Helping Build Better Communities for Everyone
The Power of Film to Transform Lives and Communities World Design Capital Cape Town 2014
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cultural impact
Production bringing communities together through film-making
“In townships schools formal drama/arts classes are very few, almost non-existent, and all the kids we auditioned were inexperienced... I am passionate about and committed to the development of nonprofessionals as they have little access to formal training or education in film and the arts in general. Director Ndaba ka Ngwane
THE POWER OF FILM TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES:
impact
Bringing together African Innovation in
Film Production, Exhibition, Distribution WDC Themes: African Innovation. Global Conversation
Bridging the Divide
Exhibition
collective experience of screenings
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socio economic impact
“For us the Zanzibar film festival was really a catalyst for what happened next... It was amazing beyond words, beautiful doesn’t even describe it: the people of Zanzibar, the environment, the vibe of the festival. The team presence at the festival was an integral part of the film experience for the young, non-professional cast. Director Ndaba ka Ngwane
Distribution
fairer forms of sharing profits
“Buni TV also gives independent producers a new distribution platform for their work, and a direct access to a global audience of curious, engaged, culture-loving viewers. Buni TV mission
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Production
bringing communities together through film-making
Working with disadvantaged groupsshowcasing a range of young talent Promoting emerging art forms in poetry, rap, writing, storytelling, theatre, dance Enabling young adults to express their identities creatively Enabling young adults to understand the progression of their identity through shared experience within their community Enabling young adults to tackle difficult personal issues through creativity Tackling taboo social issues through film such as xenophobia, tribalism, post-colonialisation, gentrification, sexuality and relationships Learning professional skills within film production Bringing together communities and encouraging social cohesion.
Production Process On casting the role of Khaba Mkhize: “The purpose [of the workshops] was to introduce the newly found inexperienced raw talent to acting in general, and acting for film in particular. The workshops focused on various aspects including but not limited to: Acting for stage vs Acting for film (television and features); Character development; script interpretation with a lot of emphasis on the sub-text; film production roles and responsibilities (crew and cast); film production techniques. In the workshops we invited even the unsuccessful ones, who we felt in spite of not making the cut to be included in the film, they still had some potential for development. This was done to encourage and motivate them not to give up in the arts. Some of the participants worked so hard that, we eventually included them in some important roles. The perfect example is the bullies that harass Khaba at the school and in the toilet. I am passionate about and committed to the development of nonprofessionals as they have little access to formal training or education in film and the arts in general.� Director of Uhlanga Ndaba ka Ngwane
bringing communities together through film-making P
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Exhibition
collective experience of screenings Film Festivals Travelling Cinema Live Narration Screening
The community understand their own stories through the reception of audiences Morale boosting through the exhibition and reception experience An opportunity to bring to light complexities surrounding censorship in South Africa. E.g. the recent incident concerning ‘Of Good Report’ - a film initially intended to open Durban International Film Festival. Cultural cohesion through challenging stereotypical representations of Africa.
Film Festivals “For us the Zanzibar film festival was really a catalyst for what happened next. There is something beautiful about the place. It was amazing beyond words, beautiful doesn’t even describe it: the people of Zanzibar, the environment, the vibe of the festival. The team presence at the festival was an integral part of the film experience for the young, non-professional cast. The past we came from was so violent, we grew up with trauma. Nobody has had therapy. We’ve all tried to find our own way out of the trauma. The film and the stage becomes a platform to finally discuss many of these issues that were a part of our life and through the exhibition of the film, we found a way of dealing with those issues. Uhlanga won 5 awards at ZIFF and the effect that these acclamations, and the film reception, had on these young actors was immeasurable.” Director of Uhlanga Ndaba ka Ngwane
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Travelling Cinema Is the oldest and most common form of film exhibition in many parts of Africa. Originated in West Africa, this form of African innovation has long since been a vehicle to bring back authentic stories to communities. This is a pragmatic response to the decline in theatre exhibition built on the outmoded westernised model of cinema culture. collective experience of screenings E
Live Narration Screening In East Africa predominantly Kenya and Tanzania there is a cultural phenomenon emerging that is bring audiences closer to films through live video jockeying or VJing. Video Jockeys (VJs) do more than simply describe the action – they frame the action in a context familiar to east Africans and add their own brand of humour as a result they are bridging the divide between nations.
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Distribution
fairer forms of sharing profits
Wider cultural cohesion Entrepreneurial opportunities for production team and their art forms e.g music, poetry, dance etc. Cast of the film get to learn professional skills within film distribution Digital platforms can reach even greater audiences than cinema or tv A fairer distribution model of 50/ 50 split enables commercial success for film-makers This model of Film-making becomes sustainable for film makers
UHLANGA - THE MARK
Digital Distribution Online channels are creating the opportunity for film-makers to reach ever larger numbers of audiences as internet access becomes more accessible.
Watch online UHLANGA - THE MARK
The example of Buni TV provides a fairer distribution model, a 50/ 50 split between distributor and film-maker enabling commercial success for everyone involved. This model is helping to provide a sustainable platform for film-makers to continue making great work!
Buni TV
Iroko TV
The Africa Channel fairer forms of sharing profits D
We aim to harness the power of innovative collaborative forms of African Film Production, Exhibition and Distribution in the form of a ‘toolkit’ of African filmmaking to help develop a sustainable model for African film-making. Enabling African stories, told by Africans, for Africans to transform lives and communities in Africa and beyond.
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AFRICAN film-making toolkit
African Innovation Documenting African Innovation WDC CAPE TOWN research Celebrating African Storytelling WDC CAPE TOWN main event Global Conversation Conversations on the Power of Film to Transform Lives & Communities WDC CAPE TOWN supporting event Exporting African Innovation Abroad WDC CAPE TOWN legacy in Scotland & the UK [Scotland is also seeing a growing number of African diaspora groups bringing new histories and narratives to its cities. Integration and an appreciation of the identities of the newly arrived is important to the nations social cohesion. Our investigation will look at how this tradition of storytelling can be developed to have a broader socio-cultural impact on the integration of diaspora groups in Scotland and we believe that the South African film production model previously discussed provides an inspired outline that can be adapted in Scotland. ]
Time line of activity Feb-May 2014 Visit the production of Jay Jay (ka Ngwane: In Production: South Africa) in Durban, ka Ngwane’s latest film which continues to employ his unique production values. Shadowing the production team and cast and documenting their collaborative process. Feb-May 2014 Facilitate African Storytelling Workshops at Greatmore Studios (Cape Town) through dance and movement, oral storytelling, and literature. Presenting ka Ngwane’s film production process to global audience
Feb-May 2014 As a means of bringing the designers and film-makers together we will facilitate thematic conversations with the think tank Future Cape Town on the power of film to transform lives. June-Aug 2014 Pilot youth workshops with the African Diaspora in Scotland. Working with Impact Arts in collaboration with Stills Gallery (proposed) Edinburgh. Sep-Dec 2014 Proposed projects screening at Stills Film Lounge as part of Image / Identity Exhibition. October 2014 Ndaba Ka Ngwane screening of new film Jay Jay in Scotland + postscreening discussion. Ndaba Ka Ngwane filmmaker’s workshop November 2014 Screening of Jay Jay at Film Africa, London, + post-screening discussion. December 2014 Report on the process and recommendations for broader implementation of initiative. February 2015 Broader implementation in Scotland
Full list of collaborators Project Lead
Education and Outreach
Dele Adeyemo - Director, Pidgin Perfect Natalia Palombo - Researcher, AiM Film Festival
Impact Arts - http://www.impactarts.co.uk/ Pidgin Perfect - http://www.pidginperfect.com/
Strategic Partners
UK based African film and culture researchers
World Design Capital - http://worlddesigncapital.com/ British Council Scotland(tbc) Creative Scotland (tbc)
Carli Coetzee SOAS (UK) Papers: Presentations and transformations: South African drama and film; Visual Cultures in South Africa: Past and Present
Film-makers
Carola Mostert SOAS (SA/UK) Zulu Language
Ndaba ka Ngwane - Director of award-winning South African film, Uhlanga (The Mark) www.uhlanga.com
Kai Easton SOAS Languages and Culture in Africa (UK) Papers: Traveling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo; History in African literature. Country of expertise: SA
Khulekani Zondi - Cinematographer of award-winning South African film, Uhlanga - The Mark
Marie Rodet African Film Academic/SOAS History of West Africa, migration and modern gender
Sara Blecher - Director of Otelo Burning (South Africa) www.oteloburning.com Visual Art Greatmore Studios http://www.greatmoreart.org/ (SA) Bag Factory www.bagfactoryart.org.za (SA) Stills Gallery www.stills.org (Scot) (tbc) Design Community & Media Future Cape Town - http://futurecapetown.com/ African Centre for Cities - http://africancentreforcities.net/ Africa is a Country - http://africasacountry.com/
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