ADVERTORIAL

INTRODUCING SAERA

Established to provide a collective voice for rental (studio and production equipment) companies within the local film and television industry, the South African Equipment Rentals Association (SAERA) is an industry association comprised of film, television and broadcasting facilities companies.

SAERA was constituted in 2017 when rental companies realised that having collective representation is essential to ensure a healthy and viable environment. A key driver was the reality of becoming uninsurable due to the high amount of claims as a result of theft and fraud.

SAERA believes in cooperation and a unified South African film industry. The association works closely with key industry bodies such as the Commercials Producers Association, South African Insurance Association and the Crew Members Association. “We have been very fortunate to welcome members of the National Prosecuting Authority and SAPS to our association. Membership has grown consistently in a short period of time, and SAERA invites all equipment rental companies to apply,” says SAERA chairman, Visual Impact’s Marius van Straaten.

“SAERA is always keen to extend its membership, to help other groups and to strengthen the South African industry. Our member companies provide employment to thousands of people and have a combined annual turnover of well over R200 million in providing services to

almost all African-based productions. We have a very good understanding of the film, television and broadcasting industries; no-one is better placed to enhance, maintain and protect them,” he continues.

Stacey Keppler of Zootee Studios comments: “As a female-owned and operated company, safety for my staff is multifaceted and it is my priority, while trying to provide a welcoming experience for our customers. After our armed robbery in November 2019, every SAERA rental house rallied behind us and helped us meet our scheduled bookings by offering gear at massive discounts and even offered emotional support – not to mention flowers and gift baskets. Through sharing information with another rental house that was robbed, we were able to link our cases in ways that the police otherwise might not have, and this will, in turn, build a stronger case against the men in custody. Communication is key in keeping one another safe. In our experience, as a smaller rental house, all the members of SAERA genuinely want one another’s businesses to be prosperous and have been incredibly generous with their knowledge and resources.” “Being able to collectively transform our industry through SAERA and the Visual Impact Training Academy, and have our members offer greatly reduced equipment rates to previously disadvantaged filmmakers, has been very rewarding,” van Straaten concludes.

SAERA’S MISSION IS TO: • Maintain and enhance technical standards within the industry • Ensure standards of health and safety are adhered to • Fully embrace transformation of the rentals industry • Maintain professional working practices • Collectively promote the industry within South Africa and around the world • Establish relationships with other industry associations and unions • Act as a forum for positive, creative discussion • Assist members in fighting the epidemic of fraud and theft and provide professional support where South Africa’s prosecutorial systems are failing