Aya provides insight into micro-budget productions

Local Screenwriter, Director and Producer IndieKhalid shares his experience in making Aya and encourages local filmmakers to follow his lead in micro-budget productions.

There’s nothing like the satisfaction of completing a film, but for many filmmakers in South Africa, budgets are always a problem in getting to this point. Enter Khalid El-Jelailati, also known as IndieKhalid, who offers up practical advice straight from his latest film Aya. A story about finding love in the murky world of online dating, Aya has done well on Showmax.

To Khalid, success means delivering high quality cinematic visuals that follow and evolve the brief, while staying within schedule and never breaching the budget ceiling. His work in the commercial industry has informed how he works. He counts among his clients local and international brands like Nissan, D’usse, Nandos and Unilever.

The local film sector is still in its infancy and doesn’t yet realise the advantages we have that can be used to further our films and the industry as a whole, says Khalid. He uses Aya as a model for micro-budget production – it was shot in three days on less than R100 000. Of course there were challenges, like schedules not lining up and, of course, budget constraints, but the fact that it took 10 days to create from concept to final product is a feat of note. The pressures of pulling this off successfully were huge and, says Khalid, “Because you play so many roles in the production, everyone looks to you for guidance.”

He adds that despite the challenges, there is a distinct opportunity for South African producers to take hold of the online global market at the moment. Right now, he sees that we don’t really compete internationally, which is sad. “The world doesn’t look at SA filmmakers to push boundaries and artistry.” Through Aya he hopes to create a model that local filmmakers can follow to complete their productions

despite budgetary issues.

“Start by developing artists,” Khalid says, “everything else will follow.” His philosophy is reminiscent of 80s era hip hop – “Something says I can do this even though it doesn’t exist yet.” He adds that speaking to a specific audience is always better than creating a blanket story that tries to make everyone happy. Calling his idea ‘Mixtape Filmmaking’, he says that even those without cash can

THE LOCAL FILM SECTOR IS STILL IN ITS INFANCY AND DOESN’T YET REALISE THE ADVANTAGES WE HAVE THAT CAN BE USED TO FURTHER OUR FILMS AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE, SAYS KHALID. HE USES AYA AS A MODEL FOR MICRO-BUDGET PRODUCTION – IT WAS SHOT IN THREE DAYS ON LESS THAN R100 000.

have a sustainable career. And, once a production is complete, filmmakers can build on that.

“You also don’t need to have a big-budget film to pitch globally,” he adds, saying that a R1.5-million production budget will open doors without you having to compromise on your product or be beholden to anyone. Another major asset to our industry is our experience in producing international award-winning commercials. Mobile filmmaking, too, is lowering the barriers to entry and will ultimately allow the next generation to archive history differently, to develop voices and to make something that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (but looks great, too).

More on IndieKhalid can be found on www.indiekhalid.com.