign, we added on another three days for a fashion film? That’s extra editing, shooting and crew days. As a world-class film destination, we should all be encouraging our clients to consider the option.

Interview with

ADRIAN LAZARUSof Bokeh Fashion Film Festival

All images ©

Mercedes-Benz Bokeh South African International Fashion Film

Festival

14 | IN PRODUCTION www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

Apocalypse SloughThe story takes place in the last few days of mankind’s existence, as a comet makes its way towards an inevitable meeting with Earth. Rob Lowe, Jenna Fischer, Megan Mullally, Mathew Baynton and Pauline Quirke will star. Be sure to expect madcap comedy, explosions and the requisite amount of romance in this apocalyptic comedy.

AlisonTowerkop Creations’ Uga Carlini is writing and directing this adaptation of the remarkable life story of Alison Botha, who survived being raped, stabbed 37 times, and disemboweled, not to mention having her throat slashed 17 times. Christia Visser (Hollywood in My Huis) stars as the young Alison, with Amy Nelson producing.

Black SailsThe pirates are back at Cape Town Film Studios fi lming season three of Black Sails, which premieres on Starz on 24 January 2015, according to Deadline. The fi rst season of the Treasure Island prequel set a viewership record of a Starz original series and won two Emmy Awards. Film Afrika is producing.

Dead Before DyingPolice offi cer Mat Joubert has lost everything. Due to police intervention, his wife was tragically killed, resulting in Mat’s inability to continue his work. His new boss wants him out of the department, and at the same time a chilling spate of murders terrifi es the residents of Cape Town. A common thread links the seemingly unrelated murders, a 19th century German gun. The fi lm is rumoured to star Sean Bean and Lars Mikkelson.

DetourWritten and directed by Christopher Smith, indie thriller Detour will begin shooting in South Africa in the coming months. Tye Sheridan, currently the darling of the indie scene and a rising star in young Hollywood, will star as Harper, a student who plots the murder of a deceitful relative. Sheridan has previously worked alongside Matthew McConaughey and Nicholas Cage.

Grand Theft Auto The fi lm will be based on the creation of the smash-hit game, and has begun fi lming in South Africa. It stars Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe as Sam Houser, the British developer who co-founded Rockstar Games, and Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, an activist who is hell-bent on banning the game due to its perceived ‘murderous’ infl uences.

Mandela’s GunProduced and directed by John Irvin (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) Mandela’s Gun is a biopic that will chronicle the great statesman’s time as a guerilla fi ghter. It stars Tumesho Masha and Nick Boraine and is currently in the post-production phase.

IN PRODUCTIONMay 2015Thanks to ever-present confi dentiality clauses, no one is ever allowed to offi cially talk about what’s in production in Africa, but here are some of the projects to look forward to:

Thanks to ever-present confi dentiality clauses, no one is ever allowed to offi cially talk about what’s in production in Africa, but here are some of the projects to look forward to:


14 | IN PRODUCTION www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

Apocalypse SloughThe story takes place in the last few days of mankind’s existence, as a comet makes its way towards an inevitable meeting with Earth. Rob Lowe, Jenna Fischer, Megan Mullally, Mathew Baynton and Pauline Quirke will star. Be sure to expect madcap comedy, explosions and the requisite amount of romance in this apocalyptic comedy.

AlisonTowerkop Creations’ Uga Carlini is writing and directing this adaptation of the remarkable life story of Alison Botha, who survived being raped, stabbed 37 times, and disemboweled, not to mention having her throat slashed 17 times. Christia Visser (Hollywood in My Huis) stars as the young Alison, with Amy Nelson producing.

Black SailsThe pirates are back at Cape Town Film Studios fi lming season three of Black Sails, which premieres on Starz on 24 January 2015, according to Deadline. The fi rst season of the Treasure Island prequel set a viewership record of a Starz original series and won two Emmy Awards. Film Afrika is producing.

Dead Before DyingPolice offi cer Mat Joubert has lost everything. Due to police intervention, his wife was tragically killed, resulting in Mat’s inability to continue his work. His new boss wants him out of the department, and at the same time a chilling spate of murders terrifi es the residents of Cape Town. A common thread links the seemingly unrelated murders, a 19th century German gun. The fi lm is rumoured to star Sean Bean and Lars Mikkelson.

DetourWritten and directed by Christopher Smith, indie thriller Detour will begin shooting in South Africa in the coming months. Tye Sheridan, currently the darling of the indie scene and a rising star in young Hollywood, will star as Harper, a student who plots the murder of a deceitful relative. Sheridan has previously worked alongside Matthew McConaughey and Nicholas Cage.

Grand Theft Auto The fi lm will be based on the creation of the smash-hit game, and has begun fi lming in South Africa. It stars Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe as Sam Houser, the British developer who co-founded Rockstar Games, and Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, an activist who is hell-bent on banning the game due to its perceived ‘murderous’ infl uences.

Mandela’s GunProduced and directed by John Irvin (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) Mandela’s Gun is a biopic that will chronicle the great statesman’s time as a guerilla fi ghter. It stars Tumesho Masha and Nick Boraine and is currently in the post-production phase.

IN PRODUCTIONMay 2015Thanks to ever-present confi dentiality clauses, no one is ever allowed to offi cially talk about what’s in production in Africa, but here are some of the projects to look forward to:



IN PRODUCTION | 15www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

‘n Man Soos my PaFrom Collective Dream Films comes ‘n Man Soos my Pa, an Afrikaans drama written and directed by Sean Else. Deon Lotz, Neels van Jaarsveld and Sandra Prinsloo star.

Queen of KatweShadow & Act reports that Mira Nair is lined up to direct an adaptation of Tim Crothers book, Queen of Katwe, about a Ugandan chess prodigy. Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave) is set to star, with Disney producing. It’s expected to fi lm in Uganda, where Nair set up the Maisha Film Lab.

Shepherds and Butchers British actor Steve Coogan is set to star in Oliver Schmitz’s Shepherds and Butchers, with principal photography beginning in mid-June. The fi lm is set during the collapse of Apartheid and will feature Coogan as a world-weary lawyer, Johan

Webber, who “takes on a seemingly hopeless multiple murder case and uncovers scandalous shortcomings in South Africa’s capital punishment system as he mounts a defense for a prison guard traumatized by the executions he took part in”, according to Deadline.

The Siege of JadotvilleAccording to Deadline, 50 Shades of Grey and The Fall star Jamie Dornan will be in South Africa in 2015 to fi lm The Siege of Jadotville, the feature fi lm debut of commercials and music video director Richie Smyth.

Set in the Congo just after the murder of Patrice Lumumba, Dornan will play Commandant Pat Quinlan, an Irishman who led a UN battalion of 150 Irish troops that held out against a force of 3 000 local troops led by French and Belgian mercenaries working for the mining companies.

The Whale CallerThis hotly-anticipated adaption by Zola Maseko of the Zakes Mda classic “tells the story of a love triangle between the titular Whale Caller, his beloved whale Sharisha, and Saluni, the village drunk who teaches him to open his heart to people again”, according to the fi lm’s Indiegogo page.

Mohenjo DaroVariety says Ashutosh Gowariker (the Oscar-nominated crossover hit Lagaan) is directing Mohenjo Daro, an epic period adventure and love story set during the Indus Valley Civilization. Disney Studios India is producing, while Hrithik Roshan and Miss India Universe 2010 runner-up Pooja Hegde will co-star. Digital Spy says the fi lm will start shooting in January after a six-week delay caused by Roshan injuring his shoulder at gym.

Lupita Nyong’o (Centre) in 12 Years a Slave ©

Francois Duham

el, Fox Searchlight Pictures


WesgroThe Callsheet: What are your objectives for Wesgro’s attendance at Cannes Film?Wesgro: Wesgro is the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape.

We are the first point of contact for foreign buyers, local exporters and investors wishing to take advantage of the unlimited business potential in the region.

As the provincial and city body mandated to promote all aspects of the local and the foreign film and media industry Wesgro Film and Media hopes:1. To market the Western Cape Province

(WCP) and the City of Cape Town as a film-friendly location.

2. To take meetings with foreign companies in order to introduce the SA national dti incentives and discuss the services available in WCP and SA.

3. To introduce WCP filmmakers with incentive-driven projects to potential co-producers.

The Callsheet: In which ways will you promote each of SA’s strengths?Wesgro: Wesgro will be able to highlight the strength of the South African industry across the value chain.

The

SOUTH AFRICAN PRESENCE AT CANNES FILM

2015

“Five year strategy aside, the NFVF, to which Wesgro aligns its film strategy, has identified Cannes as a national pavilion. This global showcase allows “Location South Africa” to be anchored in the mind of the feature film world.

“©

Leigh-Anne A

uerswald


WesgroThe Callsheet: What are your objectives for Wesgro’s attendance at Cannes Film?Wesgro: Wesgro is the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape.

We are the first point of contact for foreign buyers, local exporters and investors wishing to take advantage of the unlimited business potential in the region.

As the provincial and city body mandated to promote all aspects of the local and the foreign film and media industry Wesgro Film and Media hopes:1. To market the Western Cape Province

(WCP) and the City of Cape Town as a film-friendly location.

2. To take meetings with foreign companies in order to introduce the SA national dti incentives and discuss the services available in WCP and SA.

3. To introduce WCP filmmakers with incentive-driven projects to potential co-producers.

The Callsheet: In which ways will you promote each of SA’s strengths?Wesgro: Wesgro will be able to highlight the strength of the South African industry across the value chain.

The

SOUTH AFRICAN PRESENCE AT CANNES FILM

2015

“Five year strategy aside, the NFVF, to which Wesgro aligns its film strategy, has identified Cannes as a national pavilion. This global showcase allows “Location South Africa” to be anchored in the mind of the feature film world.

“

© Leigh-A

nne Auersw

ald

SPOTLIGHT | 17www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

The Callsheet: How does Cannes Film tie in to Wesgro’s 5 year film strategy?Wesgro: Five year strategy aside, the NFVF, to which Wesgro aligns its film strategy, has identified Cannes as a national pavilion. Therefore the Western Cape Province and City of Cape Town need to be represented. This global showcase allows “Location South Africa” to be anchored in the mind of the feature film world.

The Callsheet: Who are you looking forward to meeting with at Cannes Film?Wesgro: Wesgro Film and Media is planning to meet with many of the bilateral stakeholders, culture agencies, representatives from co-production countries and producers with potential projects for South Africa. It is also important to support our producers in market so we are looking forward to those joint meetings as well.

KZN Film CommissionThe Callsheet: What are your objectives for KZN Film Commission’s attendance at Cannes Film?KZN Film Commission: KZN Film Commission has partnered with NFVF and will be a partner in the South African Pavilion, the pavilion will ensure that KZN is positioned as a global film destination. We will further be involved in the following: • We have sponsored the first session of

the producers network breakfast session which will be on 14 May 2015. The title will be “producers network, brought to you by KZNFC”

• We will be a partner during the South Africa Networking Function

• We will also have our own KZNFC cocktail function

• We will be a partner at the SA Showcase• We have also sponsored the Africa

Factory which will be launched in Cannes on 20 May 2015

KZNFC is going big this year, we intend on being as visible as possible.

In terms of the facilitation of international productions, we have service companies that are on our database. When productions are interested in coming to our province we ensure a smooth partnership with the service companies. We further have rebates that are available to international producers, and we have national rebates as well as provincial incentives (Terms and conditions apply).

NFVFThe Callsheet: What is the NFVF’s presence at Cannes Film this year? And what is your key focus for the festival? NFVF: As with the previous years, the NFVF is leading a South African film delegation, our message being ‘From our Streets to the World’. We aim to attract more strategic partners that would create partnerships with our filmmakers, co-produce with them as well as give key international studios reasons to come to South Africa to utilise the country as a location. Whilst we will be driving our theme; we will also take into consideration the national theme, ‘We are African’, promoting Africa in general; in the process strengthening ties with the rest of the continent. This year our headline partner is the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission.

The Callsheet: How many projects is the NFVF funding in 2015, and how does this compare to previous years? NFVF: Every year we allocate a certain

amount specifically for filmmakers who wish to attend Cannes as this is one of the key markets our local filmmakers can benefit from. Our focus is on further developing emerging filmmakers by exposing them to the international platforms, and filmmakers who are seeking co-production partners. We are also in partnership with Creative Minds, which develops young emerging filmmakers by introducing them to the international arena.

Notable South African Film Companies at Cannes Film 2015ZenHQ FilmsChris Roland, of ZenHQ Films and My Movies Sales & Distribution, is attending Marche Du Film and screening three films, The Windmill (Die Windpomp), Bordering on Bad Behaviour, and the just completed action thriller Dias Santana, and will be acquiring films for African distribution.The company is also pitching Economic Hitmen, and seeking co-production opportunities. Contact: [email protected]

RefineryThe Refinery team will be meeting potential partners and following up with old clients. With Refinery’s post-production focus, it tends to be a support to various South Africa production companies on projects coming to South Africa. As well as facilitate a link for South Africa producers to clients who have worked with through the years. Refinery is hoping to secure more post for SA, especially because of the country’s post rebate.

Refinery will be located at the SA pavilion. The key contact person is Tracey Williams: [email protected]

In the last year, South Africa has been focused on bringing more productions to South Africa and in forging new relationships with international and

regional filmmakers. But perhaps the single most important thing to come of these developments is the growth and demand for high-end studio space – from feature films and television series to commercials, shorts and everything in between.

One of SA’s greatest achievements to date has been the creation of the Cape Town Film Studios (CTFS), headed by Nico Dekker. A public-private partnership, the Hollywood-style studio space is remarkable in design and remarkable in the type of work it has taken on. Not only does the company have a massive backlot complete with a Soweto and Robben Island set used in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, but it also built the entire set for the Starz series Black Sails from scratch, complete with two water tanks to house the enormous pirate ships used in the show.

CTFA has 7 000 square metres of high-specification soundproof stages spread over four buildings, with dedicated support facilities, two workshops, each 3 157m2 in size, for set construction, art department and storage space, as well as production offices and a custom built, 37-seat cinema fitted with Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

“To date, more than 10 productions, including Safe House, Chronicle, Dredd and The Borrowers have already utilized the studio

facilities, creating in excess of 30 000 job opportunities,” Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies told the media last year.

Although CTFS have certainly made waves in the news, South Africa is also home to other unique studios with a wide range of offerings. Sasani Africa, based in Johannesburg, has been working in the industry since the 80’s and has nine state-of-the-art studios with HD facilities, equipment and digital control rooms. Their track record includes work with National Geographic Channel and SA’s favourite soap operas including Scandal!, Skeem Saam, Rhythm City, Isidingo, 7de Laan and Muvhango.

Sasani’s Managing Director Eileen Sandrock says that one of the ways they’ve stayed on top is through meticulous client relations. “We focus very closely on our clients requirements. Before building any studios, or designing any new technical systems, we liaise closely with our clients in order to provide them with a solution that meets their requirements and accommodates their budget,” she explains. The studios have recently upgraded their systems to include a range of technologies. In June 2015, they will complete the construction of two new soundproof studios, 885m2 and 595m2 in size with an 8.2m grid height. “As soon as we have secured a client, we will design the technology to meet their requirements,” Sandrock says of the new space.

She goes on to say that the professional

videotape is nearing the end of its life and as such, Sasani now also offers a complete, tapeless workflow solution in a shared environment. “The efficiency is remarkable in that the source material is instantaneously available in post-production, and multiple users have simultaneous access to content from various locations,” she explains. “Our soaps follow a direct-to-server recording system, which can record four simultaneous video channels and 16 embedded audio channels. Three of our daily soaps, Scandal!, Rhythm City and Skeem Saam, record directly onto their raided servers in their control rooms and the media is immediately available for editing in a remote location. We have also extended this tapeless work-flow to final delivery, which is becoming more popular, as it eliminates all requirements for tapes or drives.”

Other great films studios in South Africa include Joburg-based Visual Impact, who are very involved in the booming reality TV sector and Waterfront Film Studios in Cape Town, who offer three sound stages, full post production facilities, VFX and animation, audio post production and more. Atlas Studios, a space for film, TV and commercials productions, offers attention to detail and the convenience of being situated close to all related facilities. Projects they’ve been involved in include numerous SABC sitcoms such as Emzini Wezinsizwa, My Perfect Family, Moferefere Lenyalong and Stumbo Stomp.

18 | FEATURE www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

SA STUDIOS IN 2015The Backbone of Africa's Film Industry

© Photo H

ire

© Sasani

In the last year, South Africa has been focused on bringing more productions to South Africa and in forging new relationships with international and

regional filmmakers. But perhaps the single most important thing to come of these developments is the growth and demand for high-end studio space – from feature films and television series to commercials, shorts and everything in between.

One of SA’s greatest achievements to date has been the creation of the Cape Town Film Studios (CTFS), headed by Nico Dekker. A public-private partnership, the Hollywood-style studio space is remarkable in design and remarkable in the type of work it has taken on. Not only does the company have a massive backlot complete with a Soweto and Robben Island set used in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, but it also built the entire set for the Starz series Black Sails from scratch, complete with two water tanks to house the enormous pirate ships used in the show.

CTFA has 7 000 square metres of high-specification soundproof stages spread over four buildings, with dedicated support facilities, two workshops, each 3 157m2 in size, for set construction, art department and storage space, as well as production offices and a custom built, 37-seat cinema fitted with Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

“To date, more than 10 productions, including Safe House, Chronicle, Dredd and The Borrowers have already utilized the studio

facilities, creating in excess of 30 000 job opportunities,” Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies told the media last year.

Although CTFS have certainly made waves in the news, South Africa is also home to other unique studios with a wide range of offerings. Sasani Africa, based in Johannesburg, has been working in the industry since the 80’s and has nine state-of-the-art studios with HD facilities, equipment and digital control rooms. Their track record includes work with National Geographic Channel and SA’s favourite soap operas including Scandal!, Skeem Saam, Rhythm City, Isidingo, 7de Laan and Muvhango.

Sasani’s Managing Director Eileen Sandrock says that one of the ways they’ve stayed on top is through meticulous client relations. “We focus very closely on our clients requirements. Before building any studios, or designing any new technical systems, we liaise closely with our clients in order to provide them with a solution that meets their requirements and accommodates their budget,” she explains. The studios have recently upgraded their systems to include a range of technologies. In June 2015, they will complete the construction of two new soundproof studios, 885m2 and 595m2 in size with an 8.2m grid height. “As soon as we have secured a client, we will design the technology to meet their requirements,” Sandrock says of the new space.

She goes on to say that the professional

videotape is nearing the end of its life and as such, Sasani now also offers a complete, tapeless workflow solution in a shared environment. “The efficiency is remarkable in that the source material is instantaneously available in post-production, and multiple users have simultaneous access to content from various locations,” she explains. “Our soaps follow a direct-to-server recording system, which can record four simultaneous video channels and 16 embedded audio channels. Three of our daily soaps, Scandal!, Rhythm City and Skeem Saam, record directly onto their raided servers in their control rooms and the media is immediately available for editing in a remote location. We have also extended this tapeless work-flow to final delivery, which is becoming more popular, as it eliminates all requirements for tapes or drives.”

Other great films studios in South Africa include Joburg-based Visual Impact, who are very involved in the booming reality TV sector and Waterfront Film Studios in Cape Town, who offer three sound stages, full post production facilities, VFX and animation, audio post production and more. Atlas Studios, a space for film, TV and commercials productions, offers attention to detail and the convenience of being situated close to all related facilities. Projects they’ve been involved in include numerous SABC sitcoms such as Emzini Wezinsizwa, My Perfect Family, Moferefere Lenyalong and Stumbo Stomp.


SA STUDIOS IN 2015The Backbone of Africa's Film Industry

© Photo H

ire

© Sasani

in that success is the fact that we bring a lot of products into SA, like Kino Flo Lighting Systems.” But you always have to innovate, he continues, and think of how you get people to use your studios – especially when you’re based in such an amazing location like Cape Town.

The Pixel Foundry is also unique in its approach to the industry. It represents professional photographers from their studios in Cape Town’s CBD, providing full production services to photographers and filmmakers through two onsite facilities. Executive Producer Sean Ackermann says that they’ve recently moved to new studios in the same building, offering high ceilings, drive-in access and equipped with kitchens. “The Pixel Foundry is also taking large strides in bringing the stills and film industries closer together,” he says, “Realising the need to be capable in both disciplines we have acquired the resources of highly skilled people in both respective industries. We have worked on major campaigns for SAB Miller, The Foschini group, McDonald’s, Burger King, Woolworths, Mercedes and many more.”

FEATURE | 19www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

“For the last eleven years, Studio 1 and 2 have been successfully used by Villa Rosa, a soap opera which is finishing at the end of August 2015,” says Atlas Co-Founder, Lorien Gimpel. “In actuality, the studios were originally designed for the soap opera THE RES, produced by Anant Singh for the SABC. These purpose-built studios are ideally suited for this mode of television filming, and given that they are becoming available in September 2015, will provide the perfect home for a new production.”

The company is committed to supporting the local creative industry and its inception in 2002 served as a catalyst for reviving the Milpark District in Johannesburg. The First Wednesday Film Club, an independent film-screening initiative at Atlas, has just celebrated its 10th year, and Atlas has also partnered with Olive Tree Theatre to bring local productions and film screenings to people in the area.

South Africa has long had a booming commercials industry, with a number of studios tailoring their offerings around the needs of this particular sector. These include the likes of include Foghound and Island Studios, the latter of which has facilities in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Another strong area of expertise is stills production, with many internationals visiting the country in order to shoot editorials or ad campaigns. Roodebloem Studios offer facilities for stills, films and events, as well as gear hire. Rory Alexander, who heads up Marketing at Roodebloem, says that staying on top of the industry is about more than having beautiful studio spaces. “Which is why we pride ourselves above all else on providing great customer service,” he explains. “We have a dedicated studio team ready to take your booking, welcome you on set and make your

shoot run like dream.” Last year the company completely redid

the curve in their Church Studio. “Over the years we have applied hundreds, if not thousands, of coats of paint to the Church curve to ensure it’s the perfect colour for your next shoot and it all adds up. We painstakingly sanded down the curve for several days until we had an even, silky smooth surface all over.” They are continually purchasing new lighting and digital gear to ensure that clients are settled both in studio and on location.

Photo Hire, a leader in SA’s rental market and dealer and distributor of all major brands, also has photographic studios available for hire. Studios A, B and C offer 300m2, 250m2 and 400m2 respectively, while the company offers just about anything a photographer and filmmaker could ever want – from cameras and lighting to grip and digital support. Co-Founder Pieter Badenhorst says that their secret for success is taking each day in its stride. “People think it’s glamorous, working in the film industry, but it’s not,” he says with a smile, “You need the latest gear, reliable staff, people you can trust. A big help

© Pixel Foundry

© Atlas Studios

© Roodebloem

Studios


Studio Description Notable Projects / Specifications Location Website / Contacts

Almost Famous Studio

Fully equipped daylight/flash studio for castings, stills shoots and more.

3.1m high infinity curve Woodstock, Cape Town

www.almost-famous.co.za

Atlas Studios Soundstages for TV drama, sitcoms, commercials and gameshows. Daylight studios ideal for stills or events.

Studio 1:440m2 with sound stageStudio 2: 460m2 with sound stageStudio 3: 320m2 with sound stageStudio 4: 270m2 no sound stage Event area and film club

Milpark, Johannesburg

www.atlasstudios.co.za

Bellovista Produc-tions

Production company with experience in Southern Africa and South America, specialising in documentaries and travelogues among others

100m2 studio space Woodstock, Cape Town

www.bellovistaproductions.com

Buchanan Studios Drive-in studio with ample parking 235m2 drive-in studio63A 3-Phase powerADSLParking

Woodstock, Cape Town

www.buchananstudios.co.za

Cape Island Studios

Film and television studio complex incorporating extensive camera, grip and lighting facilities.

Stage 1: 25.9 x 18m, 6.2m heightStage 2: 16.5 x 19.5m, 6.2m heightStage 3: 27.5 x 19.5m, 6.2m heightFlexible work space with drive-in access, cycloramas and on-site lighting, camera and grip facilities

Milnerton, Cape Town

www.islandstudios.net

Cape Town Film Studios

The first custom-built, Hollywood-style film studio complex of its kind in Africa, with state-of-the-art support services.

4 sound stages: 2100m2, 1850m2, 1200m2, 1850m2

Main data centreEnergy centre2 workshopsHazardous waste facility Medieval backlot.

Film City Boule-vard, Cape Town

www.capetownfilmstudios.co.za

Clive Morris Productions Studio

A fully integrated award-winning produc-tion company that caters for all aspects of creative audio visual communication.

81m2 TV studio with green screen infinity curve Randburg,Johannesburg

www.cmproductions.co.za

D3 Studios Studio located in Johanesburg’s Balfour Park area.

63m2 studio with green screen and infinity curve Balfour Park, Johannesburg

www.bafwethu.com

Foghound Studios TV and radio content producers and studio facilities.

Notable Project: Sharp Shooter for M-Net2 professional film studiosEquipment storeCanteen & wardrobe areaStudio 1: 18m x 11.6m with three-wall cyclorama, lighting grid & 3-phase powerStudio 2: 7m x 5.7m with small lighting gantry and cycloramaStudio lights available for hire60kva generator for power cuts or location shoots

Midrand, Johannesburg

www.foghound.co.za

Fotomax Professional print & photographic equip-ment warehouse with studio hire.

Please contact [email protected] for details Riverhorse Valley, Durban

www.fotomax.co.za

Global Access The company has three state-of-the-art studios available in dry hire or fully equipped

3 studios ranging from 234m2 to 564m2 Notable Projects: Money for Mahala, Gospel Grooves, Dirty Laundry, Dzinge, Skwizas

Excom, Johannesburg

www.globalaccess.co.za

Gold Island Studios

Joburg-based film and television studio complex incorporating extensive camera, grip and lighting facilities

Stage 1: 20.6 x 29, 8.1m height Stage 2: 14.5 x 29m, 7m height with flexible work space.Drive-in accessCycloramas and on-site lighting, camera and grip facilities

Midrand, Johannesburg

www.islandstudios.net

South Africa has been focused on bringing more productions to South Africa and in forging new relationships with international and regional filmmakers.

“

“



Grinder Films Studio and stage technology for a table top studio work.

315m2 total floorspace36m2 infinity curve150 amp 3-Phase power70kw 3-Phase super silenced generator54m2 lighting gridHome Economist Kitchen, fully equippedWork surfacesStore/prep room

Cape Town www.grinderfilms.com

MagnaTude Studios

Studios and post-production services, purpose-built for live HD multi-camera production.

270m2 studiosGreen screenInfinity curve4 camera multi-cam productions with control room & fibre uplink4.5m lighting grid with Desisti cold light supplied & mounted

Mowbray, Cape Town

www.magnatude.co.za

Manrose Film & Photographic Studios

A ground floor studio with free use of all set pieces.

7.5m wide infinity curve Salt River, Cape Town

[email protected]

Media Film Service A leading film rental facility with studios in Cape Town.

Studio: 340m2, 6m height with lighting grid 28m and 18m infinity curvesOnsite grips and lighting accessoriesFull camera, lighting, and grips back up and technical supportWardrobe and changing room

Durbanville, Cape Town


M-Net Production Services

M-Net Corporate has 6 studios situated in Broadcast Centre, with three used by SuperSport 24/7. The company has a wide bouquet with special interest, magazine and other shows including Big Brother Africa and Carte Blanche.

Studios ranging from 165m2 to 500m2

Studio 1: 165m2,rebuilt and refurbished with 5 cameras in SD and HDStudio 6: 500m2, SD and HD capabilities.

Randburg,Johannesburg

www.mnet.co.za,www.mnetcorporate.co.za

Phoenix Studios Green Screen Studio for visual effects, film, commercials, corporates & music videos.

100m2 studios with green screen, visual effects and full wall-to-wall wrapped chroma cyclorama

Blairgowrie, Johannesburg

www.phoenixstudios.co.za

Photo Hire & Sales / Cine Photo Tools

A recognised leader in SA’s rental market with 3 large, versatile studios, repairs, digital support, and sales.

Studio A: 300m2 with 8.5 x 8.5 infinity curveStudio B: 250m2 with 8.5 x 8.5 infinity curveStudio C: 400m2 with 10 x 14m infinity curve3-Phase power supplyKitchen and dining areasFull range of gear available for rental

Zonnebloem, Cape Town

www.photohire.co.za / www.cinepho-totools.com

Q-Studios Large studios complete with cyclorama, lighting grids and more.

900, 700 and 540m2 studios with cyclorama, lighting grids, 3-phase power, parking, dressing rooms, makeup and hairdressing.

Kew, Johannesburg www.q-studios.co.za

Realtime Pictures Studio facilities based in Linden, Joburg.

80m² studio 55m² set storage

Linden, Johannesburg

www.realtimepictures.com

Red Pepper Pictures x 4

Studios with production and broadcast facilities.

Studios include infinity curves Linden, Johannesburg

www.redpepper.tv

Roodebloem Studios

Photographic and commercials studios complete with gear rental from flash and cameras to digital equipment

CHURCH Studio 1: The Church 200 m2

Studio 2: The Hall 180 m2

Studio 3: The Gallery 60 m2

Studio 5: The Outdoor Curve Curve: 7.9m x 3.3 m high DAYLIGHTStudio 6: The Drive-in 160 m2

Studio 7: Jett Studio 180 m2

Studio 8: The Tailor Shop 48 m2

Studio 9: The Kitchen Studio 42 m2

Studio 10: The Mezzanine 23 m2

Studio 11: The Roof Deck 85m2

Roodebloem, Cape Town

www.roodebloemstudios.co.za



Salt River Film Studios

A large studio facility in the heart of Cape Town with set-building options and a dedicated indoor environment.

5500m2 of floor space with production facilitiesUnusually high roof beams An extensive gantry system to assist with lighting and rigging requirementsScissor lifts High roller shutter doors2 separate 150 Amp 3-Phase power points

Salt River, Cape Town

www.saltriverfilmstudios.com

Sasani Studios Television and film studios ranging between 59m2 and 1057m2, with post production facilities.

Notable Projects: National Geographic, Scandal!, Muvhango, Rhythm City, Turn It Out, 7de Laan, Big Brother – The Chase, eKasi Stage 1: Booked for ongoing TV showStage 2: 527.57m2

Stage 3: 182.9m2

Stage 5: 454.86m2

Studio A: 59.13m2

Studio B: 153.68m2

Highlands North, Johannesburg

www.sasanistudios.co.za

Senepe Studios Studio for music videos, commercials and corporate videos.

200m² studio with 16m infinity curve and lighting grid Silverton, Pretoria www.senepestudios.com

South Africa Broadcast Corporation / Radio Broadcast Facilities

The SABC has broadcast, recording and outside broadcast facilities across the country including music studios, a drama studio and TV broadcasting.

SABC Radio Broadcast Facilities have studios in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Mafikeng, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and other regional studios.

South Africa - countrywide

www.web.sabc.co.za/sabc/home/bf

South African Broadcast Corporation Henley Television Facilities

Helney does broadcasting, production and post-production. These facilities are situated in the Henley Studio complex in Auckland Park and forms part of the SABC Auckland Park Campus

Seven studios with broadcast facilities, production studios, post production, video editing, graphics, audio and transfer facilitiesStudio 1: 112m2

Studio 2: 140m2

Studio 3: 297m2

Studio 4: 305m2

Studio 5: 671m2

Studio 6: 297m2

9.4m lighting grid

Auckland Park, Johannesburg

www.sabc.co.za/wps/portal/SABC/SABCHENLEY

Stark Films One of SA’s leading independent television production companies with programmes like Generations and Binneland.

Two studios 750m² and 500m² in size with 7m lighting grids Randburg, Johannesburg

www.starkfilms.co.za

Telemedia Studios Broadcast facilities located in Rivonia. Studio 1: 180m2

Studio 2: 85m2

4.5m height

Rivonia, Johannesburg

www.telemedia.co.za

The Daylight Studio

Studio space located in the heart of Cape Town’s CBD with skylight, and views of Lions Head.

250m2 studio space36m2 opening skylightFloor to ceiling windowsWooden deckRoof garden23 x 3m balcony

Cape Town,City Bowl

www.breestreetstudios.co.za

Urban Brew Studios

Broadcast facilities ranging from 35m2 - 600m2.

Studios 1,5,6: 600m2

Studio 2: 300m2

Studios 3,4: 200m2

35m2 Green screen

Randburg, Johannesburg

www.urbanbrew.tv

Visual Impact / The Media Hive

Visual Impact provides comprehensive rental service, sales and skilled services through in-house team in Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as studio space in Cape Town.

120m2 studio with BBC standard soundproofingDressing roomKitchen and bathroomDrive-in accessGreen or blue screen shots10 x 14m infinity curve5m height

Cape Town,City Bowl

www.visuals.tv

Waterfront Film Studios

Comprehensive range of facilities with the latest in equipment and technology.

3 sound stagesFull post production facilitiesVFX animation facilitiesAudio post studiosNew media productionLanguage dubbingLiDAR & cyber scanningDigital film restoration and remasteringArchiving

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

www.waterfrontfilmstudios.com

Zootee Studios Studios for photography, music videos, corporate videos, etc.

Studio measuring 239m2

Infinity curve: 7.2m x 4.5m x 6m with a 32.4m2 painted curve areaBrooklyn, Cape Town

www.zooteestudios.com/studio

VISUAL IMPACT STUDIO | CAPE TOWN | 23www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

The Cape Town-based Visual Impact Studio focuses on small to medium size productions offering comprehensive, economically priced

packages often including equipment and lights. The studio is conveniently centrally located in the colourful Gardens neighbourhood of Cape Town.

Web-based content producers have particularly indicated that they are benefitting from the trained Visual Impact staff assisting them, in turn producing above average quality content. “Some producers are recognising that Visual Impact’s staff are able to assist clients on a number of levels to increase their production value. “Staff assist with setting up camera menus to lighting the green screen” says Marius van Straaten from Visual Impact. “We fortunately have a number of experienced engineers and DOPs as part of our brain trust.

The studio has differentiated itself by offering

high-speed connectivity and live-streaming services as well as having a permanent green screen with infinity curve. The studio offers up to 30 MBPS fiber speeds for uploads as clients are increasingly requiring upload services. Stefan Nell adds that “we complement the connectivity services with our live-streaming kits as clients stream live events from time to time from the studio. We have tested various options and have good solutions in hand”

The 120 square meter space has all the qualities needed for a functional 100% sound proof studio from attenuated airconditioning to a 5 meter floor to ceiling clearance. This high clearance allows clients to avoid hot spots and get better spread by having the lights further away. This in turn results in a more natural lighting look, especially when lighting for an outdoor look.

The studio offers a client room with a lounge including eight seater couch, make up, mirror

and kitchenette. The kitchenette is great for self-catering clients who prefer to prepare their own meals and snacks if need be. The toilet and shower are adjacent to the lounge making the general experience and setup convenient and contained.

Apart from parking bays available at the Media Hive additional parking is available close to the Media Hive building.

The studio coordinator, Kelsey encourages clients to use the very affordable in house catering, “Clients are surprised to see our extensive and affordable menu on offer”. The menu includes the favourite basics like burgers, fish and chips, as well as more refined dining, like bobotie, soups and three-course meal options.

If you are interested in the studio, the visuals website offers more in depth information and diagrams: www.visuals.tv/studio/33-studio/

VISUAL IMPACT STUDIO

VISUAL IMPACT STUDIO | CAPE TOWN | 23www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

The Cape Town-based Visual Impact Studio focuses on small to medium size productions offering comprehensive, economically priced

packages often including equipment and lights. The studio is conveniently centrally located in the colourful Gardens neighbourhood of Cape Town.

Web-based content producers have particularly indicated that they are benefitting from the trained Visual Impact staff assisting them, in turn producing above average quality content. “Some producers are recognising that Visual Impact’s staff are able to assist clients on a number of levels to increase their production value. “Staff assist with setting up camera menus to lighting the green screen” says Marius van Straaten from Visual Impact. “We fortunately have a number of experienced engineers and DOPs as part of our brain trust.

The studio has differentiated itself by offering

high-speed connectivity and live-streaming services as well as having a permanent green screen with infinity curve. The studio offers up to 30 MBPS fiber speeds for uploads as clients are increasingly requiring upload services. Stefan Nell adds that “we complement the connectivity services with our live-streaming kits as clients stream live events from time to time from the studio. We have tested various options and have good solutions in hand”

The 120 square meter space has all the qualities needed for a functional 100% sound proof studio from attenuated airconditioning to a 5 meter floor to ceiling clearance. This high clearance allows clients to avoid hot spots and get better spread by having the lights further away. This in turn results in a more natural lighting look, especially when lighting for an outdoor look.

The studio offers a client room with a lounge including eight seater couch, make up, mirror

and kitchenette. The kitchenette is great for self-catering clients who prefer to prepare their own meals and snacks if need be. The toilet and shower are adjacent to the lounge making the general experience and setup convenient and contained.

Apart from parking bays available at the Media Hive additional parking is available close to the Media Hive building.

The studio coordinator, Kelsey encourages clients to use the very affordable in house catering, “Clients are surprised to see our extensive and affordable menu on offer”. The menu includes the favourite basics like burgers, fish and chips, as well as more refined dining, like bobotie, soups and three-course meal options.

If you are interested in the studio, the visuals website offers more in depth information and diagrams: www.visuals.tv/studio/33-studio/

VISUAL IMPACT STUDIO

Known for its vibrant and ever-growing fi lm industry, South Africa has a wealth of opportunities for both internationals and locals who wish

to fi lm their features, shorts, TV series and even commercials here. Over the last two decades the country has built a name for itself in offering world-class service, crews, and production value through its co-production treaties and incentive schemes. South Africa has added a few jewels to this crown over the last few years, with Gavin Hood’s Tsotsi grabbing the Foreign Language Oscar in 2006 and Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 nominated for four Academy awards, including Best Picture.

More recently, however, the industry has received a chunk of work on television series

such as Black Sails, Dominion and SAF3. This doesn’t mean that there’s been a slump in the number of feature fi lms coming into South Africa, though. Chris Roland, who heads up Zen HQ, a company that’s been involved in over 100 productions including their latest Afrikaans hit Die Windpomp (The Windmill), says they’ve maintained their strength in the industry simply by continuing to do what they do best – making movies.

“Over the years we have built up a reputation for producing fi lms of a high standard. Like other local fi lmmakers, this not only helps us to maintain our strength, it also strengthens the credibility and viability of the industry, which in turn supports our efforts – the law of reciprocity of sorts. If we keep giving

the audience what they want, they will keep coming back for more,” Roland explains.

Film Afrika, one of the leading production companies in South Africa, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The company credits its success to the people who have been involved since its inception. Their fi lmography is testament to this, with shows like Black Sails and Dominion under their belts, as well as the recent Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Chronicle and Labyrinth, among others. CEO and Executive Producer David Wicht, who manages their LA offi ces, says that their ethos has brought them this far.

“Without doubt our strength is the extraordinary talented people who have managed the business since it opened

24 | FEATURE www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

FILM PRODUCTION COMPANIESPushing the Boundaries of What's Possible in Africa

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

© Film

Afrika

its doors in Cape Town right after the fi rst democratic elections, the fi rst feature company to open up in the Mother City,” Wicht says. “Ours is a relationship business and our ethos has always been to treat everyone – production partners, crew, suppliers, Government fi lm institutions, visiting fi lmmakers, the public – with the greatest care and respect. This business has never been about profi t or the bottom line for us – it has been about doing what we love to create an industry that helps make this world a better place.”

Michael Murphey of Kalahari Film and Media, also known as Kalahari Pictures, says that this is an exciting time for the South African fi lm industry. The company is another heavyweight in the sector, having produced the likes of Dredd and District 9; currently working on SAF3 and Thirteen Hours.

“While Kalahari Film and Media has plans to service at least two larger overseas productions in the next few months – similar in scale and budget to our projects District

9 and Dredd 3D, we are most enthusiastic about the projects that we’ve developed with South African fi lmmakers. In the last fi ve years, an amazing generation of talented young fi lmmakers have come of age. The high quality of fi lmmakers and the scripts that they bring to us highlights just how mature the South African fi lm industry has become,” Murphey says, “There appears to be a shift from the South African fi lm industry being known primarily as a service industry, to a fi lm industry whose own fi lms are competing on the world stage.”

Wicht agrees. “Our skills – management, crew and cast - have NEVER been better and we can compete with any industry worldwide. The numbers of crews continue to swell and Cape Town can quite easily manage at least 10 large international shows at a time, plus countless other smaller fi lms. The DTI incentives are fantastic and have been central to this growth – long may this continue.”

Although Zen HQ’s Chris Roland also agrees that the country has a very healthy

production industry that has seen growth year on year, he says there are still issues that need to be addressed. “Distribution in SA is problematic, and fi nding the right mix of genre, story, and budget that are in-line with local realities is a bit like selecting the right numbers for a lotto ticket,” he says. “The current distribution/exhibition model doesn’t work for local fi lms, and fi lmmakers have to also add into the mix elements that hopefully will appeal to international buyers and audiences in order to achieve break-even and profi tability.”

Wicht also sees room for improvement, especially in terms of racial transformation in heads of departments. “With training programmes like F.I.L.M. in place, this transformation is set to continue,” he says. “The Cape Town Film Studios have been a godsend but have been 100% occupied for the last three years, and will perhaps be the next three years, which only serves to confi rm there is massive demand for at least three more similar complexes in the city.”

FEATURE | 25www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

The Windmill District 9

© Kalahari

© Z

enHQ


COMPANY NAME DESCRIPTION NOTABLE PROJECTS / CLIENTS WEBSITE / CONTACTS

9MM Films Accomplished company with wide experience from concept to post, offering quality, boutique production.

Vodacom, Sanex, SANBS www.9mmfilms.com

Africade Productions

Production house specialising in stills, commercials and reality TV shoots

Amazing Race, Britain’s Next Top Model www.africadeproductions.com

AFS Productions Production House specialising in commercials and broadcast

Netflix www.afsproductions.com

Aquavision TV Productions

Premier wildlife production company with over 10,000 hours stock footage in HD, 2K, 4K and 8K resolution

Mother Warthog www.aquavision.co.za

Area 51 Productions

Production company with experience from big budget location shoots to studio pack shots

Tabloid (e.tv), Spirit of Olympia www.area-51.tv

Astral Studios TV and commercial production studios with focus on educational and animation TV series

Alison Moyet (DStv), Jojo, Mouse in the House www.astralstudios.co.za

Atomik Pictures A boutique service production company working with partners across the globe.

BKK Mobil Oil, San Miguel, Dove Men, Samsung Galaxy, Strongbow

www.atomikpictures.com

Axis International Local and international film and commercials production BBDO Turkey, Guiness, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Unilever and others among notable clients

www.axisinternational.co.za

Bang Bang Films A boutique film service and production company in Cape Town with a dynamic and flexible approach.

Eye to Eye, BRW Filmland, Coca-Cola, Kiri, Swatch, ProNutro

www.bangbangfilms.com

Beatroute Productions

Specialising in promotional and commercial films, as well as long form in the genre of contemporary arts and culture

Li-Lets, FCB, Buy Smart www.beatroute.co.za

Bellovista Productions

Production company with experience in Southern Africa and South America, specialising in documentaries and travelogues among others

www.bellovistaproductions.com

Big Banana Films Production company facilitation documentaries, drama reconstructions in Southern Africa

BBC’s Walking with Cavemen, An Idiot Abroad, Man Hunt: Kalahari Killers

www.bigbanana.co.za

Big Film and TV Productions

Filming, editing, post, directing and producing www.bigfilmandtv.com

Bird Film South African and Irish production house with focus on commercials, stills, TV and feature films.

Coca-Cola, Vivil, ILFT, Seat www.birdfilm.com

Black Brain Africa’s leaders in TV, film and media production City Ses’La, Abo Mzala, Thandeka’s Diary www.blackbrain.co.za

Bluehouse FX Broadcast Visual Effects Hectic Nine-9 www.bluehousefx.com

Born Free Media Award-winning producer of film and television content for local, regional and international markets

90 Plein Street Season III & IV, Women in Film, www.bornfreemedia.co.za

Branded Worx Video production company wuth 20 years experience in live studio broadcasts, corporate videos and other things.

Absa, Agrinet, FNB, Vodacom, GlaxoSmithKline www.brandedworx.co.za

Camera 13 HD filming and mobile editing on location in Africa, with experience in 20 African countries.

Kinder Soldaten Suisse TV, Mali Volkswagen, 3 SAT, 99 Comic, Unicef, Jeapp, Tears for Lindo, Al Jazeera

www.camera13.com

Can-Can Films Company offering film production services to Africa and Indian Ocean Islands

Brave Films, Bliss Films, Chief, Nutopia, Terwilliger Productions, Glass Film, Home Corp, Sneezing Tree

www.can-canfilms.co.za

Catalyst Entertainment

Live, multi-cam productions www.catalystentertainment.co.za

Chroma Television TV, corporate and documentary production company with post production facilities

The Muhammad Ali Tour of South Africa, Wildlife Documentaries at Mala Mala and Mashatu in Botswana, SABC and M-Net programming

www.chromatelevision.co.za

Click Afrique Productions

Service production company working in Cape Town, Mauritius and Namibia

Jacqueline Riu, Bamboo Revolution, Deezer www.clickafriqueprod.com

CM Productions Broadcast, live events, corporate videos, documentaries and features, commercials

A Case of Murder, Island Heritage, Truth Be Told: Rhinos Under Seige

www.cmproductions.co.za

Coal Stove Pictures Film and television production company headed by an award-winning director, a seasoned actor and a well-known filmmaker

Hear Me Move, Tooth and Nails, KeJive, Call Center, Remix

www.coalstove.co.za

Combined Artists The home of quality tv and award-winning programmes Carte Blanche www.carteblanche.co.za

Competent Artistes Video production for television entertainment and news Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Project, Interview with Oprah

www.competentartistes.tv

Film Production Companies Industry Audit



Controversi Films Cutting edge, controversial documentaries which capture the gut-wrenching reality of life.

Cape of Rape. CultureClash!, Women Speak Out, Love Fools, Working Class

www.controversifilms.co.za

Creative Film Management

Producers of film, television content, with a focus on conceptual ideas and facilitation.

The Pinotage Story, TyreLok, Formula Run, Western Reining in South Africa

www.cfm-za.com

Creative Vision Multi-functional production company specialising in 3D animation visual effects and commercial production.

Tsogo Sun, Jelly Tots, Hertz, Nando's www.creative-vision.co.za

Csquared Productions

Award-winning agency and production company with over 20 year's experience working with SuperSport International

SuperSport, Tiger Wheel & Tyre, 2014 Australian Open, FINA World Swimming Championships

www.c2.co.za

Dancing Light Productions

Commerical, television and film production services, as well as creators of film and TV fiction content

Let’s Fixit, High Season, Shooting Stars, Unicity www.dancinglight.co.za

Day Zero Films / Steps

Documentary productions and international co-productions for social change.

Afridocs on DSTV, CareTakers, Steps for the Future, Why Democracy, and Why Poverty

www.steps.co.za

Deepend Post Production

Post for TV Series, commercials and documentaries 4Play: Sex Tips 4 Girls, Master Chef SA, The Lab 2, Intersexions,

www.deependpost.com

Devereux-Harris Film and video production company specialising in music videos, live shows, TV shows, and documentaries

Contact [email protected] for info www.dha.co.za

Dirk Mostert Camera Productions

DMCP covers a wide range of services from preproduction, production & post production.

You Must Be Joking 2, O Shucks It's Schuster, Millenium Menace

www.dmcp.net

DO Productions DO have been involved in creatively and financially producing and co-producing local and international film, TV and documentary productions

Themba - A Boy Called Hope, Lost City Raiders, My Sister's Kids in Africa, Where the Road Runs Out, 100 Ways To Go To School

www.doproductions.com

Dreamcatcher Productions

A videography and editing company specialising in director's research, filming and editing behind the scenes.

Nissan, Oriflame, Reebok, Renault, C&A www.dreamcatcherproductions.co.za

Dv8 Films Filmed content across the production spectrum from cinema and television to mobile and internet distribution platforms

How to Steal Two Million, State of Violence, In a Time of Violence (The Line), Africa Dreaming, Short and Curlies

www.dv8.co.za

EdenRage Media A specialist production company focussed on creating Immersive Media, events and television shows.

Disney's High School Musical SA, Superdance SA, Virtual Crime, SAB, Fight Off

www.edenrage.tv

EFX Productions Successfully producing sporting events, concerts, series and documentaries for 10 years

Carlos Santana Concert, Isidingo – SABC3, Barclays Premier League Live, Comedy Central Live

www.efxproductions.co.za

Eject Media One of South Africa’s leading independent television production, consultancy and broadcast design companies

SABC Sport, SABC News, SABC Africa News, SABC 1, Nokia, Vodacom, Sasol, Coca-Cola, Old Mutual

www.ejectmedia.co.za

Endemol South Africa

Producers of quality TV content Survivor SA, Isidingo www.endemol.com

Enigma Pictures Co-producer and production service provider of choice in southern Africa

Folly, Coiled, Instance, Back to School Mom, Kite, Life Above All, Holby City

www.enigmapictures.co.za

Figure One Films A Cape Town-based production company that specialises in narrative film, commercials, music videos and documentaries with an in-house, Loerie Award-winning director

The Windmill (Die Windpomp), Sony Music, Ster-Kinekor, Wrestlerish

www.figureonefilms.com

Film Afrika Africa’s premier production company and SA’s most prolific producer and co-producer of films for the international market

Black Sails, Dominion, Labyrinth, Chronicle, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

www.filmafrika.com

FineLine Productions

International, award-winning independent production company specialising in documentaries, features, commercials and corporate image videos. Producer Junaid Ahmed at the helm.

Channel 4, Discovery Channel, Iqakamba - Hard Ball, Lucky, More Than Just A Game

[email protected]

Flying Fish Productions

Liz Fish of Flying Fish Productions is an award-winning freelance documentary filmmaker.

Carte Blanche www.flyingfishproductions.co.za

Foghound Studios TV and radio content producers and studio facilities Sharp Shooter for M-Net www.foghound.co.za

Ginger Pictures A production company with partners and clients from around the world

Tigo Bombass, Orabank, Bic, Orange, Vodacom www.gingerpictures.tv



Hungry Films Film production company based in Cape Town and Joburg SARS, Purity www.hungryfilms.co.za

Web Video Full production facility catering for animation, broadcast, corporate and training DVD markets

Umhlali Country Club, 100 Hilss Experience, The Playhouse Company, Wedding Info TV

www.webvideo.co.za

Fuel Media A SAFTA Award-winning content development and production company specialising in TV production and multimedia solutions

MTV Base Road to Mama's 2010, African Fashion Week, Masters of Rhythm, FevaCasters

www.fuelmedia.co.za

Geoff Theys Productions / Durban MediaNet

Broadcast TV productions, children's TV, wildlife, sport, documentaries, and actuality programming

Go Wild, SABC, African Optimist, FIFA 2010 World Cup, ESPN Cricket Champions League

www.gtprod.webs.com

Giant Films Director based and facilitation production company for features, documentaries and commercials.

Representing Ian Gabriel and Robin Goode www.giantfilms.tv

Glo Films A full service TV and film production company with work from around SA

Hallmark, Liberty Life, Garnier, Nivea, Radox www.glofilms.tv

Global Access HD Studio, Live TV broadcast and streaming, pre-production, location broadcasting, post production, distribution

Money for Mahala, Gospel Grooves, Skwizas, Dzinge, Life with Thami, Dirty Laundry

www.globalaccess.co.za

Green Earth Films International and local documentary series [email protected]

Green Shoot Films A green production company offering full local and international production services

PSA Commercials, Oil on Water, AIDS Orphans, PawPrint Africa Project

www.greenshootfilms.com

Grinder Films Studio and stage technology for a tabletop studio work Amarula Gold, McDonalds, Robertsons www.griderfilms.com

Groundglass A production company with an innovative and collaborative approach to doing business

Johnnie Walker, Glenfiddich, Dentyne, Kauai, Toyota, Discovery, Kasabian

www.groundglass.co.za

iKind Media Video production for commercials, feature films, music videos, documentaries and corporates

Kabamba, City Bowl Mizers, My Roommate is a Tokoloshe, Pixie Bennett,

www.ikindmedia.com

Imageworks An award-winning video and multimedia production company

BBC, National Geographic, MNet, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel content

www.imageworks.co.za

Imageworks Shoots in all African countries, giant screen watchout productions, 3 Avid HD NLE systems, cameras and vehicles.

Digger (SABC) www.imageworks.co.za

In Action Filming 15 years experience in production, execution and delivery Land Rover www.inaction.co.za

Kalahari Pictures/Kalahari Film & Media

One of Africa's leading production companies with global blockbusters, Oscar-nominated films and Emmy Award-winning series and servicing hundreds of commercials

SAF3, Dredd, District 9, The Triangle, The Librarian, 13 Hours, Donkerwoud, One Horse Down, Misdirected

www.kalaharipictures.com

Keyframe Media cc Offers broadcast video production facilities, live multi-camera recordings and a bulk DVD / CD duplication and print facility.

SuperSport, M-Net, SA Parliamentary Channel www.keyframemedia.co.za

Kuluma TV AV production, multimedia authoring, websites, TV commercials, and photography

Kuluma TV Online Video Magazine www.kulumatv.com

KwaZulu Films Production service providers with experienced crew, technicians and large talent pool

Tamara Drewe, Elite Squad, Destination Antartica, Phillip Morris, Space Chimps, Shox

www.kzf.co.za

Lemon Reel Suppliers of feature, commercial, music video and documentary equipment and professionals in Namibia

www.lemonreel.com

Let It Rain Films A collective passionate about commercials, feature films, television content and documentaries

Survivor 2, Amazing Race, Voices, BBC, Jack Up Your Shack

www.letitrainfilms.com

Libra Vision Service production house, producing and directing world-class video and film productions for nearly three decades.

Clicks, Snickers, Capitec, Sanex, Pilsner www.libravision.co.za

Lobster Tree Established in 2009, the company services international feature films, commercials and stills

Zulu (City of Violence), Safari, Le Dernier Gang, Hitman, Soeur Sourire

www.lobstertree.com

Lucky Fish Productions

Producer of commercials, feature films, corporates and documentaries in SA and Africa.

Visa Vie, The Last Resort, Cape of Good Voices, Goodyear, Audi, Investec

www.luckyfishproductions.co.za

Majority Entertainment

Feature film, television programme production company established in LA and operating in Joburg

Screaming Night II, Walking with the Lion www.majorityco.com

Man Makes a Picture

Production house specialising in documentaries and television

It’s Africa’s Time, Straatpraat, Mzala – Discovers Wine in the Winelands

www.manmakesapicture.co.za

Mannequin Pictures & Film Group

First choice for international production companies looking for highest standards of film in SA

Orange, Singam 2, To Tokyo, Clarissa's Secret, Romeo

www.mannequinfilms.co.za



Mark Klein Productions

Specialist producers of audio visual and multimedia presentations and stage performances

www.mkp.co.za

Masters & Savant Africa's leading animated commercial production house. MetroFM, Carte Blanch, Windswept, Kia, MTN, Absa, SABC 2

www.mastersandsavant.com

Maxi-D Productions

Film and television content production SABC 1 – Skeem Saam [email protected]

Ministry of Illusion Content creators with a focus on VFX, animation, digital and post production and leaders in large-scale projection

Motorola, Johnny Clegg, FIFA 2010 World Cup www.moi.co.za

Miros Films One of SA’s longest established production companies with over 47 years’ experience

Glo Business, Woolworths, Masterbrand www.miros.co.za


Television broadcaster www.mnetcorporate.co.za


Studios Special interest, magazine and other shows including Big Brother Africa and Carte Blanche

www.mnet.co.za www.mnetcorporate.co.za

Modern Times Production house with boutique post-production facility built around FCP, DVD authoring, conversions, web, multimedia and audio mix

SABC, Carte Blanche inserts, Burden of Truth, All About Reeva, Finding Leigh, A Tangled Web

www.modern.co.za

Moonlighting Film Production Services

One of the premier production companies in Southern Africa for production services, co-productions and structured financing with over 20 years’ experience

Homeland Season 4, Livingstone, Locked up Abroad, How We Invented the World, The Challenger, Mary and Martha, Restless, The Borrowers, Flight of the Storks, Infested, Mister Bob, Pirate Island, Hitchcock, I Shouldn’t be Alive 4

www.moonlighting.co.za

Morula Pictures Award-winning, BEE compliant TV production house with credentials including primetime drama, serial drama, feature films and children’s television

Magic Cellar, Generations, How to Steal 2 Million, Winnie the Opera, HANI, JOZI H, Backstage

www.morula.co.za

Multi-Image Productions

Award-winning video producers for commerce and industry

KWB, Metropolitan, City of Cape Town www.multiimageproductions.com

Mushroon Media A craft focused, entertainment specialist production company

Leading Lady, iBhokhwe (The Goat), Lira The Capetured Tour, Shotgun Garfunkel

www.mushroommedia.co.za

Muti Films One-stop service for the creative fields of film, fine art, photography, advertising and web content

Jerusalema, Keys Money Phone, Art of the State www.mutifilms.co.za

Neil Roberts Productions

A production company based in Joburg and operating throughout South Africa and the African Continent.

Hyundai, 5FM, Absa, Airtel, American Express, Audi, Aviva, Castle Lager, Bells, FedEx

www.neilroberts.tv

Ochre Moving Pictures (Ochre Media)

OMP Production Services offer post-production facilities with flexible, 24 hour service

Mzansi, Kwanda, Scandal!, Relate, Takalani Sesame, Take 5, The Wedding Show

www.ochre.tv

ODM Television broadcaster www.starsat.com

Off The Fence South Africa

International company producing and distributing documentaries, factual features and TV shows

Britain’s Broken Families, Confessions of an Alien Abductee, Freaks of Nature, Stan Lee’s Superhumans Season 3, Wildest Indochina, Wildest Middle East, World's Wildest City: Manaus

www.offthefence.com

“ “

The industry has received a chunk of work on television series such as Black Sails, Dominion and SAF3.



Mark Klein Productions

Specialist producers of audio visual and multimedia presentations and stage performances

www.mkp.co.za

Masters & Savant Africa's leading animated commercial production house. MetroFM, Carte Blanch, Windswept, Kia, MTN, Absa, SABC 2

www.mastersandsavant.com

Maxi-D Productions

Film and television content production SABC 1 – Skeem Saam [email protected]

Ministry of Illusion Content creators with a focus on VFX, animation, digital and post production and leaders in large-scale projection

Motorola, Johnny Clegg, FIFA 2010 World Cup www.moi.co.za

Miros Films One of SA’s longest established production companies with over 47 years’ experience

Glo Business, Woolworths, Masterbrand www.miros.co.za


Television broadcaster www.mnetcorporate.co.za


Studios Special interest, magazine and other shows including Big Brother Africa and Carte Blanche

www.mnet.co.za www.mnetcorporate.co.za

Modern Times Production house with boutique post-production facility built around FCP, DVD authoring, conversions, web, multimedia and audio mix

SABC, Carte Blanche inserts, Burden of Truth, All About Reeva, Finding Leigh, A Tangled Web

www.modern.co.za

Moonlighting Film Production Services

One of the premier production companies in Southern Africa for production services, co-productions and structured financing with over 20 years’ experience

Homeland Season 4, Livingstone, Locked up Abroad, How We Invented the World, The Challenger, Mary and Martha, Restless, The Borrowers, Flight of the Storks, Infested, Mister Bob, Pirate Island, Hitchcock, I Shouldn’t be Alive 4

www.moonlighting.co.za

Morula Pictures Award-winning, BEE compliant TV production house with credentials including primetime drama, serial drama, feature films and children’s television

Magic Cellar, Generations, How to Steal 2 Million, Winnie the Opera, HANI, JOZI H, Backstage

www.morula.co.za

Multi-Image Productions

Award-winning video producers for commerce and industry

KWB, Metropolitan, City of Cape Town www.multiimageproductions.com

Mushroon Media A craft focused, entertainment specialist production company

Leading Lady, iBhokhwe (The Goat), Lira The Capetured Tour, Shotgun Garfunkel

www.mushroommedia.co.za

Muti Films One-stop service for the creative fields of film, fine art, photography, advertising and web content

Jerusalema, Keys Money Phone, Art of the State www.mutifilms.co.za

Neil Roberts Productions

A production company based in Joburg and operating throughout South Africa and the African Continent.

Hyundai, 5FM, Absa, Airtel, American Express, Audi, Aviva, Castle Lager, Bells, FedEx

www.neilroberts.tv

Ochre Moving Pictures (Ochre Media)

OMP Production Services offer post-production facilities with flexible, 24 hour service

Mzansi, Kwanda, Scandal!, Relate, Takalani Sesame, Take 5, The Wedding Show

www.ochre.tv

ODM Television broadcaster www.starsat.com

Off The Fence South Africa

International company producing and distributing documentaries, factual features and TV shows

Britain’s Broken Families, Confessions of an Alien Abductee, Freaks of Nature, Stan Lee’s Superhumans Season 3, Wildest Indochina, Wildest Middle East, World's Wildest City: Manaus

www.offthefence.com

“ “

The industry has received a chunk of work on television series such as Black Sails, Dominion and SAF3.



Okuhle Media An award-winning media and production company that currently delivers over 500 hours of content per year, both locally and internationally

Signal High Season 2, Kasi0-Licious, Hectic Nine-9, Glitterboys & Ganglands, My Night Reality Series

www.okuhle.co.za

O'Mage A global experiential communications company BMW, Castle Lite, Mini Hatch Launch 2014, Standard Bank, Massmart Conference 2014

www.omage.com

One Step Beyond A service production company with experience in commercials, film and television

BBC London, The Entertainment Group (Netherlands)

www.onestepbeyond.co.za

Orange Films Production company for stills, films, commercials and music videos with an extensive network of production partnerships around the globe.

Infiniti, EA Sports, Halls, Mini, Match.com, Drypers, McDonalds, Garnier, UBS, Passendale, McCain

www.orangefilms.co.za

Orijin Leading broadcast design group in South Africa M-Net, Channel O, kykNET, Carte Blanche, MK, Promax, Animax, Koowee

www.orijin.co.za

Out of Africa Entertainment

Production company with an experienced team able to provide a “hand-on” approach to both television and film productions

Wild at Heart, The Prisoner, Strike Back, Generation Kill, The Royal, The Bang Bang Club, Bluestone 42, The Book of Negroes

www.outofafrica.info

Penguin Films Renowned for outstanding television production in drama, comedy, reality TV and game shows.

Felix, Skilpoppe, Saints & Sinners, Traffic!, You Deserve It, Montana

www.penguinfilms.co.za

Pieter Cilliers Productions

Award-winning television production company specialising in magazine programmes, actuality and documentaries

Kwêla (kykNET) www.pietercilliers.co.za

Platypus Productions

A combination of skilled creative individuals obsessed with filmmaking, from commercials to branded entertainment.

Woolworths, Musica, Old Mutual, Clorets, Bio Oil, Femina, Pampers, Lux, Revlon, FNB, Sanlam, Incredible India

www.platypus.co.za

Professional Video Services

Full production service P2 HD Pro, DV Shoot, news, documentaries, education and drama.

www.millspictures.co.za

Pulp Films A Joburg-based production company with vast experience in corporate, commercial, broadcast and documentary film production.

FNB, Sasol, Thingz, Big Jim, Discovery www.pulpfilms.co.za

Quizzical Pictures An industry leader for over 15 years, creating quality TV drama, factual programmes and digital content innovations

Rhythm City, Intersexions I & II, Swartwater, 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, The Lab, Those Who Can’t I & II, Hopeville

www.quizzical.co.za

Rapid Blue World-class television producers for SA, Nigeria and the rest of Africa, from live TV to international formats

SA’s Got Talent, Pawn Stars SA, Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor SA, Dragon’s Den,

www.rapidblue.com

Red Cherry Media SA’s leading media production company with complete BEE status

Maynards, FNB, Beacon, Nedbank, Fidelity, OMO, Energade,

www.redcherry.co.za

Red Pepper Pictures

TV production house and animation facilities Ed and Eppa In the Wild www.redpepper.tv

Red Pill Productions

Red Pill Productions produces edgy and intellectually stimulating feature films, documentaries and short films

Triomf, Project Turmoil www.mahala.co.za

Renegade Pictures Experienced full service production company combining technical knowledge and creativity.

www.renegadepictures.co.za

Rocket Films Africa Exclusive production company with an eye for detail, specialising in servicing international commercials, television and fim.

Sony Computer Entertainment, Britvic, International Olympic Committee, Ecobank, Coca-Cola

www.rocketfilmsafrica.com

Sasani Studios Television and film studios with post production facilities National Geographic, Scandal!, Muvhango, Rhythm City, Turn It Out, 7de Laan, Big Brother – The Chase, eKasi


Seed Post House Post production house for TV commercials, web ads, feature films and documentary series

Carte Blanche www.seedposthouse.co.za

ShootAway Production

Facilitating productions anywhere in SA to international standards

www.shootawayproduction.com

Silver Lining Pictures

Production of high-end live action and stills photography advertising campaigns

Coca-Cola, Ponds, TAB, Tomtom Fitness, Sprite, Artify

www.silverliningpictures.tv

South Africa Broadcast Corporation

The SABC has broadcast, recording and outside broadcast facilities across the country including music studios, a drama studio and TV broadcasting

www.sabc.co.za

Spier Films Spier Films is an award winning production and finance company with offices in Cape Town, London, and Reykjavik.

The Salvation, The Price of Sugar, Veraaier, Of Good Report, Trend Beacons, Indigenous Encounters, Highway Vultures

www.spierfilms.com

Stark Films Friedrich Stark is a television producer creating content for the SABC

Generations [email protected]



Okuhle Media An award-winning media and production company that currently delivers over 500 hours of content per year, both locally and internationally

Signal High Season 2, Kasi0-Licious, Hectic Nine-9, Glitterboys & Ganglands, My Night Reality Series

www.okuhle.co.za

O'Mage A global experiential communications company BMW, Castle Lite, Mini Hatch Launch 2014, Standard Bank, Massmart Conference 2014

www.omage.com

One Step Beyond A service production company with experience in commercials, film and television

BBC London, The Entertainment Group (Netherlands)

www.onestepbeyond.co.za

Orange Films Production company for stills, films, commercials and music videos with an extensive network of production partnerships around the globe.

Infiniti, EA Sports, Halls, Mini, Match.com, Drypers, McDonalds, Garnier, UBS, Passendale, McCain

www.orangefilms.co.za

Orijin Leading broadcast design group in South Africa M-Net, Channel O, kykNET, Carte Blanche, MK, Promax, Animax, Koowee

www.orijin.co.za

Out of Africa Entertainment

Production company with an experienced team able to provide a “hand-on” approach to both television and film productions

Wild at Heart, The Prisoner, Strike Back, Generation Kill, The Royal, The Bang Bang Club, Bluestone 42, The Book of Negroes

www.outofafrica.info

Penguin Films Renowned for outstanding television production in drama, comedy, reality TV and game shows.

Felix, Skilpoppe, Saints & Sinners, Traffic!, You Deserve It, Montana

www.penguinfilms.co.za

Pieter Cilliers Productions

Award-winning television production company specialising in magazine programmes, actuality and documentaries

Kwêla (kykNET) www.pietercilliers.co.za

Platypus Productions

A combination of skilled creative individuals obsessed with filmmaking, from commercials to branded entertainment.

Woolworths, Musica, Old Mutual, Clorets, Bio Oil, Femina, Pampers, Lux, Revlon, FNB, Sanlam, Incredible India

www.platypus.co.za

Professional Video Services

Full production service P2 HD Pro, DV Shoot, news, documentaries, education and drama.

www.millspictures.co.za

Pulp Films A Joburg-based production company with vast experience in corporate, commercial, broadcast and documentary film production.

FNB, Sasol, Thingz, Big Jim, Discovery www.pulpfilms.co.za

Quizzical Pictures An industry leader for over 15 years, creating quality TV drama, factual programmes and digital content innovations

Rhythm City, Intersexions I & II, Swartwater, 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls, The Lab, Those Who Can’t I & II, Hopeville

www.quizzical.co.za

Rapid Blue World-class television producers for SA, Nigeria and the rest of Africa, from live TV to international formats

SA’s Got Talent, Pawn Stars SA, Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor SA, Dragon’s Den,

www.rapidblue.com

Red Cherry Media SA’s leading media production company with complete BEE status

Maynards, FNB, Beacon, Nedbank, Fidelity, OMO, Energade,

www.redcherry.co.za

Red Pepper Pictures

TV production house and animation facilities Ed and Eppa In the Wild www.redpepper.tv

Red Pill Productions

Red Pill Productions produces edgy and intellectually stimulating feature films, documentaries and short films

Triomf, Project Turmoil www.mahala.co.za

Renegade Pictures Experienced full service production company combining technical knowledge and creativity.

www.renegadepictures.co.za

Rocket Films Africa Exclusive production company with an eye for detail, specialising in servicing international commercials, television and fim.

Sony Computer Entertainment, Britvic, International Olympic Committee, Ecobank, Coca-Cola

www.rocketfilmsafrica.com

Sasani Studios Television and film studios with post production facilities National Geographic, Scandal!, Muvhango, Rhythm City, Turn It Out, 7de Laan, Big Brother – The Chase, eKasi


Seed Post House Post production house for TV commercials, web ads, feature films and documentary series

Carte Blanche www.seedposthouse.co.za

ShootAway Production

Facilitating productions anywhere in SA to international standards

www.shootawayproduction.com

Silver Lining Pictures

Production of high-end live action and stills photography advertising campaigns

Coca-Cola, Ponds, TAB, Tomtom Fitness, Sprite, Artify

www.silverliningpictures.tv

South Africa Broadcast Corporation

The SABC has broadcast, recording and outside broadcast facilities across the country including music studios, a drama studio and TV broadcasting

www.sabc.co.za

Spier Films Spier Films is an award winning production and finance company with offices in Cape Town, London, and Reykjavik.

The Salvation, The Price of Sugar, Veraaier, Of Good Report, Trend Beacons, Indigenous Encounters, Highway Vultures

www.spierfilms.com

Stark Films Friedrich Stark is a television producer creating content for the SABC

Generations [email protected]



Street Stories Films Company broadcasting four seasons of Street Talk in Western Cape, Eastern Cape and DStv

Street Talk www.streettalktv.com

Talking Pictures A specialist production company focusing on natural history, cultural and wildlife related productions

Nature On Track, The Whole Story, Young and Wild, Nature’s Babies

www.talkingpics.com

Tekweni TV Productions

Production company with a full service digital media facility

Tekweni TV / SATV Channel www.satvchannel.com

The Bomb Shelter Production company focused on local talent, TV dramas, documentaries, commercials and museum instalments

Isibaya, Jacob’s Cross, Yizo Yizo, Shuga, Soul Buddyz, Think Big live on SABC 3

www.thebomb.co.za

The Bridge Production house for film, television and media Vallei van Sluiers, Medua – Queen of the Climb, The Story of an African Farm

www.thebridgesa.co.za

The Shooting Gallery

Producers of commercials, music clips and TV shows Lucozade, Bon Prix Fashion Twins, Coke Zero, Duracell, DKV, Vodafoe, Sprite

www.theshootinggallery.co.za

The Video Lounge Production house for commercials, television series, documentaries and reality shows among others working across Africa

Vodafone, UBA Corporate, Orange, MTN, Konga.com

www.thevideolounge.co.za

Triggerfish Studios Animation studios and full service production studios for animated features, commercials and shorts.

Khumba, Adventures in Zambezia, Stickman www.triggerfishstudios.com

TVPC Media Award-winning production of TV content, documentaries, outside broadcast and international facilitation. Green screen & virtual studio.

SuperSport, e.tv, Sky, SABC, MTV, M-Net, The Game, The Wrap and live sport broadcasts

www.tvpcmedia.com

TwinFilm International production company with offices in Cape Town, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Munich, specialising in local and international commercials

Kraft Foods, Guaraná Antarctica Black, procter & Gamble, eBay, Unilever

www.twinfilm.co.za

Two Oceans Productions

TOP have produced more than 60 movies for the German speaking market, both TV and features

Superdad, Rosa 2, Stranded in Paradise, Grzimek, Unfriend, The Sinking of the Laconia

www.topproduction.de

Ukhamba Communications

Television and video productions, editing, graphic design and animation

www.ukhamba.com

Urban Legends International

Film, television and commercials on-set production services and post production

Black Sails Season 1, Mad Dogs Season 3, Seal Team 8, Heatstroke, Skrillex – Ragga Bomb

www.urbanlegendsinternational.com

VideoVision Entertainment

SA's leading film and television producer, committed to the ideals of independent filmmaking, with over 75 feature sin the last 30 years

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Sarafina, Cry The Beloved Country, Mr Bons I & II, Mama Jack, Who Wants to be a Millionaire SA, Outrageous, Jozi

www.videovision.co.za

Visual Impact The authority in both digital and high definition broadcast solutions in South Africa

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, Fear Factor Malaysia, India & America, You Deserve It, Dare to Dance

www.visuals.tv

Waterfront Film Studios

TV Series, Staging, Post Prodction, Visual Effects Dominion www.waterfrontfilmstudios.com

Waterston Entertainment

TV and film productions specialising in documentaries, children’s live action, entertainment TV and commercials

Scrapmac and the Sky Raiders, Antartica: Ice World Pioneers, Whispering the Wild, Circle of Ice

www.waterston.tv

We Shoot Food Tabletop studio run by Rob Payton & Farm Film J’Accuse – The Superchefs C4 UK, Further Abroad – Beer BBC 2, Two Fat Ladies – BBC 2, Gary Rhodes around Britain BBC2

www.farmfilm.tv/weshootfood

Wicked Pixels Award-winning production company offering highly creative visual solutions to advertising, broadcast and gaming industries

Brand South Africa, Mweb, Design Indaba 2014, PPC Cement, Kia, SuperSport, FNB, Telkom

www.wickedpixels.com

Wishbones Commercials

Wishbones is focused on the finest grade of commercial work possible, from film and animation to visual effects and performance

Shoprite, Glo, Spur www.wishbones.co.za

Witch & Wizard Productions

A broad service offering ranging from AV and TV production to large-scale events

www.witch-wizard.co.za

Zen HQ Films ZenHQ Films is a leading film and television production companybased in Cape Town, South Africa, with offices in Los Angeles

Die Windpomp, 12, 4 Women, Black Beauty www.zen-hq.com

DISCLAIMER: Please note that although there are hundreds of film, television, commercials and stills companies operating in South Africa, due to limited space in The Callsheet, we are unable to include them all. We have done our best to cover all major companies in the industry and apologise if your organisation has not been mentioned.

32 | AFRICA FILM HUB www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

You need to know about:Beyond the epic nature of productions that have been fi lmed in this location, and the location itself, costs are drastically reduced. These studios are estimated to give a 50% saving, as the cost of labour is much less than Western counterparts in the same fi eld, and incentives for fi lming in Morocco include an exemption from VAT on all costs.

Climate: Morocco has a moderate and subtropical climate, cooled by breezes off the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Temperatures range from highs of 35°C to lows of 5°C, with hot and dry summer months and inland regions experiencing a hotter, drier, continental climate. The country enjoys warm winter temperatures and low humidity, and is an ideal destination all year round.

African Film Hub:

MOROCCO

Facts:Major Airports: Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport Film Permits: A fi lm permit from the Moroccan Cinematographic Centre (CCM) is required for any fi lming in Morocco.Visas: 66 countries do not require visas to enter the Kingdom of Morocco. Among them are United States of America, Canada, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, and France.

Arid deserts, fl awless lakes, and deep gorges comprise the enthralling country of Morocco. Morocco is home to a number of

charming and vibrant cities boasting unique attractions. From palm-lined boulevards in Casablanca, picturesque beaches in Agadir, and ancient souks and snake chambers in Marrakech; Morocco caters to every taste.

Filming in MoroccoThe monarchy has its very own remote Hollywood in the gateway city to the Sahara Desert, Ouarzazate. The marvel of Ouarzazate is sprawled across Southern Morocco. Resting atop a bare plateau in the High Atlas Mountains, the dry land is home to unspoiled locations and cultures, unique fortifi ed villages, and traditional Berber adobe houses. Gorges in this region, depending on the lighting, appear to be red, pink or mauve.

The desolate city is a noted fi lm-making location, and is home to CLA Studios Morocco and Atlas Corporation Studios – the world’s largest movie studio – which extends over 20 hectares.

World-class directors have chosen Atlas Corporation Studios as their canvas including the likes of David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia was made on location here before the studio opened), Martin Scorsese (Kundun), Ridley Scott (Kingdom of Heaven), and Oliver Stone (Alexander the Great). The location was also the set of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.

Morocco’s fi lm commission has reported 2014 as a record year for international companies fi lming in Morocco. 38 international fi lm productions, with the combined budget of $120-million in 2014, constitutes a six times increase from $22-million in the previous year.

The country saw major productions being shot, with its city street and deserts as the backdrop, including Christopher McQuarrie’s Mission: Impossible 5 and scenes from American Sniper and the highly anticipated new Bond fi lm, all expected to be released this year.

Bradley Cooper in American Sniper; another major feature filmed in Morocco.

Marrakech Street Scene

© Susannah H

untington©

Warner Bros. Entertainm

entAFRICA FILM HUB | 33www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

Tanzania has a wealth of beauty and creatures. The volcanic country boasts tranquil scenes of turquoise waters and pearly beaches, as well

as a dense concentration of wildlife. Tanzania has the largest concentration of wildlife animals per square kilometre, with more than four million wild animals and representatives of 430 species and subspecies. Teeming with game reserves and national parks while skirted by the warm Indian Ocean; Tanzania parades a classic African setting.

Filming Attractions in Tanzania Africa’s highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro, resides in the Kilimanjaro National Park. Mount Kilimanjaro towers at 5 895 metres above sea level in northern Tanzania. The mountainous terrain of the country offers magnifi cent views and unparalleled elevation scenes.

The Ngorongoro Crater is another of Tanzania’s iconic backdrops. The magnifi cent volcanic crater spreads 20 kilometres in width and gorges 600 metres deep. The crater is the largest unfl ooded and unbroken caldera in the world.

Land is in abundance in Tanzania. Sprawled over 14 750m² is the incredible Serengeti National Park. The vast terrain comprises savannah and woodlands, as well as the almost treeless grasslands of the Serengeti plains.

The African paradise, Tanzania, fl aunts a jewel: Zanzibar. The prized extension of the country is a semi-autonomous archipelago. Zanzibar consists of a number of exotic islands with pristine beaches offering some of the most picturesque destinations. The islands also serve agricultural scenes of interest, including coffee, tea, cotton, and spice plantations for a taste of yester-year.

Tanzania comprises beauty and

substance. This combination, among other attractions, results in Tanzania being the destination of choice for foreign fi lm companies. With its bountiful location options, it is no surprise that Tanzania was the setting for Rob Reiner’s feel-good comedy-drama, The Bucket List. Tanzania was also the backdrop for the classic 1950’s fi lm, The African Queen directed by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

ClimateSituated just below the equator and rugged by the Indian Ocean, Tanzania offers a tropical climate. As a result of its topography, Tanzania has regional variation of seasonal temperatures. For the larger part of the land, temperatures rarely falls below 20°C, while temperatures in the highlands range between 10-20°C in cooler and warmer months respectively.

African Film Hub:

TANZANIA

Facts:Major Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport and Julius Nyerere International AirportVisas: Visas are required for entry into Tanzania. However, no visas are required for South African passport holders.Film Permits: Filming permits are required, and can be obtained from the High Commission.

Zanzibar Market in Ngambo

© Sam

Haw

ley

© Sidney Baldw

in, Warner Bros. Entertainm

ent

Tanzania created the backdrop to The Bucket List.

AFRICA FILM HUB | 33www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

Tanzania has a wealth of beauty and creatures. The volcanic country boasts tranquil scenes of turquoise waters and pearly beaches, as well

as a dense concentration of wildlife. Tanzania has the largest concentration of wildlife animals per square kilometre, with more than four million wild animals and representatives of 430 species and subspecies. Teeming with game reserves and national parks while skirted by the warm Indian Ocean; Tanzania parades a classic African setting.

Filming Attractions in Tanzania Africa’s highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro, resides in the Kilimanjaro National Park. Mount Kilimanjaro towers at 5 895 metres above sea level in northern Tanzania. The mountainous terrain of the country offers magnifi cent views and unparalleled elevation scenes.

The Ngorongoro Crater is another of Tanzania’s iconic backdrops. The magnifi cent volcanic crater spreads 20 kilometres in width and gorges 600 metres deep. The crater is the largest unfl ooded and unbroken caldera in the world.

Land is in abundance in Tanzania. Sprawled over 14 750m² is the incredible Serengeti National Park. The vast terrain comprises savannah and woodlands, as well as the almost treeless grasslands of the Serengeti plains.

The African paradise, Tanzania, fl aunts a jewel: Zanzibar. The prized extension of the country is a semi-autonomous archipelago. Zanzibar consists of a number of exotic islands with pristine beaches offering some of the most picturesque destinations. The islands also serve agricultural scenes of interest, including coffee, tea, cotton, and spice plantations for a taste of yester-year.

Tanzania comprises beauty and

substance. This combination, among other attractions, results in Tanzania being the destination of choice for foreign fi lm companies. With its bountiful location options, it is no surprise that Tanzania was the setting for Rob Reiner’s feel-good comedy-drama, The Bucket List. Tanzania was also the backdrop for the classic 1950’s fi lm, The African Queen directed by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

ClimateSituated just below the equator and rugged by the Indian Ocean, Tanzania offers a tropical climate. As a result of its topography, Tanzania has regional variation of seasonal temperatures. For the larger part of the land, temperatures rarely falls below 20°C, while temperatures in the highlands range between 10-20°C in cooler and warmer months respectively.

African Film Hub:

TANZANIA

Facts:Major Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport and Julius Nyerere International AirportVisas: Visas are required for entry into Tanzania. However, no visas are required for South African passport holders.Film Permits: Filming permits are required, and can be obtained from the High Commission.

Zanzibar Market in Ngambo

© Sam

Haw

ley

© Sidney Baldw

in, Warner Bros. Entertainm

ent


34 | AFRICA FILM HUB www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

Nigeria, often referred to as the ‘Giant of Africa’, is the most populous country on the continent with a fascinating 500

ethnic groups and 250 indigenous languages. Nollywood, as the local fi lm industry is fondly known, produces around 1 000 fi lms annually and has over one million fi lm industry workers. It is the second-largest producer of movies in the world after Bollywood, and with its unique and vibrant distribution model – largely local street vendors – it keeps its average fi lm budgets at around US$40,000 (roughly R500 000). This of course, has led to fi lms that are sub-standard in quality, and has, in turn, begun an educational and upskilling movement in recent years as the government and private sector have realised its international potential.

According to the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), the country generated around N126.4-billion (US$800-million) in fi lm revenue in the last three years. The country has over 30 associations for various professionals in the industry, and is also home the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs) and the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF). The critically acclaimed fi lm Half of a Yellow Sun was fi lmed in Nigeria.

In 2011, then President Goodluck Jonathan established a US$200-million fund for the fi lm industry, making it possible for two fi lm distributors to establish new channels which commenced business last year. In March 2013, President Jonathan announced the founding of Project ACTNollywood, a N3-billion (US$17-million) grant scheme to support training and skills acquisition for fi lm production and distribution. Plans are also afoot for a much-anticipated Lagos Film Village.

Film RequirementsNigeria has a host of extraordinary landscapes to choose from when fi lming on location. Its bustling cities in the south are fi lled to the brim, creating dramatic urban jungles, while its far north holds Sahara desert transitioning into savannahs. Filming requires permits

from the Nigerian Film Corporation, as well as Journalist Accreditation from the Federal Ministry of Information. Permits are typically given within a couple of days, although it’s always prudent to apply well ahead of the planned shooting time. The National Film & Video Censors Board is the offi cial regulatory agency for the fi lm and video sector, while Lagos State Film Offi ce assists fi lmmakers shooting in the capital.

How to Get ThereMost international and regional fl ights land in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with other international airports located in Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt. A number of domestic airports serve as connections to the rest of the country. Nigeria’s location in the tropics means that its climate varies dramatically during the year from rainy season to dry season.

Facts• iROKOtv has been hailed as the ‘Netfl ix of Africa’, and has drawn users from 170

countries worldwide. The streaming platform scored 152 million views by the end of 2011.• The Nigerian fi lm industry is estimated to contribute US$9 billion to Nigeria’s GDP of

US$510 billion.• The fi lm industry employs 250 000 directly and one million people indirectly, according

to the World Bank 2011, making Nollywood the largest employer after agriculture. The average fi lm production employs 130 people.

• 56% of fi lms are in indigenous languages and 44% are in English. • Piracy is an issue the industry continues to grapple with. The World Bank estimates that

for every legitimate copy sold, nine others are pirated. • For more information on fi lming in Nigeria, contact the Nigerian Film Corporation

(www.services.gov.ng/nfc). For support while fi lming in Lagos, contact the Lagos State Film Offi ce (www.lagosstate.gov.ng/entities.php?k=206).

African Film Hub:

NIGERIA

© M

ark Fischer

Nigeria has a fascinating 500 ethnic groups.

One of three bridges from Lagos Island to the mainland.

© Zouzou W

izman

Half of a Yellow Sun was filmed in Nigeria.

© H

alf of a Yellow Sun

City of Violence



Namibia is large desert country boasting an extremely low population density with about two people per square kilometre. From

seas of desert dunes to crystal blue waters; Namibia is home to spectacular locations.

Location location location!The Namib Desert, said to be the oldest desert in the world, stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola to South Africa. This ancient desert offers high-rise dunes and an inspiring sense of space. The dunes display an array of colours from yellow to red across rolling dunes as far as the eye can see.

Amidst the dunes is a central plateau, home to thorn bush typical to African drylands, rising mountains, and savannah landscapes where wildlife thrives. This region serves as a genuine “African Safari” background for your shots.

The Fish River Canyon, one of Namibia’s main tourist attractions, is the second-biggest

of its kind in the world. The gigantic ravine spreads 160 kilometres long, and up to 27 kilometres wide, offering spectacular views as it cuts deep into the arid plateau.

The Namib Escarpment is a region between the Namib Desert and the Central Plateau is a plain. The landscape is rugged with peculiar rock formations, dry river beds, and dissected ground, as a result of the glaring sun. The environment, although easily accessible, is so hostile that there is no trace of trees or civilisation, giving this region a doomsday atmosphere.

Filming in NamibiaThe Namib Desert and nearby areas surrounding the desert were the scene for John Moore’s Flight of the Phoenix and Roland Emmerich’s 10 000 BC. Namibia is also the location for the sensational Mad Max: Fury Road movie, produced and co-written by George Miller, releasing this year.

City of Violence is a fi lm exploring the depths of the enduring scars of

Apartheid. The French director Jérôme Salle’s blockbuster stars Orlando Bloom and Forrest Whitaker, investigating a spate of horrifi c murders, with the hostile and arid locations of Namibia as a backdrop.

Namibia is fast becoming one of the world’s preferred fi lming destinations for international fi lm productions, and the county’s attraction of interest from major studios and independents looks promising.

Climate: This wilderness has a climate that is of a typical of semi-desert terrain, enjoying hot days and cool nights. Regional variations in temperature are experienced, yet the country as a whole is predominantly dry, and warm, yet has low humidity. A cold Benguela current keeps the coast cool, damp and free of rain for most of the year. With temperatures in summer ranging between 20°C and 34°C, and sometimes soaring up to 40°C, and between 18°C and 22°C in winter; Namibia is a year round destination.

African Film Hub:

NAMIBIA

FactsMajor Airports: Windhoek Hosea Kutako International AirportVisas: All foreign cast and crew entering Namibia require work visas to fi lm in Namibia.

Mad Max: Fury Road

© W

arner Bros Entertainment 2014

© Frank Fassen

© U

niversal Pictures

City of Violence



Namibia is large desert country boasting an extremely low population density with about two people per square kilometre. From

seas of desert dunes to crystal blue waters; Namibia is home to spectacular locations.

Location location location!The Namib Desert, said to be the oldest desert in the world, stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola to South Africa. This ancient desert offers high-rise dunes and an inspiring sense of space. The dunes display an array of colours from yellow to red across rolling dunes as far as the eye can see.

Amidst the dunes is a central plateau, home to thorn bush typical to African drylands, rising mountains, and savannah landscapes where wildlife thrives. This region serves as a genuine “African Safari” background for your shots.

The Fish River Canyon, one of Namibia’s main tourist attractions, is the second-biggest

of its kind in the world. The gigantic ravine spreads 160 kilometres long, and up to 27 kilometres wide, offering spectacular views as it cuts deep into the arid plateau.

The Namib Escarpment is a region between the Namib Desert and the Central Plateau is a plain. The landscape is rugged with peculiar rock formations, dry river beds, and dissected ground, as a result of the glaring sun. The environment, although easily accessible, is so hostile that there is no trace of trees or civilisation, giving this region a doomsday atmosphere.

Filming in NamibiaThe Namib Desert and nearby areas surrounding the desert were the scene for John Moore’s Flight of the Phoenix and Roland Emmerich’s 10 000 BC. Namibia is also the location for the sensational Mad Max: Fury Road movie, produced and co-written by George Miller, releasing this year.

City of Violence is a fi lm exploring the depths of the enduring scars of

Apartheid. The French director Jérôme Salle’s blockbuster stars Orlando Bloom and Forrest Whitaker, investigating a spate of horrifi c murders, with the hostile and arid locations of Namibia as a backdrop.

Namibia is fast becoming one of the world’s preferred fi lming destinations for international fi lm productions, and the county’s attraction of interest from major studios and independents looks promising.

Climate: This wilderness has a climate that is of a typical of semi-desert terrain, enjoying hot days and cool nights. Regional variations in temperature are experienced, yet the country as a whole is predominantly dry, and warm, yet has low humidity. A cold Benguela current keeps the coast cool, damp and free of rain for most of the year. With temperatures in summer ranging between 20°C and 34°C, and sometimes soaring up to 40°C, and between 18°C and 22°C in winter; Namibia is a year round destination.

African Film Hub:

NAMIBIA

FactsMajor Airports: Windhoek Hosea Kutako International AirportVisas: All foreign cast and crew entering Namibia require work visas to fi lm in Namibia.

Mad Max: Fury Road

© W

arner Bros Entertainment 2014

© Frank Fassen

© U

niversal Pictures

Subsidised by a supportive government funding environment, South Africa’s local fi lm industry has been exploring multiple business

models for its fi rst 20 years of democracy.

dti Rebate Success Key fi ndings show that during the fi nancial year ending March 2014, the dti Film Incentive:• Resulted in R1.952 billion in Qualifying

SA Production Expenditure• Created 35 786 FTE jobs• Is highly profi table and self-fi nancing in

that for each R1.00 in rebate paid, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) earned back R2.09 in direct and indirect taxes (R1.098-billion income vs. R524-million rebate paid).

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has extended its Film and TV Production

Incentive until March 2017. The programme is divided into two

categories: The South African Film and Television Production and Co-production and the Foreign Film and Television Production and Post-Production.

The South African Film and Television Production and Co-Production Incentive is available to qualifying South African productions and offi cial treaty co-productions with total production budgets of R2.5-million and above.

A Foreign Film and Television Production shooting at a South African location should have Qualifying South African Production Expenditure (QSAPE) of R12-million and above. The Post-Production incentive is available to foreign-owned qualifying productions with Qualifying South African Post-Production Expenditure (QSAPPE) of R1.5-million and above.

The South African Emerging Black Filmmakers incentive, a sub-programme of the South African Film and Television

Production and Co-production Incentive, which aims to assist local emerging black fi lmmakers to nurture and grow them to take up big productions and thus contribute towards employment creation.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF)The National Film and Video Foundation is the body mandated to grow the local fi lm industry. They provide development, production funding, and marketing and distribution funding, capped at R1-million.

The National Film and Video Foundation provides fi lm and video-related funding in four broad categories:• Development Funding• Education and Training• Production Funding• Marketing and Distribution

Industrial Development CorporationThe IDC is a self-fi nancing, state-owned national development fi nance institution, which plays a key role in fi nancing South African fi lms, especially co-productions. The IDC generally caps its investments at 49% of the overall budget. The IDC Media and Motion Pictures SBU is the driving force behind a sustainable South African Film industry and will continue making a difference by helping South African fi lmmakers to turn their creative visions into a reality.

The Media and Motion Pictures business unit supports the development of a sustainable motion picture value chain in South Africa through funding the production of feature fi lms, television shows, animation and documentaries. In order to enhance the sustainability of the value chain and unblocking bottlenecks in the value chain, the Business Unit also supports

36 | SPOTLIGHT www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

FINANCING AND CO-PRODUCTIONS In Africa

© G

abor Palla

Morocco’s tax breaks have enticed international filmmakers.


broadcasting and the development of digital cinemas in townships and rural areas and the development of new or alternative distribution systems for motion pictures and utilising new technology.

Film Incentives in and around AfricaThe African continent has a number of fi lm co-production treaties and fi lm incentives for both locals and internationals creating features. Here are just a few of them:• The Mauritius Film Rebate Scheme:

A project of the Board of Investment in association with the Mauritius Film Development Corporation, the scheme is open to locals and internationals and encourages them to shoot on the island. It provides a 30% rebate for Qualifying Production Expenditures incurred in Mauritius, from travel and accommodation to professional services, labour costs and catering. For more information contact Jean-Claude Labat on +230 57533702 in Mauritius or Sebastian van’t Hoff on +27 76 226 0161 in South Africa. Email: info@vanthoff associates.com

• The Abu Dhabi Film Commission Rebate: This incentive scheme offers a 30% cash rebate to productions shot inside or outside Abu Dhabi for the Middle East and North African regions. These include feature fi lms, TV dramas, commercials, music videos, other TV formats and post-production. Visit www.fi lm.gov.ae/en/30-rebate/introduction for details.

• Gran Canaria Film Commission: The Canary Islands offer some tempting fi lm incentives – a rebate of 38% for both fi lm and television productions. Investments in the audiovisual sector are also exempt from certain tax payments. For more info visit www.grancanariafi lm.com.

• Morocco-UK Film Treaty: The United Kingdom and Morocco signed a co-production treaty in 2013, which is still in effect. To view the details in full, visit

www.bfi .org.uk/fi lm-industry/british- certifi cation-tax-relief/co-production. • Morocco Tax Breaks: Although Morocco

does not offer outright fi lm incentives to productions, it does continue to make the country an attractive spot with low production costs backed by a 20% VAT reduction on goods and service bought in Morocco. Imports are simplifi ed for producers, while fees for shooting at

historic sites may also be waived. In Ouarzazate, one can save between 30-50% of production costs.

• SA Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive: In addition to the incentives South Africa already offers, it launched the Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive in July last year. This rebate offers locals up to 50% rebate for the fi rst R6-million spent from the Qualifying South African Production Expenditure and 25% thereafter.

• Namibian Film Rebates: The Namibian Film Commission (NFC) launched a new tax rebate in 2014 for production companies that spend a minimum of US$500,000. One of these incentives is a 20% direct grant and a 10% cash rebate for qualifi ed expenses. www.nfc.na

• Tunisia Tax Breaks: Although not much information is given as to fi lm rebates in

Tunisia, it is possible for producers to be reimbursed for VAT.

• Egyptian Media Production City: With EMPC, foreign productions are exempt from capital, sales and other taxes for their project imports. EMPC is also keen to invest in Egypt’s fi lm sector, offering co-productions, facilities, and services to international fi lmmakers at affordable prices. www.empc.com.eg

Co-Production TreatiesSouth Africa & Canada - 1997South Africa & Germany - 2004South Africa & Italy - 2003South Africa & United Kingdom - 2007South Africa & France - 2010South Africa & New Zealand - 2011South Africa & Australia - 2010South Africa & Ireland - 2012

SAMCAPDelays in receiving cash fl ow may cause producers and directors to run the risk of losing actors and other essential components of their productions. Bridge/Interim fi nancing precedes primary production and is extended against a loan or grant from reputable institutions. SAMCAP can offer bridge fi nance in order to keep productions afl oat until the clients’ main bank loan/grant is fi nalized and paid out. Gap Finance consists of loans made against prospective distribution rights, and these are usually international rights. This fi nance compensates ahead of other segments of fi nance. SAMCAP can arrange gap fi nance of 5-35% of an international fi lm’s production budget depending on the genre, cast and/or international pre-sales. SAMCAP has a facility of over R100-million and is backed by Hollard Insurance Group, South Africa’s largest privately-owned insurance company.

Film Finances SAFilm Finances helps movies get to the big screen. It provides fi nanciers with a service that gives them an assurance that the fi lm will be delivered on time and that the over-budget costs would not be the fi nancier’s responsibility. Film Finances has given completion guarantees to all leading banks in the entertainment industry, major fi lm studios and distributors. In all, Film Finances has guaranteed around 6,000 Feature Films, Television Series and Documentaries.

© D

avid W. Siu

The Namibian Film Rebate offers a 10% cash rebate for qualified expenses.

Opportunities

Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award Call for Entries The Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award is administered each year through the International Academy of Television Arts

and Sciences’ Foundation. The competition is designed to motivate novice writers under the age of 30 outside of the United States and offer them the recognition and encouragement that could lead to a successful scriptwriting career. As such, the 2015 competition is now offi cially open and entrants are asked to create a completed half-hour to one-hour (commercial length) television drama script. It may originally have been written in any language, but must be submitted in English. The deadline for submissions in 1 July 2015.

The Winner will be fl own to New York City to be presented with an award and a US$2,500 prize at the International Emmy World Television Festival on November 21 later this year. The script will be read by actors in front of an audience at the fest, and the winner will be invited to participate in red carpet festivities on the 43rd International Emmy Awards.

Entries must be submitted by email to

OPPORTUNITIES | 39www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

[email protected]. For more information, visit www.iemmys.tv/foundation.

NFVF Call to Register for SA Pavilion at CannesThe National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), will once again host a South African Pavilion at the Cannes International Film Festival. This year, the NFVF will spearhead the Cannes Film Festival Campaign in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission. All local fi lmmakers and delegates in attendance at Cannes are requested to register with the NFVF in order to be included in all South African activities, marketing and promotion of SA fi lms.

The festival takes place from 13-24 May 2015 in France. To register your festival attendance with the NFVF, please email your full details including your name, email address and mobile number to Naomi Mokhele at [email protected] and/or Carla Dias at [email protected].

© International Em

my Aw

ards

2015 International Digital Emmy Winner Non-Fiction

Stills Production Statistics 2013/2014 Season Key fi ndings of the 2013/2014 SAASP season research show that the Stills Sector:

• Contributed R0,86-billion to South Africa’s GDP (direct and indirect spend)

• Created 467 FTE jobs• Paid R57-million in direct taxes to SARS• Delivered and economic multiplier of

2.89• Hosted 4015 International guests for a

total of 36 135 accumulative days• Represents more than 70% of all fi lming

permits issued by the City of Cape Town.

Commercial Producers Industry Survey Key Finding: The average total turnover generated, for all types of commercials produced, per company, for the 2012/2013 period was R24,212,609.65 and the total turnover generated for all commercial productions was R1,089,567,434.08.

The Cape Town Head Offi ce production companies were responsible for R731,525,507.19 turnover, and the Johannesburg Head Offi ce production companies were responsible for R351,849,863.89 turnover.


A Snapshot Look At SA's Other

BOOMING INDUSTRIESInteractive EntertainmentToday, more Americans play video games than go to the movies (NPD Group 2009), and in 2012, global revenues were an estimated $67-billion for console and portable hardware and software, as well as games for mobile devices. Sales of so-called virtual goods within games generated an additional $14.8-billion in 2012. These totals are about fi ve times higher than global music revenues ($16.5-billion in 2011), higher than consumer book sales ($69.4 billion in 2011), and similar to movie revenues ($85-billion in 2011). Video games thus appear to be the fastest growing and most exciting category of mass media for the coming decade.

Key fi ndings of the 2013/2014 SAASP season research show that the Stills Sector contributed R0,86-billion to South Africa’s GDP.

“ “©

Joe Alblas

A still from upcoming series Book of Negroes by photographer Joe Alblas.

Stills Production Statistics 2013/2014 Season Key fi ndings of the 2013/2014 SAASP season research show that the Stills Sector:

• Contributed R0,86-billion to South Africa’s GDP (direct and indirect spend)

• Created 467 FTE jobs• Paid R57-million in direct taxes to SARS• Delivered and economic multiplier of

2.89• Hosted 4015 International guests for a

total of 36 135 accumulative days• Represents more than 70% of all fi lming

permits issued by the City of Cape Town.

Commercial Producers Industry Survey Key Finding: The average total turnover generated, for all types of commercials produced, per company, for the 2012/2013 period was R24,212,609.65 and the total turnover generated for all commercial productions was R1,089,567,434.08.

The Cape Town Head Offi ce production companies were responsible for R731,525,507.19 turnover, and the Johannesburg Head Offi ce production companies were responsible for R351,849,863.89 turnover.


A Snapshot Look At SA's Other

BOOMING INDUSTRIESInteractive EntertainmentToday, more Americans play video games than go to the movies (NPD Group 2009), and in 2012, global revenues were an estimated $67-billion for console and portable hardware and software, as well as games for mobile devices. Sales of so-called virtual goods within games generated an additional $14.8-billion in 2012. These totals are about fi ve times higher than global music revenues ($16.5-billion in 2011), higher than consumer book sales ($69.4 billion in 2011), and similar to movie revenues ($85-billion in 2011). Video games thus appear to be the fastest growing and most exciting category of mass media for the coming decade.

Key fi ndings of the 2013/2014 SAASP season research show that the Stills Sector contributed R0,86-billion to South Africa’s GDP.

“ “

© Joe A

lblas

A still from upcoming series Book of Negroes by photographer Joe Alblas.

42 | MOVERS & SHAKERS www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

MultiChoice Africa Appoints New CEOCEO Nico Meyer has left

MultiChoice Africa and is being replaced by Tim Jacobs, former Chief Financial Offi cer of the pay TV segment at MultiChoice. Jacobs took on the Africa CEO role on 1 April this year, according to Jackie Rakitla, General Manager for Corporate Affairs. Jacobs is a former COO at SA Taxi and Group CFO at Transaction Capital. He also served as Group Financial Chief at Nampak from 2001 to 2009, and joined MultiChoice in 2013. He began his career in 1996 as Financial Director of Air Liquide Proprietary Limited, an industrial and medical gas company. Jacobs is a qualifi ed chartered accountant and was appointed Director of Finance for MultiChoice South Africa Holdings and joined the MultiChoice South Africa board in April 2014. In June 2014 he assumed the role of Pay TV Chief Financial Offi cer.Meyer has worked at MultiChoice since 1998 and on his watch has helped expand the

group’s reach into Africa, especially through the launch of digital terrestrial television services in a number of key markets. He has cited personal reasons as his reason for resignation.

The One Club Appoints SA CEOThe world’s foremost non-profi t

organisation recognising creative excellence in advertising, design and marketing communications, The One Club, recently announced the appointment of South African Kevin Swanepoel as Chief Executive Offi cer. Swanepoel previously served The One Club as President, and joined the organisation in 1998. He succeeds Mary Warlick, who served as Chief Executive Offi cer since 2006. She is a two-time Emmy Award winner and will be positioned as President of A&C Film Distribution, a division of The One Club devoted to documentaries, television and other content.

“The One Club would not be where it is today, and I would not be where I am now, if it weren’t for Mary’s leadership over these many years,” Swanepoel says. “It has been an absolute pleasure and I am glad she now has the chance to fully pursue her passion for creating documentaries. I am grateful for this opportunity and I am confi dent that with the team we have built, The One Club will continue to set the standard in our industry in more and more places around the world.”The One Club “seeks to celebrate the legacy of creative advertising and to use that legacy to inspire future generations,” according to the offi cial website, and is the “keeper of the fl ame” for advertising creatives. The One Show is a celebration of the year’s best advertising, design, interactive and branded communication and its gala awards ceremony, which takes place in May each year, features all of the Gold Pencil winners across all disciplines as well as Set of Show and Client of the Year. This year’s event and Creative Week will take place from May 4-8.

The One Club, recently announced the appointment of South African Kevin Swanepoel as Chief Executive Offi cer.

© Z

IMBIO

42 | MOVERS & SHAKERS www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

MultiChoice Africa Appoints New CEOCEO Nico Meyer has left

MultiChoice Africa and is being replaced by Tim Jacobs, former Chief Financial Offi cer of the pay TV segment at MultiChoice. Jacobs took on the Africa CEO role on 1 April this year, according to Jackie Rakitla, General Manager for Corporate Affairs. Jacobs is a former COO at SA Taxi and Group CFO at Transaction Capital. He also served as Group Financial Chief at Nampak from 2001 to 2009, and joined MultiChoice in 2013. He began his career in 1996 as Financial Director of Air Liquide Proprietary Limited, an industrial and medical gas company. Jacobs is a qualifi ed chartered accountant and was appointed Director of Finance for MultiChoice South Africa Holdings and joined the MultiChoice South Africa board in April 2014. In June 2014 he assumed the role of Pay TV Chief Financial Offi cer.Meyer has worked at MultiChoice since 1998 and on his watch has helped expand the

group’s reach into Africa, especially through the launch of digital terrestrial television services in a number of key markets. He has cited personal reasons as his reason for resignation.

The One Club Appoints SA CEOThe world’s foremost non-profi t

organisation recognising creative excellence in advertising, design and marketing communications, The One Club, recently announced the appointment of South African Kevin Swanepoel as Chief Executive Offi cer. Swanepoel previously served The One Club as President, and joined the organisation in 1998. He succeeds Mary Warlick, who served as Chief Executive Offi cer since 2006. She is a two-time Emmy Award winner and will be positioned as President of A&C Film Distribution, a division of The One Club devoted to documentaries, television and other content.

“The One Club would not be where it is today, and I would not be where I am now, if it weren’t for Mary’s leadership over these many years,” Swanepoel says. “It has been an absolute pleasure and I am glad she now has the chance to fully pursue her passion for creating documentaries. I am grateful for this opportunity and I am confi dent that with the team we have built, The One Club will continue to set the standard in our industry in more and more places around the world.”The One Club “seeks to celebrate the legacy of creative advertising and to use that legacy to inspire future generations,” according to the offi cial website, and is the “keeper of the fl ame” for advertising creatives. The One Show is a celebration of the year’s best advertising, design, interactive and branded communication and its gala awards ceremony, which takes place in May each year, features all of the Gold Pencil winners across all disciplines as well as Set of Show and Client of the Year. This year’s event and Creative Week will take place from May 4-8.

The One Club, recently announced the appointment of South African Kevin Swanepoel as Chief Executive Offi cer.

© Z

IMBIO

MIPTV is the biggest content market of its kind.

MIPTV 2015, which took place in Cannes, France from April 13-16, saw a free-fl ow of ideas and business between digital and

online, with a spotlight on Nordic countries. Deals and conference sessions confi rmed that there are no longer any national or cultural barriers when it comes to content creation in any genre – and notably drama, according to a release following the conclusion of this year’s movie market.

It was attended by over 11 000 delegates from over 100 countries, with 4 000 buyers – including 1 000 digital buyers – and offered the most comprehensive business, conference and networking event the entertainment industry has experienced recently. MIPFormats combined with MIPDoc and drew a record 1 800 delegates, with countries including the US, UK, China, Turkey and the Nordic territories all showing an increase in the number of guests in Cannes.

One of the closed-door International Co-Production Summit panels demonstrated how drama has “broken free from the confi nes of culture, country and language”, while NBC Universal International Television Production unveiled a new agreement with TF1 and Germany’s RTL channel to co-fi nance develop and produce three English-language crime and

legal series set for production in 2016. The cinematic transformation that television

drama has undergone in recent years was very evident at MIPTV this year, with their World Premiere TV Screening, Texas Rising, from ITV Studios America, demonstrating the borderless approach to production and fi nance. The show was shot in cinemascope and 6K, and was directed by Oscar-nominated Director Roland Joffé. Versailles, France’s biggest-ever TV series, costing US$30-million, is a 10-hour English-language, Franco-Canadian co-production.

Millennials were also a key theme at MIPTV this year, with the event demonstrating how millennials are a driving force behind change and development in the entertainment industry, especially in the way that they are producing, watching and interacting with content across platforms.

Zodiak Media’s Marc-Antoine d’Halluin told delegates that in the production process, “There is not one show that we produce today where we do not think, together with the broadcaster that commissioned the show, what will be the impact in the digital space.” He added: “China is not about catch-up anymore, they are leading the charge.”

In his keynote address at MIPFormats, Yang Weidong SVP and President of Tudou.

com Youkou Tudou, insisted that ‘new’ and ‘traditional’ media entities would live side-by-side. “I don’t believe new media will replace the television stations…they will co-exist,” he commented.

For the fi rst time, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway banded together for the Focus on the Nordics initiative. “The Nordic countries are a breeding ground for some of the hottest drama, border-breaking formats, cutting-edge web series and frontline mobile innovation,” said Reed MIDEM’s Laurine Garaude.

MIP Digital Fronts, the premier global digital-content market, saw its partner Maker Studios strike a deal with France’s Canal+ Group in order to launch programming for their streaming services, while in a MIPFormats keynote, Jens Richter, CEO of FremantleMedia International (FMI), said that formats were being sourced from far afi eld. Examples of these include France’s Les Revenants, Latin American Ugly Betty, and Scandinavia’s The Killing and The Bridge.

MIPTV is the world’s biggest TV and digital content market powering the unlimited potential of extraordinary stories. It is also a key venue for early-stage development and fi nancing deals, content acquisitions and programme sales.

44 | MIPTV 2015 www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

MIPTV 2015: In the Business of Breaking Down Borders

Texas Rising World Premiere Screening

All images ©

MIPTV 2015

Experts and celebrities gathered to celebrate extraordinary content.

MIPTV is the biggest content market of its kind.

MIPTV 2015, which took place in Cannes, France from April 13-16, saw a free-fl ow of ideas and business between digital and

online, with a spotlight on Nordic countries. Deals and conference sessions confi rmed that there are no longer any national or cultural barriers when it comes to content creation in any genre – and notably drama, according to a release following the conclusion of this year’s movie market.

It was attended by over 11 000 delegates from over 100 countries, with 4 000 buyers – including 1 000 digital buyers – and offered the most comprehensive business, conference and networking event the entertainment industry has experienced recently. MIPFormats combined with MIPDoc and drew a record 1 800 delegates, with countries including the US, UK, China, Turkey and the Nordic territories all showing an increase in the number of guests in Cannes.

One of the closed-door International Co-Production Summit panels demonstrated how drama has “broken free from the confi nes of culture, country and language”, while NBC Universal International Television Production unveiled a new agreement with TF1 and Germany’s RTL channel to co-fi nance develop and produce three English-language crime and

legal series set for production in 2016. The cinematic transformation that television

drama has undergone in recent years was very evident at MIPTV this year, with their World Premiere TV Screening, Texas Rising, from ITV Studios America, demonstrating the borderless approach to production and fi nance. The show was shot in cinemascope and 6K, and was directed by Oscar-nominated Director Roland Joffé. Versailles, France’s biggest-ever TV series, costing US$30-million, is a 10-hour English-language, Franco-Canadian co-production.

Millennials were also a key theme at MIPTV this year, with the event demonstrating how millennials are a driving force behind change and development in the entertainment industry, especially in the way that they are producing, watching and interacting with content across platforms.

Zodiak Media’s Marc-Antoine d’Halluin told delegates that in the production process, “There is not one show that we produce today where we do not think, together with the broadcaster that commissioned the show, what will be the impact in the digital space.” He added: “China is not about catch-up anymore, they are leading the charge.”

In his keynote address at MIPFormats, Yang Weidong SVP and President of Tudou.

com Youkou Tudou, insisted that ‘new’ and ‘traditional’ media entities would live side-by-side. “I don’t believe new media will replace the television stations…they will co-exist,” he commented.

For the fi rst time, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway banded together for the Focus on the Nordics initiative. “The Nordic countries are a breeding ground for some of the hottest drama, border-breaking formats, cutting-edge web series and frontline mobile innovation,” said Reed MIDEM’s Laurine Garaude.

MIP Digital Fronts, the premier global digital-content market, saw its partner Maker Studios strike a deal with France’s Canal+ Group in order to launch programming for their streaming services, while in a MIPFormats keynote, Jens Richter, CEO of FremantleMedia International (FMI), said that formats were being sourced from far afi eld. Examples of these include France’s Les Revenants, Latin American Ugly Betty, and Scandinavia’s The Killing and The Bridge.

MIPTV is the world’s biggest TV and digital content market powering the unlimited potential of extraordinary stories. It is also a key venue for early-stage development and fi nancing deals, content acquisitions and programme sales.

44 | MIPTV 2015 www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

MIPTV 2015: In the Business of Breaking Down Borders

Texas Rising World Premiere Screening

All images ©

MIPTV 2015

Experts and celebrities gathered to celebrate extraordinary content.

The Callsheet: Congratulations on your win! Please tell The Callsheet’s readers how you felt when your name was called. Monica Braganca: Thank you so much. It was very exciting! The Event Management category was quite big this year with many strong agencies in the running, so to hear your name being called out for a Gold was really such a great feeling.

The Callsheet: Please give an overview of your winning work. Braganca: The winning entry was for the Robertsons Herbs & Spices #Skydine campaign. This campaign was executed in collaboration with above the line agency, The Hardy Boys and digital agency, Liquorice in Durban. The objective for #Skydine was to create conversation through traditional and social media around the Robertsons Herbs & Spices range, and to also stimulate usage amongst consumers. The chosen tactic was a surprise haute cuisine, three course meal designed by celebrity chef Reuben Riffel, and served to unsuspecting passengers on board a kulula.com fl ight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. marcusbrewster provided event and media support for the #Skydine activation, as well as targeting, engaging with and hosting industry specifi c VIPs such as Liezel van der Westhuizen (radio and TV personality), Jenny Morris (celebrity chef), various MasterChef South Africa competitors and industry media and bloggers. VIP guests came from Johannesburg and were also fl own in from Cape Town in order to participate on the inaugural

fl ight from Johannesburg. We were fortunate to have strong relationships in place to secure the attendance of our VIP guests, as we were not able to share any information on the day’s agenda in order to keep the element of surprise. We received a great response from all our guests and their fellow passengers upon their arrival at Cape Town International Airport. Working together with kulula.com and ACSA we were also able to install a photo wall at the arrivals hall for all our guests and passengers to take photos with the celebrity chefs, Reuben Riffel and Jenny Morris, and all our VIPs. On the day, #Skydine trended ahead of the Oscar Pistorius trial, results throughout social media and traditional media superseded expectations with PR reaching an audience of over 8.5 million. The campaign also received an Orchid Award from industry commentator, Independent Newspapers’ Brendan Seery, a Hero Campaign of the Week nod from 702 broadcaster, Andy Rice, also winning in the Experiential Category of the Creative Circle Ad of the Month Awards for March 2014.

The Callsheet: How did you get into this business? Please give a brief career history.Braganca: I started my career in public relations 17 years ago at a small boutique communications agency. I later moved to Ogilvy Public Relations where I was blessed to work with a great mentor, Sandra Mason

working in the company’s corporate practice. As the social media buzz started hitting South Africa, I made a move to Cerebra, at the time still called Emerging Media, to look after more tech-focused clients. This was a great learning phase for me, not only to dive into a new sector but also discovering and learning how to best use social media tools and platforms. I was asked to go back to Ogilvy Public Relations to head up the consumer and medical/pharmaceutical practice, which was great for me – another new sector to immerse myself in and also to work with some of my old colleagues. In 2012, marcusbrewster was looking for a new Johannesburg head, which is when I was approached and I’ve not looked back since. I continue to learn every day here at marcusbrewster and have a great team that supports my growth and path ahead within the public relations fi eld.

The Callsheet: What are your work goals for the next year? Braganca: This is turning out to be another good year for us at marcusbrewster. We have an amazing and hard-working team in both our Johannesburg and Cape Town offi ces. We have great clients on board as well. We would like to continue growing the business by bringing in more clients and projects, and to do more great work so that we can come back at PRISMS 2016 even stronger.

PRISM AWARDS | 45www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

Monica Braganca

A Chat with

PRISM AWARD WINNER Monica Braganca

46 | ASSOCIATIONS www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

SAARF Announce Results of Research ReportThe South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF), recently commissioned independent research aimed at providing new ways to address the challenges that SAARF is currently facing. The research, determined by Johann Koster Consulting, shows that 66% of the 59 local organisations that were interviewed believe that an industry body is the best vehicle to represent communications and media interests. 23% were in disagreement, although it is clear that SAARF will need to make some changes. The report also showed that 80% of marketers consulted were willing to contribute to joint industry research and 60% were willing to contribute to a representative industry body.

“It is critically important that the industry has a clear vision for media research going forward,” Bruce Williamson, Managing Director of UM South Africa said. “It was important to get a broader understanding from a wider group of media, marketing and agency stakeholders rather than a view driven by particular interests. There are numerous different agendas on the table, and this research indicates that despite these differences, there is a lot of common ground.”

Although media owners have committed to continue to fund research, they felt that their funding would need to be “more focused on the specifi c needs of the media industry” according to a recent release. More information can be obtained through www.saarf.co.za.

NFVF Releases 2014 Co-Production ReportThe National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) have released their annual co-production activity report for 2014. The report is compiled from data captured from the applications for advanced ruling and is aimed at assessing how co-production activities contribute to the local fi lm industry.

Over the past three years, South Africa has recorded a decline in the number of co-production projects completed in a year. In 2011, a total of 15 projects were completed whereas in 2014 seven projects were recorded. The global fi nancial crisis has been cited as a possible reason for the decline. “We have, however, seen countries that have signed co-production treaties with South Africa set aside budget specifi cally dedicated to co-productions and therefore expect to see an increase in the number of co-production

projects going forward,” says NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi.

The NFVF has also embarked on co-production treaty missions to Brazil and Nigeria, with a defi nite focus on BRICS and other African countries as models for their fi lm industries are similar to those of South Africa. The SA-Germany treaty has been the most active over the past three years, producing more projects compared to others. For the year under review, the treaty has completed four projects – Unfriend, Super Dad, Truth and Consequences, and Johanna and the Bush Pilot. The SA-Canada Treaty is one of the oldest in operation and increased by one project in 2014, while the SA-UK treaty dropped to one project – Mandela’s Gun. Overall, the most preferred genre for 2014 was family, with 28.6% of the projects submitted in this genre. To read the full report, visit www.nfvf.co.za.

46 | ASSOCIATIONS www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

SAARF Announce Results of Research ReportThe South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF), recently commissioned independent research aimed at providing new ways to address the challenges that SAARF is currently facing. The research, determined by Johann Koster Consulting, shows that 66% of the 59 local organisations that were interviewed believe that an industry body is the best vehicle to represent communications and media interests. 23% were in disagreement, although it is clear that SAARF will need to make some changes. The report also showed that 80% of marketers consulted were willing to contribute to joint industry research and 60% were willing to contribute to a representative industry body.

“It is critically important that the industry has a clear vision for media research going forward,” Bruce Williamson, Managing Director of UM South Africa said. “It was important to get a broader understanding from a wider group of media, marketing and agency stakeholders rather than a view driven by particular interests. There are numerous different agendas on the table, and this research indicates that despite these differences, there is a lot of common ground.”

Although media owners have committed to continue to fund research, they felt that their funding would need to be “more focused on the specifi c needs of the media industry” according to a recent release. More information can be obtained through www.saarf.co.za.

NFVF Releases 2014 Co-Production ReportThe National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) have released their annual co-production activity report for 2014. The report is compiled from data captured from the applications for advanced ruling and is aimed at assessing how co-production activities contribute to the local fi lm industry.

Over the past three years, South Africa has recorded a decline in the number of co-production projects completed in a year. In 2011, a total of 15 projects were completed whereas in 2014 seven projects were recorded. The global fi nancial crisis has been cited as a possible reason for the decline. “We have, however, seen countries that have signed co-production treaties with South Africa set aside budget specifi cally dedicated to co-productions and therefore expect to see an increase in the number of co-production

projects going forward,” says NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi.

The NFVF has also embarked on co-production treaty missions to Brazil and Nigeria, with a defi nite focus on BRICS and other African countries as models for their fi lm industries are similar to those of South Africa. The SA-Germany treaty has been the most active over the past three years, producing more projects compared to others. For the year under review, the treaty has completed four projects – Unfriend, Super Dad, Truth and Consequences, and Johanna and the Bush Pilot. The SA-Canada Treaty is one of the oldest in operation and increased by one project in 2014, while the SA-UK treaty dropped to one project – Mandela’s Gun. Overall, the most preferred genre for 2014 was family, with 28.6% of the projects submitted in this genre. To read the full report, visit www.nfvf.co.za.

ASSOCIATIONS | 47www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

FPB Hold Meetings for Draft Online PolicyThe Film and Publication Board (FPB) held public consultations in Cape Town on 23 April 2015 regarding the draft online regulation policy. The policy, which is set to come into full effect in March 2016, will require any person who intends to distribute any fi lm or game and certain publications in South Africa to fi rst register with the FPB and submit their

content to the Board for examination and classifi cation.

“Until recently the Board adopted a fragmented approach to responding to the demands of industry players and online distributors for a solution to enable them to classify and distribute online content in the Republic of South Africa,” the draft policy introduction read.

The new Online Regulation Policy will be fi nalised through the Films and Publications Amendment Bill of 2014 and will create legislative framework that will ensure a “greater role for online distributors in classifying their own content on behalf of the Board, using the Board’s Classifi cation Guidelines and

the Act.” The policy will be applied to any person distributing or exhibiting fi lms, games or certain publications online, whether locally or internationally.

If passed in its current state, there is little explanation on what constitutes the “certain publications” mentioned in the draft, how far the classifi cation policy will be implemented or how it will be monitored. Content distributors will have to pay a prescribed fee for each title submitted for classifi cation, while distributors who wish to classify content themselves may do so on behalf of the Board upon offi cial authorisation. The policy will be reviewed annually based on legal and operational requirements.

The Windm

ill © ZenH

Q

48 | DIRECTORY LISTINGS www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

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www.samcap.tv


www.silverline360.com

www.sony-psmea.com

www.tempestcarhire.co.za

www.visuals.tv

www.wizardz.co.za

DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in The Callsheet do not necessarily represent the offi cial viewpoint of the editor or the publisher, while inclusion of adverts/advertising features does not imply endorsement of any business, product or service. Copyright of this material is reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, The Callsheet and/or its employees may not be held liable or responsible for any act or ommission committed by any person, including a juristic person, referred to in this publication. It and they furthermore accept(s) no responsibility for any liability arising out of any reliance that a reader of this publication places on the contents of this publication.

www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za www.fi lmeventmedia.co.za

Join usAccount Executive: Jennifer [email protected]

Account Executive: Theo [email protected]

Group Sales Manager: Lloyd [email protected] Sales Co-ordinator: Tracey-Anne [email protected]

Manager, Special Projects: Taryn [email protected]

57 2nd Avenue, Harfield Village, Claremont7708, Cape Town, South AfricaTel: +27 21 674 0646

Cover Image: Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road © 2015 Warner Bros. Ent.

Publisher: Lance [email protected]

Executive Editor: Katie [email protected]

Head of Design: Sheree [email protected]

Writer: Kim [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Lauren [email protected]

Editorial Assistant: Imogen [email protected]

48 | DIRECTORY LISTINGS www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za

ADVERTISERSCOMPANY

CONTACT US

WEBSITEEMAILTELEPHONE

Aquila Private Game Reserve

Atlas Studios

Avis

Blackmagic Design

CPI World

DFM

Film Finances South Africa

Folio Translation Consultants CC

KZN Film Commission

Media Film Service

MIPTV

Namib Films

Namibia Film Commission

Photo Hire

Prism Awards

Pro Events

Pro-Sales

Refinery


SAMCAP

Sasani Studios

Silverline360

Sony Professional Solutions MEA

Tempest Car Hire

Visuals TV

Wizardz

+27 21 430 7260

+27 11 482 7111

+27 11 608 3327

+613 9682 4770

+27 861 274 96753

+27 31 311 4243

+27 11 513 3563

+27 21 426 2727

+27 31 325 0200

+27 21 511 3300

+27 72 451 0255

+264 64 46 3371

+264 61 38 1900

+27 21 462 6933

+27 11 326 1262

+27 21 425 2170

+27 11 462 0000

+27 11 799 7800

+27 21 510 2598

+27 11 268 0415

+27 11 719 4200

+27 11 799 7800

+971 4 390 9626

+27 11 663 4000

+27 21 468 6000

+27 21 461 9334

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

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www.aquilasafari.com


www.avis.co.za

www.blackmagicdesign.com

www.cpiworld.co.za

www.durbanfilmoffice.com

www.filmfinances.com

www.folio-online.co.za

www.kwazulunatalfilm.co.za


www.miptv.com

www.namibfilms.com

www.nfc.na

www.photohire.com

www.prisa.co.za

www.proevents-sa.co.za

www.pro-sales.co.za

www.refinery.co.za


www.samcap.tv


www.silverline360.com

www.sony-psmea.com

www.tempestcarhire.co.za

www.visuals.tv

www.wizardz.co.za

DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in The Callsheet do not necessarily represent the offi cial viewpoint of the editor or the publisher, while inclusion of adverts/advertising features does not imply endorsement of any business, product or service. Copyright of this material is reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, The Callsheet and/or its employees may not be held liable or responsible for any act or ommission committed by any person, including a juristic person, referred to in this publication. It and they furthermore accept(s) no responsibility for any liability arising out of any reliance that a reader of this publication places on the contents of this publication.

www.fi lmmakerafrica.co.za www.fi lmeventmedia.co.za

Join usAccount Executive: Jennifer [email protected]

Account Executive: Theo [email protected]

Group Sales Manager: Lloyd [email protected] Sales Co-ordinator: Tracey-Anne [email protected]

Manager, Special Projects: Taryn [email protected]

57 2nd Avenue, Harfield Village, Claremont7708, Cape Town, South AfricaTel: +27 21 674 0646

Cover Image: Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road © 2015 Warner Bros. Ent.

Publisher: Lance [email protected]

Executive Editor: Katie [email protected]

Head of Design: Sheree [email protected]

Writer: Kim [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Lauren [email protected]

Editorial Assistant: Imogen [email protected]

Documents

The Callsheet Issue 5