The Filmmaker's Guide to Africa 2015

Page 1





WELCOME TO AFRICA!

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WELCOME TO AFRICA! S

outh Africa is simply a phenomenal filmmaking destination. In 2014, South Africa doubled for Washington DC, Islamabad, Kabul and Los Angeles, to name a few, and all these chameleon-like

locations are usually within an hour’s drive from the main city centres. But locations are merely the cherry on the cake; the immense level of skill within South Africa’s film industry is without equal. Kate Beyda, Senior Vice-President of Physical Production at Warner Bros, said, “The depth of skills that the crew have in South Africa is incredibly attractive, and in my mind, a competitive advantage over other countries. The fact that there is no language barrier is another great advantage. South Africa is simply a premier filmmaking country.” These sentiments are echoed by international and local filmmakers, which has ensured that the amount of film, TV and commercial productions have steadily increased over the years. Homeland Season 4 was filmed in Cape Town, Avengers: Age of Ultron filmed key scenes on the streets of Johannesburg, and the massive pirate ships of Black Sails towering above the Cape Town Film Studios have become a familiar sight for passersby. But South Africa is not the only African country gaining recognition in the filmmaking world. Morocco welcomed more than 30 international productions to its shores in 2014, including the latest in the Star Wars franchise. Nigeria’s booming film industry, known as Nollywood, is renowned for creating in excess of 1 500 films every year, which is about double that of the United States. So come to Africa and experience our skills, talent, locations and beauty for yourselves. Seeing really is believing. - Lance Gibbons Publisher

©Derek Serra



CONTENTS

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05

CONTENTS Welcome

03

Production Companies

60

Film Commissions

07

Creative Profiles

72

Film Financing and Incentives

08

Specialist Services Companies

80

A Legacy of Success

10

South Africa

86

Locations South Africa

12

Africa Film Facts

88

Service and Co-Production

38

Gauteng

90

Commercial Service

40

KwaZulu-Natal

92

Stills

42

Western Cape

94

Television

44

Filmmaker’s Guide to Africa

96

Film

46

Morocco

98

Creative South Africa – Directors

48

Namibia

100

Creative South Africa – Documentaries,

50

Nigeria

104

Tanzania

106

Animation, Music Videos

52

Diarise

108

Infrastructure – Gear, Suppliers

54

Funding Associations

110

Infrastructure – Crew, Artists

56

Fixers

112

Specialist Services

58

Directory

118

Pemba Island, Tanzania © Jesper Anhede

Post-Production



FILM COMMISSIONS

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Gauteng Film Commission

Durban Film Office

The Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) develops, promotes

Established in 2003, the Durban Film Office (DFO) is a

and coordinates the film and television industry in South

division of the Department of Economic Development at the

Africa’s wealthiest province. Their aim is to position Gauteng

eThekwini Municipality. It is responsible for the promotion

as a world-class filmmaking destination and attract local and

and development of the film industry in the region. The goal

international investments in the sector.

is for Durban to be internationally recognised as a dynamic,

www.gautengfilm.org.za

creative, innovative and cost-effective production centre.

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www.durbanfilmoffice.com

GAUTENG

FILM COMMISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

KWAZULU-NATAL

KZN Film Commission Still a very young organisation, the KwaZulu-Natal Film

EASTERN CAPE WESTERN CAPE

Commission was officially launched in July 2012. Its main function is to develop and grow infrastructure and facilities for film and related industries in the province as well as facilitate policy, legislation and regulations necessary for the promotion of the industry. The commission also aims to attract foreign and local investment and to provide advice, support and funding incentives for filmmakers. www.durbanfilmoffice.com / www.kznded.gov.za

Cape Film Commission The Cape Film Commission (CFC) works closely with the

Zulu Coast Film Office

government agencies and industry representatives to

The ZCFO aims to re-establish with a positive drive the

promote Cape Town and the Western Cape as a filming

promotion and development of the film and stills industry

destination. Their vision is to position the region as a

within the region. Its objective is to promote and market

globally competitive film destination and to provide

the northern KwaZulu-Natal districts as prime locations for

superior, specialised services and information about the

filmmakers.

Cape film industry and to stimulate growth in the sector.

www.film-zulucoast.co.za

www.capefilmcommission.co.za

Wesgro

Eastern Cape Development The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) is

Wesgro is the official destination, marketing, investment and

an economic development agency working with provincial

trade promotion agency for the Western Cape. Located in

and national ministries, municipalities, chambers, private

Cape Town, it is the first point of contact for foreign buyers,

businesses and communities. Owned by the Eastern Cape

local exporters and investors wishing to take advantage of the

Government, it aims to attract new investors, stimulate

unlimited business potential in the region.

exports, facilitate development and grow existing businesses.

www.wesgro.co.za

www.ecdc.co.za

Courtesy of the shnit International Shortfilmfestival, PLAYGROUND Cape Town

City of Cape Town, Provincial Property and other related


08

FILM FINANCING AND INCENTIVES

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FILM FINANCING and Incentives

• Resulted in R1.952-

• Is highly profitable

billion in Qualifying SA

KEY FINDINGS

and self-financing in

Production Expenditure

SHOW THAT DURING

that for each R1.00

THE FINANCIAL YEAR

in rebate paid, SARS

ENDING MARCH 2014,

earned back R2.09

THE DTI FILM

in direct and indirect

INCENTIVE:

taxes (R1.098 billion

• Created 35 786

income vs. R524

FTE jobs

million rebate paid).

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti)

post-production work with:

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

• QSAPE of R12-million and above, provided that at least 50% of

TV Production Incentive until March 2017.

the principal photography schedule is filmed in South Africa, for a minimum of four weeks.

Foreign Film and Television Production and Post-Production Incentive (Foreign Film) Objectives:

• QSAPPE of R1.5-million and above, provided that 100% of the postproduction is conducted in South Africa, for a minimum of two weeks. • An applicant must be a Special Purpose Corporate Vehicle

To encourage and attract large-budget films and television productions

(SPCV) incorporated in the Republic of South Africa solely for the

and post-production work that will contribute towards employment

purpose of the production and/or post-production of the film or

creation, enhancement of international profile, and increase the

television project.

country’s creative and technical skills base. SA Film & TV Production and Co-production (SA Film) Benefits:

Objectives:

• Shooting on location in South Africa, the incentive will be calculated

To support the local film industry and to contribute towards

as 20% of the Qualifying South African Production Expenditure

employment opportunities in South Africa.

(QSAPE). A cap of R50 million will be applicable. • Shooting on location in South Africa and conducting post-

Benefits:

production with a Qualifying South African Post-Production

The rebate is calculated as 35% of the first R6-million of QSAPE and

Expenditure (QSAPPE) of R1.5-million in South Africa, the incentive

25% of the QSAPE on amounts above R6-million.

will be calculated at 22,5% of QSAPE and QSAPPE (an additional 2,5%, cumulative 22,5%) • Shooting on location in South Africa and conducting post-

Eligible Enterprises: • Special Purpose Corporate Vehicles (SPCV) incorporated in the

production with a QSAPPE of R3-million and above in South Africa,

Republic of South Africa solely for the purpose of the production

the incentive will be calculated as 25% of QSAPE and QSAPPE (an

of the film or television project. The SPCV and parent company(ies)

additional 5%, cumulative 25%).

must have a majority of South African shareholders of whom at

• Foreign post-production with QSAPPE of R1.5-million, the incentive is calculated at 22,5% of QSAPPE. • Foreign post-production with QSAPPE of R3-million and above the incentive is calculated at 25% of QSAPPE.

least one shareholder must play an active role in the production and be accredited in that role. • The following formats are eligible: feature films, tele-movies, television drama series, documentaries and animation. • The incentive is available only to qualifying South African

Eligible Enterprises:

productions with a total production budget of R2.5-million

Foreign-owned qualifying productions and South African qualifying

and above.


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

FILM FINANCING AND INCENTIVES

09

The South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive (SA

South African films and previously disadvantaged individuals producing

Emerging Black Film)

them. Production funding is given for feature films, short films and

The South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive is available to

documentaries. In addition, the NFVF has set aside a R1 million grant

South African black-owned qualifying productions.

each year for the purchase of archive material for feature-length and hour-long documentaries.

Objectives: To nurture and capacitate emerging black filmmakers to take up big

Marketing and Distribution Funding:

productions and contribute towards employment opportunities.

The objective of the grant is to provide financial support to filmmakers and distributors to promote their product at film markets and festivals

Benefits:

effectively. Innovative marketing and distribution strategies, particularly

A rebate of up to 50% for the first R6-million of the Qualifying South

in-line with NFVF objectives with respect to animation, digital and

African Production Expenditure (QSAPE) and 25% thereafter. No cap is

other new technologies/media will be supported.

applicable for this rebate. Contact Details: Contacts Details:

Tel: +27 11 483 0880

Wendy Mphahlele

Email: info@nfvf.co.za

Email: mphahlelew@thedti.gov.za

Address: 87 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2198

Tel: +27 (12) 394 1876 Lehlohonolo Mokhosi

Industrial Development Corporation

Email: lmokhosi@thedti.gov.za

The IDC is a self-financing, state-owned national development finance

Tel: +27 (12) 394 5632

institution, which plays a key role in financing South African films,

www.thedti.gov.za

especially co-productions. The IDC generally caps its investments at

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF)

49% of the overall budget. The IDC Media and Motion Pictures SBU is the driving force behind a sustainable South African Film industry and

The National Film and Video Foundation is the body mandated to grow

will continue making a difference by helping South Africa Filmmakers

the local film industry. They provide development, production funding,

to turn their creative visions into a reality

and marketing and distribution funding, capped at R1-million. How does it fund the Motion Pictures Value Chain? Development Funding:

The Media and Motion Pictures business unit supports the

The NFVF considers development as any work undertaken to put

development of a sustainable motion picture value chain in South

an idea or concept into writing with an intention of creating a

Africa through funding the production of feature films, television

script including research undertaken in a documentary, a short or

shows, animation and documentaries.

a feature film whether fiction or real life. The NFVF also provides financial support to the development of television concepts that

Who should apply for finance?

can be formatted, sold globally and licensed for remake rights or for

New or existing companies within the Media and Motion Pictures

syndication.

sector that need funding of up to R1-million. Funding can be structured in the most appropriate manner utilising a

Education and Training Funding:

wide range of instruments to meet the needs of the business including:

In order to stimulate and advance skills development, meet the current

• Debt/equity

needs of industry, and to ensure the industry’s future growth and

• Quasi-equity

competitiveness, the NFVF provides funding for national bursaries,

• Bridging finance

international bursaries and grants to organisations that offer training

• Venture capital

and development programmes. Contact Details: Production Funding:

Tel: +27 11 269 3000

One of the NFVF’s strategic objectives is to increase the number of

Address: 19 Fredman Drive, Sandown, Sandton, 2146


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A LEGACY OF SUCCESS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

© Joe Alblas

A Legacy of

SUCCESS

S

outh Africa is a powerhouse on the continent, with a vibrant and globally competitive film industry that has continued to grow year on year. It covers 1.2 million square kilometres of land with a stunning assortment of scenery and cityscapes

that attract even the most frugal of filmmakers. From mountain ranges and urban epicentres to garden routes and sandy beaches, this unique country has a host of locations just waiting to be discovered. South Africa has 11 official languages and a population of 48.6 million – 62% of which are located in urban zones. Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg are pivotal areas in South Africa’s film industry, with a healthy pool of film studios, creative talent, actors, equipment and crews. Each of these cities has its own film commission, with some doubling as provincial commissions and economic development agencies. Local and international filmmakers will find various types of incentives and funding available through these organisations. They also offer a wealth of information on the local film and television industry, as well as support, advice, special services and investment opportunities.

International films and TV series shot in South Africa in 2014

SPIER FILMS • Karsten og Petra

FILM AFRIKA:

TRILOGY CREATIVE STUDIOS

• Black Sails

• The Unexplained Files

• Dominion • Lying Makes You Happy

ANTON ERNST • Momentum

TWO OCEANS PRODUCTIONS: • Superbad

TENDEKA MATATU

• Rosa 2

• Tiger House

• Grzimek • Unfriend

KALAHARI PICTURES • SAF3

OUT OF AFRICA: • BlueStone 42

JOHAN KRUGER

• Book of Negroes

• Prisoner of War

• Our Girl • Shark Killer (Ace Hunter)

ZENHQ

• The Wrong Mans

• Dias Santana • The Kardashian Show

MOONLIGHTING: • The Avengers: Age of Ultron

MEHBOOB BAWA / FILM AD:

• Curse of Hendon/Grimsby

• Raja Natwarlal (Reverie Entertainment and UTV)

• Eye in the Sky

• Mr X - 3D (Vishesh Films)

• Homeland

• Jagga Jasoos (Picture Shuru Entertainment and Disney India)

• The Last Face

• Khamoshiyan (Vishesh Films)

• Tremors

• Hamari Adhuri Kahani (Vishesh Films)


A LEGACY OF SUCCESS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

11 © Joe Alblas

Book of Negroes

SHOT IN THE CAPE REGION:

• Wildlife Documentary – Khazakstan TV

• I am a Celebrity Get Me out of Here – Denmark

• Ulrich Siedl film – Austria – DO

• Wine (BBC Series)

• Siba’s Table – Cooking Channel USA – Pacific UK

• Fear Factor (India) – Endemol

• Dare 2 Dance – India – Gateway Film Services

• Double Echo – feature film

• Extreme Destinations – Travel Channel USA –

• DAAD Film Project (Germany)

• House Hunters International (Off the Grid) – USA – Leopard Films

• Soundtrack South Africa (Belgium ) Geronimo

• TV series from Hungary - Rapid Blue

• Various Indian Productions – Mindblowing Productions

• Shark – BBC UK

• Untitled UK production – Windfall Films

• Ray of Life – Italy- EBN Productions

• Reality video for UK – Endelman • Big Kitchen (UK reality series) - Windfall films

KZN FILM COMMISSION:

• Holiday Show (UK) - ITV

• Zorawar (Epic Entertainment, feature film)

• Feature Film (India) - Vishesh Films

• Memories (Kro-NCRV, TV series)

• Shepherds and Butchers – Enigma Films

• Face of Africa Germany (Bird Films, TV series)


LOCATIONS A- Z

“ “

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Our experiences here are off the charts. - Homeland star Mandy Patinkin

Cape Town has been good to me, I love being here. - Homeland star Claire Danes, in City Press


13 LOCATIONS A- Z www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

LOCATIONS SOUTH AFRICA

Courtesy of Cape Nature, Kogelberg Nature Reserve ŠScott N Ramsay


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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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AQUILA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

photographers and movie makers, with the recently released Mad Max:

Set in the pristine Southern Karoo Highlands against a backdrop

Fury Road as a prime example.

of dramatic mountains, the four star Aquila Private Game Reserve offers an exciting taste of real Africa just two short hours from

CONTACT DETAILS

Cape Town by road.

Head Office: 307 Mount Curtis Building, Main Road, Sea Point,

Aquila is home to an enormous variety of game, including the Big 5.

Cape Town, South Africa

Two- to three-hour game drives are a perfect way to see the animals

t: +27 861 SAFARI (723274)

(in four-wheel-drive vehicles, quad bikes or on horseback).

+27 21 430 7260

As a film location, Aquila offers wide vistas, hilltop locations and Karoo

e: corp@aquilasafari.com

scrubland, and has been the location of choice to advertising agencies,

www.aquilasafari.com


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LOCATIONS A- Z 16

Kogelberg Nature Reserve ©Scott N Ramsay

Trout Dam, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

Assegaaibosch Homestead, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

Cederberg ©Scott N Ramsay


LOCATIONS A- Z

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17 Kogelberg Nature Reserve ©Scott N Ramsay Wolfberg Arch ©Dawid De Bruin

CAPENATURE

CONTACT DETAILS t: +27 21 200 1388

CapeNature invites you to experience our breath-taking landscapes,

After Hours: +27 82 880 4649

including mountains, dams, waterfalls, rivers and in some cases tarred

e: locations@permitz.co.za

roads leading up magnificent passes.

www.permitz.co.za


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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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CTICC

CONTACT DETAILS

The CTICC, located in the heart of the city, provides a flexible meeting

Convention Square,

facility with 11 200m2 of dedicated exhibition space, two raked

1 Lower Long Street,

auditoria seating 1 500 and 620 delegates, a 1 876m 2 ballroom, 33

Cape Town 8001, South Africa

break-out rooms, and an integrated five star hotel. Other than thrilling

t: +27 21 410 5000

audiences with live productions, the CTICC provides the perfect

f: +27 21 410 5001

combination of vast indoor spaces, with state-of-the-art facilities

e: info@cticc.co.za

and technologies to accommodate film shoots of any kind. Supplying

twitter: twitter.com/CTICC_Official

everything from lighting and rigging services, to catering for the film

facebook: facebook.com/CTICC

crew, the CTICC can make your film shoot come alive with possibilities.

www.cticc.co.za

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE

Today the JEC hosts: Exhibitions, Conferences, Cocktail and Themed

The Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) is South Africa’s largest purpose-

Events, Product and Media Launches as well as private and intimate

built exhibition, convention and events venue. For over three decades

functions such as Weddings and Year-End Parties.

the JEC has kept pace with the remarkable growth of the local exhibition and conference industries, evolving into a world-class facility

CONTACT DETAILS

that offers exhibitors, visitors, and delegates a first rate experience.

Cnr Rand Show & Nasrec Roads, JHB

It has become the permanent home to some of Africa’s most

t: +27 11 494 1920

popular consumer shows, including the Rand Show, as well as world-

f: +27 11 494 1005

class trade events such as Automechanika, Joburg International Motor

e: info@expocentre.co.za

Show and Electra Mining.

www.expocentre.co.za


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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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GAUTENG FILM COMMISSION (GFC) CONTACT DETAILS An agency of the Gauteng Provincial Government tasked with

56 Main Street,

the development and promotion of the audiovisual industries in

Johannesburg, 2108

Gauteng through:

South Africa

• Production and project support

PO Box 61601 Marshalltown 2107

• Distribution and marketing

t: +27 11 833 0409

• Skills development and training

e: info@gautengfilm.org.za

• Permit facilitation and locations

www.gautengfilm.org.za

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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KWAZULU-NATAL FILM COMMISSION

CONTACT DETAILS

From the Valley of a Thousand Hills to the pick of the Drankensburg

Durban, 4001

Mountains, the majestic beasts in the wild and the warm waters of the

t: +27 31 325 0205

Indian Ocean coupled with all year warm weather, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, offers breathtaking landscapes both inland and along the coastline.

1st Floor, Marine Building, 22 Dorothy Nyembe Street,

+27 31 325 0202 www.kznfilmcommission.co.za

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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KURLAND HOTEL

renowned long, languid Sunday brunches at Katarina’s at The Barn,

The 5-star Kurland Hotel is located near the beautiful beach resorts of

which opens seasonally and offers an extensive bistro-style menu.

Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley on the Garden Route. Kurland is ideal for boutique or large corporate events or film shoots

CONTACT DETAILS

due to its vast 700 hectare Estate boasting incredible natural beauty.

Kurland Hotel, The Crags, N2,

There are endless possibilities for truly unique functions – weddings,

Plettenberg Bay, 6602, South Africa

meetings and conferences in the Polo Pavilion, a marquee on the lawn

t: +27 44 534 8082

or multiple locations throughout the Estate for a shoot.

f: +27 44 534 8699

The award-winning Kurland Restaurant presents an ever-changing

e: reservations@kurland.co.za

menu and is perfect for decadent lunches, romantic dinners or the

www.kurland.co.za

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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CONTACT DETAILS LION PARK

Corner Malibongwe Drive & R114 Road, Honeydew, South Africa

• Magnificent unspoilt wild bush locations

t: +27 87 150 0100 / +27 71 681 6695

• Animal handlers/trainers/wranglers with 40 years

+27 76 187 3883 / +27 76 431 0545

combined experience • Vast range of predators and herbivores

e: info@lionpark.com www.lionpark.com

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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Apartment-style living. Your home away from home.

Moonlighting: “It’s like home.”

Juice Films: “All you want under one roof.”

Film Afrika: “Rockwell indeed does ROCK.”

Velocity Films: “Great location, setting and offering.”

GS Productions: “Best fun we’ve had in a long time.”


LOCATIONS A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

First Productions: “The people, the vibe, the surroundings = the best!”

Endemol: “What a find!”

ROCKWELL Centrally and conveniently located in trendy Greenpoint where the energy of the city, V&A Waterfront, and some of the trendiest shopping and dining venues are just a few steps away. Expansive, spacious apartments with fully equipped kitchens, generous

CONTACT DETAILS

lounge areas and private patios affording magnificent views makes for

t: +27 21 421 0015

the optimal place to stay and shoot for any and all film and TV crew

f: +27 21 421 0017

The Rockwell All Suite Hotel & Apartments truly is your home

e: reservations@rockwellhotel.co.za

away from home…

www.rockwellhotel.co.za

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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LOCATIONS A- Z

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ZULU COAST FILM OFFICE THE ULTIMATE FILM DESTINATION The Zulu Coast offers a one-stop prime environment for filmmaking and offers an attractive and well-packaged deal of healthcare,

CONTACT DETAILS

transportation, accommodation, airport, harbour, wildlife/conservation

t: +27 35 799 2582

and culture/heritage. The office endeavours to create a film-friendly

f: +27 86 775 4013

environment in the entire region. Our mandate is to facilitate filming

www.film-zulucoast.co.za

opportunities within the Northern KZN in order to boost the economy

facebook: www.facebook.com/ZuluCoastFilmOffice

through film as a sector.

twitter: @ZCFO

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36

I love shooting there and I’d never hesitate in going back there to shoot. South Africa not only was the perfect setting for the film, it just happens to also be very cost-effective and have world-class film crews. - Chappie co-producer Victoria Burkhart

FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za


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FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA

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FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA 38

Commercial Service

40

Stills

42

Television

44

Film

46

Directors

48

Documentaries, Animation, Music Videos

50

Post-Production

52

Infrastructure: Gear and Supplies

54

Infrastructure: Crew And Artists

56

Specialist Services

58

U2’s This Is Where You Find Me Now, directed by Bryan Little © Filipa Domingues

Service and Co-Production


38

SERVICE AND CO-PRODUCTION

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

© Showtime

© SyFy

Claire Danes, star of Homeland.

Tom Wisdom in Dominion.

© Starz Entertainment

© Sky1

Black Sails

The series Strike Back was filmed in location in South Africa and Hungary.

SERVICE

and Co-Production

2

014 was South Africa’s busiest service season yet, with over

expenditure per year, according to 2013-2014 figures from The

25 international shoots, from blockbusters like Avengers:

Department of Trade and Industry’s incentive schemes – which are

The Age of Ultron to award-winning TV series like Homeland,

the most attractive in Africa.

Wallander and Black Sails.

The sector started booming after South Africa’s first democratic

A-list stars became everyday sightings in Cape Town, where Sean

elections in 1994, so many of the crew now have 20 years

Penn and Charlize Theron filmed The Last Face; Sacha Baron Cohen

experience working on international productions, increasingly as

and Penelope Cruz shot Grimsby; Helen Mirren and Aaron Paul

heads of department. South African crew have consistently featured

starred in Eye in the Sky; and Bond girls Bérénice Marlohe and Olga

at The Emmy Awards in recent years and have earned rave reviews

Kurylenko filmed Prisoners of War and Momentum respectively.

from many of the world’s top directors, including Clint Eastwood and

This is nothing new: South Africa has hosted hundreds of

the late Anthony Minghella.

international films and TV shows in recent years, starring everyone

As Kate Beyda, senior vice-president of physical production at

from Angelina Jolie to Leonardo di Caprio, from Samuel L Jackson

Warner Bros, says, “The depth of skills that the crew have here is

to Reese Witherspoon, from Daniel Craig to Robert Pattinson.

incredibly attractive, and in my mind, a competitive advantage over

In the last five years, international service jobs and official co-

other countries. The fact that there is no language barrier is another

productions have been growing at 9.4% per annum, and now

great advantage.”

generate nearly R2-billion in qualifying South African production

Of course, South Africa’s biggest attraction remains its versatility,


SERVICE AND CO-PRODUCTION

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39 © Jasin Boland

© Warner Bros Entertainment 2014

• Won Emmy-awards (Generation Kill, Gettysburg, America: The Story of Us, The Triangle)

• Topped the US box office (Safe House, Chappie and Chronicle)

Charlize Theron (right) is Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. © Chronicle

FILMS AND TV SERIES SHOT IN SOUTH AFRICA HAVE:

• Received Oscar nominations (District

• Been nominated

9, Blood Diamond,

for Golden Globes

Invictus, Mandela:

(The Girl, Machine

Long Walk To Freedom

Gun Preacher, 24:

and Hotel Rwanda)

Redemption, Endgame)

Dane DeHaan, star of Chronicle

continents in Cape Town, and Homeland to double South Africa for Kabul, Islamabad City, New York, Rawalpindi, Virginia and DC. “It’s proving to be very flexible,” said Homeland star Clare Danes. She later told CityPress that, while she travels extensively, Cape Town is “one of the most beautiful places I have been to one on the planet… It is breathtakingly beautiful.” South Africa not only offers diverse locations within an hour’s drive; it also offers the studios and production design capacity to replicate anywhere from Antarctica to Zambia to outer-space. Sara Spring, senior vice president of feature production at Paramount, says, “Cape Town Film Studios are state-of-the-art and the level of craftsmanship on top of that far surpassed any expectations… I look forward to bringing movies here.”

International service jobs and official co-productions have been growing at 9.4% per annum, and now generate nearly R2-billion in qualifying South African production expenditure per year, according to 2013-2014 figures from The Department of Trade and Industry’s incentive schemes – which are the most attractive in Africa.

which allowed Eye in the Sky to replicate five countries on four


40

COMMERCIAL SERVICE

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

COMMERCIAL SERVICE

I

f you brought your next ad to South Africa, you’d be in good

style stunts.” Incidentally, that blue sky everywhere in the ad was

company. Very good company, like The Gunn Report’s Most

filmed during the South African ‘winter.’

Awarded Director for 2014, Andreas Nilsson; Shots’ Director of

When Paul WS Anderson needed to spoof Hollywood stunts being

the Year for 2014, Lance Acord; and Cannes Grand Prix winner

sabotaged by Volkswagen’s safety features, he similarly chose South

Juan Cabral from MJZ, The Gunn Report’s Most Awarded Production

Africa. After the shoot, John Brocklehurst, Mob Pictures MD and EP,

Company in the world for 2014.

told The Location Guide, “I can honestly say we had one of the best

Cabral came to Johannesburg last year to shoot a dreamy IKEA

crews I have ever shot with. The stuntmen were phenomenal, nothing

commercial about a woman tumbling out of the clouds and onto

was any trouble and they moved super-quick but always safely.”

a series of beds. When The Location Guide asked MJZ producer

With film commissions in all the key provinces, South Africa offers

Stephen Johnson about their choice of location, he summed up the

a supportive government infrastructure. “Cape Town in general is

reasoning by saying, “South Africa is a hi-tech centre for Hollywood-

a very film-friendly city with an international, big-city look,” says


COMMERCIAL SERVICE

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

41

Shots’ Ad of the Year (Gorgeous’ Guinness Cloud, Stink’s ADS SERVICED

Samsung King of

IN SOUTH AFRICA

TV, and Partizan’s

HAVE:

Virgin Flying In The

© The Stunt Company / Ikea

• Been nominated for

Face of Ordinary)

• Screened at the Superbowl (Hungry • Won the Grand Prix

Man’s Coca-Cola

at Cannes Lions

Chase ad)

(Partizan’s Fox Sports campaign)

The dreamy IKEA commercial by Stillking Films.

Cape Town last year for BMW ‘Driftmob’ and its stunt drivers. International commercials have been doubling South Africa as every continent in every era for decades, but with Africa rising, South Africa is increasingly being used to double for the rest of the continent, like in the Guinness ‘Sapeurs’ campaign, which won seven awards at Cannes Lions in 2014, including two Silvers in the film category.

South Africa is a hi-tech centre for Hollywood-style stunts. Incidentally, that blue sky everywhere in the ad was filmed during the South African winter.

Partizan’s Julian Holland, who stopped traffic for two days in central


42

STILLS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

STILLS

• Paid R57-million in direct taxes to SARS

• Contributed R 0.86 billion to South Africa’s GDP (direct and indirect spend)

KEY FINDINGS OF THE 2013/2014 SOUTH

• Created 467 FTE jobs

AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF STILLS PRODUCERS (SAASP) SEASON RESEARCH SHOW THAT THE STILLS SECTOR:

• Hosted 4015

• Delivered and economic multiplier of 2.89

• Represents more than

International

70% of all filming

guests for a total of 36

permits issued by the

135 accumulative days

City of Cape Town.


STILLS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

The service industry is centered around Cape Town, which offers one of the most advanced stills infrastructures in the world. Experienced production companies, crew, gear-rental companies and post-production facilities complement Cape Town’s diverse locations and stunning models. © Bryan Traylor

A

43

ccording to the South African Association of Stills Producers, South Africa hosts over 100 000 shoot days per year, generating over R700-million. Name a celebrity photographer and chances are they’ve shot here, from

Annie Leibovitz to Jaime Travezan to Nadav Kander (who was actually raised in Johannesburg) to Viviane Sassen. The service industry is centered around Cape Town, which offers one of the most advanced stills infrastructures in the world. Experienced production companies, crew, gear-rental companies and post-production facilities complement Cape Town’s diverse locations and stunning models. But South Africa is more than a location; our photographers are regular features at all the major awards shows. In 2014, Jürgen Schadeberg received the Cornel Capa Lifetime Achievement Award from The International Center for Photography; Brent Stirton was named Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year; Mikhael Subotzky and Zanele Muholi were shortlisted for the Duetsche Borse Photography Prize; James Oatway came second in the POYi Newspaper Photographer of the Year competition; Sipho Mpongo was awarded one of The Magnum Foundation’s human rights fellowships; and Clive Stewart, Des Ellis, Bryan Traylor, David Prior, Guy Neveling and Michael Meyersfeld all cracked the top 100 of Luerzer’s Archive’s ranking of the the top advertising photographers of the last five years. These are just the latest in a long line of accolades for South African photographers, like David Goldblatt and Peter Magubane winning Lifetime Achievement Awards from The International Center for Photography; Greg Du Toit being named Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2013; Jodie Bieber winning the World Press Photo of the Year Award in 2010; Gideon Mendel winning six World Press Photo Awards; and Greg Marinovich and Kevin Carter winning the Pulitzer in the 1990s.

© Michael Meyersfeld

Bryan Traylor’s Escape

Michael Meyersfeld for Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG convertible.


44

TELEVISION

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

TELEVISION

© Dirk Visser

O

ver the last decade, South Africa has emerged as a popular destination for TV series, but the country is also positioning itself as a content producer, both for Africa’s relatively untapped local audience of over a billion

people and for the international marketplace. South African comedian Trevor Noah broke out internationally this year with a regular slot on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart which he will take over, while Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, a satirical news

show produced by Diprente, has been nominated in the Best Comedy category at The International Emmy Awards for the past two years. South Africa has had a number of International Emmy nominations over the years for shows like City Slickers, Home Affairs, Hopeville, MasterChef South Africa, Sokhulu & Partners, Sorted and Stokvel. This kind of international affirmation isn’t unusual; just look at South African production company Quizzical Pictures. In 2012, their drama

Charly’s Cake Angels

Intersexions won a Peabody. At the 2010 Rose D’Or Awards, Hopeville


TELEVISION

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Over the last decade, South Africa has emerged as a popular destination for TV series, but the country is also positioning itself as a content producer, both for Africa’s relatively untapped local audience of over a billion people and for the international marketplace.

45

© MasterChef South Africa

MasterChef South Africa won the Drama and Miniseries category, while A Country Imagined

notably in video-on-demand services, where MTN launched

was nominated in the Arts Documentary category.

Frontrow, Times Media launched Vidi, and Altech launched Node,

While South Africa has been importing international formats for

creating more demand for South African content locally.

years, 2014 was a breakthrough, as Cooked In Africa Films licensed International – their first format from South Africa.

10 Internationally Successful South African TV shows

As a sign of the growing interest in African food shows

• Late Nite News With Loyiso Gola

internationally, the first two seasons of Ultimate Braai Master

• Ultimate Braai Master

were screened to over 100 million viewers worldwide in more than

• MasterChef South Africa

280 territories, while Cooked in Africa has delivered in excess

• Charly’s Cake Angels

of 200 hours of programming to broadcasters as diverse as BBC

• Hopeville

International, Discovery, The Food Network, National Geographic,

• Home Affairs

Sky, and Travel Channel.

• Intersexions

While digital migration remains as mythical as a turnaround at the

• Sokhulu & Partners

public broadcaster, The South African Broadcasting Corporation,

• Sorted

there have been a number of new entrants into the market recently,

• Stokvel

Ultimate Braai Master as a format to multiple-Emmy winners all3media


46

FILM

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

FILM S

ubsidised by a supportive government funding environment, South Africa’s local film industry has been exploring multiple business models for its first 20 years of democracy. The South African box office is relatively small, with

the most popular – local or international - film each year rarely topping $4-million. This means international partnerships are key on larger budget films. These generally rely on international stars to bring in foreign funding and audiences. For example, despite poor reviews, Vehicle 19 turned a tidy profit

by casting the right international star – Paul Walker (RIP) - in an otherwise local film. Similarly, Idris Elba and Naomie Harris starred in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, a South African-British co-production that earned BAFTA, Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. And Triggerfish has positioned itself as the Pixar of Africa with two features, Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba, that used a combination of local animation and A-list international voices to gross over $60-million together at the global box office. Most promisingly, South Africa’s biggest success, District 9, proved that – with A-list studio and producer support - international audiences could embrace a South African story with local actors. Neill Blomkamp’s debut earned four Oscar nominations and over $210-million internationally. To encourage this kind of international partnership approach, South Africa has signed co-production treaties with Canada (1997), Italy (2003), Germany (2004), the United Kingdom (2007), France (2010), Australia (2010), New Zealand (2011) and Ireland (2012). Official co-productions are regarded as national productions in each of the co-producing countries, so are eligible to apply for the local funding available in the respective territories. Co-productions also facilitate access to each country’s domestic markets. The international box office isn’t a level playing field though, so many filmmakers are rather focusing on making low-budget films that can recoup locally. Leon Schuster is the closest thing to a safe bet in South African filmmaking: his slapstick comedies dominate the local box office top 10, making enough money in the country that they don’t need to travel to turn a profit. Afrikaans, one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, although there are concerns this sector is becoming over-traded. Of course, filmmaking isn’t just about the money. Auteurs like Oliver Schmitz and Oliver Hermanus haven’t set any box office records, but have made critically-acclaimed festival films, like Life, Above All and Skoonheid. A new generation of young filmmakers – like Sibs Shongwe-La-Mer, Jenna Bass, and Ernest Nkosi - are now also courting festival acclaim with their micro-budget, contemporary stories about urban Africa. The continent is home to an untapped audience of over a billion people, while African festivals and niche VOD sites are popping

A new generation of young filmmakers – like Sibs ShongweLa-Mer, Jenna Bass, and Ernest Nkosi - are now also courting festival acclaim with their micro-budget, contemporary stories about urban Africa.

Filmmakers have also found a small, loyal market locally for films in


FILM

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

47 © Life, Above All

© Triggerfish

Khumba, a mega-hit for Triggerfish

Life, Above All

© Keith Bernstein

up across the Diaspora. So it’s inevitable that South Africans are starting to look at their neighbours on the continent for partnerships. Big World Cinema, in particular, has done this successfully, with pioneering collaborations like Viva Riva and Stories of Our Lives, which won the Teddy Award at the 2015 Berlinale, where it also came second in the Panorama Audience Award.

10 recent South African films to watch • Necktie Youth, which Cineuropa called ‘probing, polemic and probably best in show’ at Berlin in 2015 • Thina Sobabili: The Two of Us, winner of the Audience Award at the 2015 Pan African Film Festival • Khumba, hit South African animation that sold over a million tickets in China in 2015 • Four Corners, winner of the South African Film and Television Award for Best Film in 2015 • Love the One You Love, winner of Best South African film at Durban International Film Festival in 2014 • Of Good Report, winner of the South African Film and Television Award for Best Film in 2014 • iNumber Number – Universal bought the remake rights after the crime thriller premiered at Toronto in 2013 • Adventures in Zambezia – breakout South African animation that grossed over $34-million internationally in 2012 • Life, Above All, winner of the Francois Chalais award at Cannes and shortlisted for the 2011 Oscar for Best Foreign Film

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

• Skoonheid, winner of the Queer Palm at Cannes in 2011


48

CREATIVE SOUTH AFRICA | DIRECTORS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

CREATIVE SOUTH AFRICA: Directors

S

outh Africa has produced more than its fair share of the

South African directors are regular features at international award

world’s top commercials directors, including Directors Guild

shows like Cannes Lions. Kim Geldenhuys, then with Egg Films, won

of America Commercials Director of the Year winners Leslie

Gold for Topsy’s Selinah there in 2010 and South African directors

Dektor, David Cornell, and Peter Smillie.

have featured every year since.

Velocity Films’ Keith Rose may have earned similar status if he’d

2014 was a modest year internationally by South African standards,

emigrated. But even with comparatively smaller local budgets, he’s

but still enlarged the awards cabinet.

earned a place in the Clio TV Hall of Fame and won several Golds

Rose won Bronze at Cannes for Topsy’s Kevin, which was also named

at Cannes Lions, where he was the jury president in the Film Craft

Creative Circle Ad of the Year. Gentlemen Films’ Greg Rom similarly

Category in 2011.

picked up a Bronze at The Clios for Music: Short Form, thanks to the


CREATIVE SOUTH AFRICA | DIRECTORS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

49

Sigur Ros score on his Mandela Lives spot for National Geographic. But the most successful wasn’t a traditional TV commercial at all; rather One Rand Man was a series of short films for Sanlam about a guy who has his salary paid in one rand coins, which sparked a national conversation about budgets and saving. Directed by Arcade Content’s Rob Smith, One Rand Man won five Golds and a Silver at The Midas Awards. One Rand Man was also named Creative Circle Digital Ad of the Year and won the only Branded Content Gold at The Bookmark Awards. Branded content is finally taking off in South Africa, creating a burst of fresh optimism in the advertising sector. This has contributed to a burst of high-profile new companies, including Egg Films launching Arcade Content, Kim Geldenhuys opening 0307, Lorraine Smit and Melina McDonald founding Darling, and Bruno Bossi introducing Carbon Films. As usual, the local Loerie Awards was a two-horse race between Velocity Films and Egg Films, both regular features in The Gunn Report over the years. Velocity was the most awarded production company in the Advertising categories, while Egg Films was the most awarded overall. Your Girlfriend beat them both to win the only Gold for TV & Cinema Commercials though: for Trevor Clarence’s funny Chicken Licken commercial, about the lengths a scrawny guy is willing to go to for a Big John burger. With the local commercials market flooded, South African directors are again looking beyond South Africa’s borders for work. For example, Egg Films’ Terence Neale – the most awarded director at The Loerie Awards in 2014 - signed to Ridley Scott & Associates for international representation, while South African directors are increasingly in demand across the continent. No one is resting on their laurels though: as Rose said when collecting his Loeries Hall of Fame award, “I always believe that I’ve

The Reader for Bell’s Whisky by Velocity Films.

still got that one big ad to deliver.” All images © Velocity Films

Keith Rose and Ogilvy Johannesburg won Bronze at Cannes for Topsy Foundation’s (now Witkoppen’s) ad Kevin.


50

CREATIVE SOUTH AFRICA | DOCUMENTARIES, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

CREATIVE SOUTH AFRICA: Documentaries, Animation, Music Videos

© Sunrise Marketing Group

S

outh African music videos had their best year ever in 2014. Egg Films’ Terence Neale directed Skrillex’s Ragga Bomb, a gripping tale of a post-apocalyptic Johannesburg turf-war, complete with trolley-surfer scavengers, a glow-in-the-

dark dancehall, and a final fight sequence that gives the next Star Wars a lot to live up. Ragga Bomb is now on over 40 million views

on YouTube and was named Best Music Video of 2015 at the One Screen Awards, produced by the One Club. This was just the latest in a string of accolades for the music video, which has been featured everywhere from Pitchfork to Rolling Stone and also won three Golds at The Loerie Awards and a Bronze Clio Award. Other groundbreaking work from South Africa included Die Antwoord’s Pitbull Terrier, directed by Ninja, which was nominated for Best Urban Video – Budget at the UK Music Video Awards; U2’s This Is Where You Find Me Now, directed by Fly On The Wall’s Bryan Little; and Dane Dodds’ Larney, Jou Poes music video for Dookoom, which sparked a national conversation about the treatment of farm

Sunrise Productions’ childrens’ series Jungle Beat.

labourers. Arcade Content’s Kyle Lewis has also been on a roll since


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

CREATIVE SOUTH AFRICA | DOCUMENTARIES, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS

51

© Filipa Domingues

© Unearthed

U2’s This Is Where You Find Me Now, directed by Bryan Little.

Jolynn Minnaar’s fracking expose, Unearthed.

2014 for The Parlotones’ Sleepwalker. Similarly, Rehad Desai’s Miners Shot Down is the most acclaimed South African documentary of recent years. The story of the Marikana massacre of mine-workers by police, Miners Shot Down won The Vaclav Havel Jury Award at One World, The Camera Justitia Award at Movies That Matter Human Rights Festival, and six other international awards. Other strong documentaries from South Africa last year include Jolynn Minnaar’s fracking expose, Unearthed, which won the Green Award at Sheffield Doc/Fest, as well as audience awards at

There is this intensely creative, unapologetically young and curious energy in South Africa that I sense and subscribe to; it’s really infectious and I point my camera in that direction.

winning the South African Music Award for Best Music Video in

- Lebogang Rasethaba, director of Future Sound of Mzansi

Encounters and Tri Continental Film Festival; and Francois Verster’s The Dream of Shahrazad, which screened at IDFA as part of the

of Sunrise Productions’ childrens’ series Jungle Beat is as popular

Masters Programme.

as ever, with one episode chosen as a ‘Best of the Fest’ film at

Animation is a key growth area for South Africa. Triggerfish is

Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. And Shy The Sun’s

positioning itself as the Pixar of Africa, having produced two

The Curse of The Sad Mummy for League of Legends is on over five

features – Khumba and Adventures in Zambezia – that have grossed

million views on YouTube and likely to add even more awards to their

over $60-million at the international box office. The latest season

already-overflowing cabinet.


52

POST-PRODUCTION

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

© Refinery

Kite

S

POSTPRODUCTION outh Africa is renowned for its cutting-edge, post-production

Video Category. Seale Street Post’s Daniel Mitchell was recently

facilities. From the latest technology to award-winning and

nominated by the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs)

experienced talent, the country is more than capable of

for Best Achievement in Editing for his work on fracking documentary

accommodating both technical and creative requirements.

Unearthed. In all, Searle Street Post worked on four nominated

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has developed a

projects including Four Corners, 90 Plein Street and Nelson Mandela:

production and post-production incentive scheme in order to attract

The Myth & Me, which have been shortlisted for a combined 23

international investment, as well as assist local content creators.

awards. Searle Street was also involved with post-production on

South Africa also grants local production and post-production

critically acclaimed Breathe –Umphefumlo, Mark Dornford May’s

incentives to projects which, among other things, allow qualifying

contemporary adaptation of Puccini’s La Boheme, which premiered at

SA films or SA co-productions under an official co-production

this year’s Berlinale.

treaty. The incentive is available to qualifying local productions

Joburg-based company Refinery has continued to show their unique

with a total budget of R2.5-million or more, and is restricted to the

range of skills in post-production, having worked on two PromaxBDA

following formats: feature films, tele-movies, television drama series,

Winners for season three of MasterChef and award-winning Afrikaans

documentaries and animation. The dti is in the process of adding

film Die Windpomp. They also set up a satellite post facility in Cape

digital content and gaming.

Town to manage all post production on SAF3, the popular TV series

In the last year or so, the industry saw a number of post facilities

by Baywatch creator Gregory J Bonann, as well as Ralph Ziman’s Kite,

and companies raking up the awards. Bladeworks was the Top

which was released in January.

Post-Production House according to the Loeries Official Rankings

Last September saw Black Ginger also grab some Loerie Award

2014, with Pudding achieving 4th place in the Television, Film and

Nominations for The Quest for Lucky Pet in the Animation Craft


POST-PRODUCTION

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

53 © Unearthed

© Nelson Mandela: The Myth & Me © Nelson Mandela: The Myth & Me

Nelson Mandela: The Myth & Me

Searle Street Post worked on four nominated projects including Four Corners, 90 Plein Street and Nelson Mandela: The Myth & Me , which have been shortlisted for a combined 23 awards.

Category and for Lunch Bar’s Tumi and JC Le Roux’s Cork in the VFX Craft category. The post-production sector has become stronger and healthier in recent years, and as a result, is involved in a range of high-profile projects in both international and regional circles – from TV channel identity design and commercials, to feature films, reality formats and television series.

Unearthed


54

INFRASTRUCTURE: GEAR AND SUPPLIES

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Wayne de Lange on location © Silver Bullet Productions

INFRASTRUCTURE: Gear and Supplies

T

he unsung heroes of the South African film industry are

worldwide that they will be receiving the same quality and range of

the gear houses, who keep importing the latest equipment

equipment combined with matching enthusiastic and knowledgeable

despite ever-shrinking redundancy timeframes. Whether

technical service whether they are renting this from our offices in Los

you swear by Arri, Blackmagic, Canon, Nikon, Panavision,

Angeles or London or from our South African offices,” he explains. Eddy

Phantom, RED or Sony, you’ll be able to rent the latest models in South

goes on to say that over and above their ability to offer worldwide

Africa. Similarly, whether you prefer Angenieux Optimo, Arri, Cooke,

logistical solutions to sourcing and moving of equipment, “We also

or Zeiss lenses, they’re all easily available, among other options. Even

have a depth of local knowledge of the South African industry and the

if you have less mainstream tastes, chances are you’ll find it in South

way it works and the players involved at all levels. Often, due to time

Africa. If you can’t, a local gear company will be able to import it for

restraints and our positioning at the tip of Africa we are called upon

you in record time.

to offer mechanical solutions to adapt equipment to achieve specific

Many of the local gear houses are part of international chains: for

needs or to manufacture grips rigs and art department assistance in

example, Panavision has four of its 68 offices worldwide in South

order to achieve a particular shot or effect – all of which we are very

Africa; the Visuals group has 20 offices in 10 countries across UK,

capable of doing with our in-house facilities.

Europe and South Africa; and Take 2 Films has offices in London and

Local gear houses are also excellent: Media Film Service, for example,

Cape Town.

is celebrating 15 years of supplying gear to major international shoots

Tony Eddy, Managing Director at Panavision SA, says that multiple

in 2015. According to Managing Director Neil Du Toit, one of the

offices certainly gives them an edge: “The Panavision brand is globally

ways they’ve stayed in top form is by keeping abreast of the latest

recognised and carries the assumption and assurance to our customers

technology trends. “As an industry, we cater largely for an international


INFRASTRUCTURE: GEAR AND SUPPLIES

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

55 Wayne de Lange on location © Silver Bullet Productions

Often, due to time restraints and our positioning at the tip of Africa we are called upon to offer mechanical solutions to adapt equipment to achieve specific needs or to manufacture grips rigs and art department assistance in order to achieve a particular shot or effect – all of which we are very capable of doing with our in-house facilities.

market that is accustomed to using the latest technology – being on the southern tip of Africa makes no difference. To service this market you have to stay abreast with technology and need to supply the latest and greatest,” Du Toit says. Other gear companies worth mentioning are Photo Hire and its sister Cine Photo Tools, an equipment rental, sales and repairs service that offers an eclectic range of both cinematic and photographic supplies, and Visual Impact, one of the largest broadcasting and film equipment rental companies in South Africa, based in Johannesburg and Cape Town. As Marius van Straaten, Director at Visual Impact says, “We supply the camera infrastructure, the audio infrastructure, as well as what’s very important: the workflow. We are very, very good at workflows and integration.” South African gear houses are able to supply all your lighting and gripping rigs, as well as your DIT and consumables requirements.


56

INFRASTRUCTURE: CREW AND ARTISTS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

© Starz Entertainment

Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max in Black Sails.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Crew and Artists

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures © Chappie

Neill Blomkamp’s Chappie featuring Yolandi Visser from Die Antwoord.


INFRASTRUCTURE: CREW AND ARTISTS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

57 An official South African/German Co-Production/ A Wall to Wall Media / Warner Bros Entertainment GmbH / Moonlighting Co-Production for BBC & HBO Films

I

Costume designer Dianna Cilliers and her assistant Melissa Moritz were nominated for a Emmy for their work on The Girl. n a first for South Africa, Robert Bentley and Deon Du Preez were nominated for a 2015 Locations Managers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Locations in a Contemporary Television Series for their work on season four of Homeland, where they

doubled Cape Town for Kabul, Islamabad City, New York, Rawalpindi, Virginia, Washington DC, and Waziristan. Bentley and Du Preez are just the latest in a long line of South African crew who’ve been recognised internationally as among the best in the world.

Other recent accolades include:

Television Society Best Make-Up Award for The Devil’s Whore in 2009 • Art director Sylvain Gingras and set decorator Emma Eunson were nominated for a 2011 Emmy for Gettysburg • Special effects supervisor Max Pullman and costume supervisor Abigail Metcalfe won 2011 Emmys for Gettysburg • Directors Craig and Damon Foster and underwater cinematographer Roger Horrocks were nominated for Best Cinematography on Into The Dragon’s Lair in 2011 • DOPs Lee Doig and Mike Yelseth won an Emmy for Survivor in 2010

• Special effects lead Doug Hardy won a 2014 Emmy for his work on Black Sails • Production designer Darryl Hammer won a 2013 BAFTA and was

South Africa also boasts experienced, ethnically diverse actors and models. While South Africa boasts a long list of talent making a name

nominated for a Art Directors Guild Award for her work on

of themselves in Hollywood, from Oscar-winner Charlize Theron to

The Girl

Neill Blomkamp favourite Sharlto Copley, locally-based actors are

• Visual effects producer Simon Hansen won a 2013 Royal

increasingly making waves without even needing to emigrate.

Television Craft and Design Award for Best Digital Effects on The Girl • Costume designer Dianna Cilliers and her assistant Melissa Moritz were nominated for a 2013 Emmy for their work on The Girl • Composer Philip Miller was nominated for a 2013 Emmy for his score on The Girl • Composer Bruce Retief was nominated for a 2013 Annie Award for his score on Adventures in Zambezia • Hair and makeup designer Nadine Prigge and prosthetics designer Clinton Smith were nominated for a 2013 BAFTA for Best MakeUp and Hair Design. Nadine was also nominated for a Royal

For example: • Brandon Auret has starred in all Neill Blomkamp’s films: District 9, Elysium and Chappie • Carl Beukes starred as archangel Gabriel in SyFy’s hit 2014 series, Dominion • Langley Kirkwood starred as Colonel Douglas Stowe in season three of Banshee • Louise Barnes, Sean Cameron Michael and Hakeem Kae-Kazim have lead roles in Black Sails • Fana Mokoena starred in World War Z and The Book of Negroes


58

SPECIALIST SERVICES

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

SPECIALIST Services

O

n Chappie, like many blockbusters shot in South

South Africa has it all. The country has proved itself on films

Africa, the special effects, mechanical effects and

that have topped the US box office, like 10 000 BC, Chappie,

stunt teams were completely local. Max Poolman

Chronicle, District 9 and Safe House, as well as blockbusters like

oversaw the SFX and Grant Hulley the stunts. “I love

Avengers: Age of Ultron and Mad Max: Fury Road.

working with them,” says director Neill Blomkamp. “They are both

In addition to a pristine coastline and dedicated tanks at Cape

world-class and easy to work with. No BS. Really talented. Max

Town Film Studios, South Africa also boasts a comprehensive

is absolutely hilarious and he genuinely loves blowing things up,

marine-support service, which includes certified and qualified

which means I will automatically like him.”

personnel, boats and equipment.

As MJZ commercials producer Stephen Johnson says, “South

Underwater cinematographer Charles Maxwell won an Emmy

Africa is a hi-tech centre for Hollywood-style stunts.”

for his work on Blue Planet as far back as 2001, while Roger

Whether you need mist, prosthetics, pyrotechnics, stunt vehicles,

Horrocks was nominated for an Emmy for Into The Dragon’s Lair

or enough armourers and weapons specialists to stage a war,

in 2011.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures © Chappie Courtesy of Columbia Pictures © Chappie

Chappie’s special effects, mechanical effects and stunt teams were completely local.


SPECIALIST SERVICES

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

59

South Africa is a hi-tech centre for Hollywood-style stunts. Whether you need mist, prosthetics, pyrotechnics, stunt vehicles, or enough armourers and weapons specialists to stage a war, South Africa has it all. The country has proved itself on films that have topped the US box office, like 10 000 BC, Chappie, Chronicle, District 9 and Safe House, as well as blockbusters like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Mad Max: Fury Road.

South Africa’s impressive list of ocean-set successes includes

As a premier wildlife tourism destination, South Africa also offers

the Emmy-winning pirate drama Black Sails; the BAFTA and Royal

both animals and experienced wranglers to handle them.

Television Society nominee To The Ends of the Earth; the BAFTA-

Whether you need aerial services, car detailing, complex logistics,

nominated Sinking of the Laconia; and Free Willy: Escape From

medical expertise, prop houses, rope access, or security, South

Pirate’s Cove.

Africa has a specialist waiting to facilitate.

© Ollie Upton, Warner Bros Entertainment

© Warner Bros Entertainment

10 000 BC features Steven Strait as D’Leh and Camilla Belle as Evolet.


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That was one of the advantages of going to Cape Town. The level of crew was really high, in terms of their talent and experience, but also in terms of what we could build and how far our dollars went.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

Dominion showrunner Vaun Wilmott in Collider

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za


61 PRODUCTION COMPANIES www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

U2’s This Is Where You Find Me Now, directed by Bryan Little © Filipa Domingues


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PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

AAA ENTERTAINMENT

CONTACT DETAILS

AAA Entertainment is a sales and distribution company owned by two

101D The Main Change,

founding members Mayenzeke Baza and Pascal Schmitz. Situated in

5th Floor Maboneng Precinct

Johannesburg, we exist to fill the gap in the world market for African

20 Kruger Street, Jeppestown,

films and films that can sell in Africa. Based on the belief that this

Johannesburg, South Africa

continent is brimming with great locations and talent that present the

t. +27 86 722 7173

African film industry with a new frontier of high production value, we

f. +27 86 535 7334

seek to deliver fresh creativity of high production quality films with

e: info@aaa-entertain.com

great entertainment value to the global world.

www.aaa-entertain.com


PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

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BE PART OF OUR FAMILY!

AFS PRODUCTIONS

Genres of Film: Service production, commercial production, feature

AFS is a hip, family run company and we pride ourselves on

films, TV, documentary and stills | Languages Spoken: English, Afrikaans

organization with meticulous detail, dedication, and the highest level of professionalism.

CONTACT DETAILS

We provide a world-class production infrastructure and logistical

Metal Lane, 4 Kloof Street, Cape Town, 8001

support in a fun and friendly environment.

Dale Kushner / Brin Kushner

We look for cost-effective solutions that don’t compromise your

t: +27 21 424 9999

creativity. We handle all pre-production, production and post-

f: +27 21 424 9998

production concerns, and ensure that your shoot runs smoothly

e: info@afsproductions.com

from start to finish, with a personal AFS family touch.

www.afsproductions.com


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PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

MANDELA BAY PICTURES

Mandela Bay Pictures seek to employ individuals who bring a diversity

Mandela Bay Pictures (MBP) is a growing company with 100% black

of high skills and talent to the company. We believe that empowerment

ownership. With offices in Nelson Mandela Bay and Johannesburg,

is an essential part of our business. MBP makes documentary, fiction

the company’s business strategy is founded on principles of skills

and factual projects for the SABC and the international market, and is

development and job creation that will promote the growth of the

also in development of a feature documentary, feature fiction dance

film and television industry in the Eastern Cape province. We are

and lifestyle travel show projects due for release in 2016.

involved in facilitating the growth and development of the Eastern Cape’s fledgling film and television industry which presents unique

CONTACT DETAILS

opportunities in training, skills development and job creation in arguably

t: +27 83 263 9489

the poorest province in the country. As we grow, and with each project,

e: mbp@vodamail.co.za


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

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METAL TIGER

Genres of film production include Commercial service, Stills, Music video,

Metal Tiger Productions is a streamlined production company offering

Features and Documentary.

huge experience without the expensive frills. The core team, with veteran Liz O’Shaughnessy at the helm, does all the preliminary research

CONTACT DETAILS

to avoid unnecessary extra costs, with Liz doing all the budgeting

PO Box 13693, Mobray, 7705

herself. Metal Tiger has wonderful relationships with the top freelance

Liz O’Shaughnessy

crews and suppliers, bringing the right people on board for each job.

m: +27 82 45 44 100

The company also uses stringent accounting practices to ensure fast,

t: +27 21 448 8794

efficient and transparent reconciling of all jobs. And, of course, as Noel

e: liz@metaltigerproductions.co.za

Coward said, “Work is more fun than fun!”

www.metaltigerproductions.co.za


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PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

MOONLIGHTING Shayne Brookstein and founder Philip Key lead our dynamic production team providing hands-on, problem-solving and intuitive production

CONTACT DETAILS

services throughout Southern Africa for commercials, TV doccies,

Shayne Brookstein (Executive Producer)

stills and all media formats. We began in 1989 and offer 26 years

e: shayne@moonlighting.co.za

accumulated experience and solid track record from our Cape Town

Beccy Kellond (Marketing Manager)

base. We are also on the approved supplier list for Unilever.

e: beccy@moonlighting.co.za

Images show: Compare the Market for Passion Pictures, UK; Windhoek

t: +27 21 447 2209

Lager (with Didier Drogba) for Jupiter Drawing Room; Garnier for

f: +27 86 606 3250

Tempesta, Paris; and Garage Hard Lemon for Hobby Films, Sweden.

www.moonlighting.co.za


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

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THE SHOOTING GALLERY

wonderful working group of producers, directors, technical and creative

The Shooting Gallery provides a nurturing environment for international

crew. Together, we put our everything into everything we do, because

filmmakers. More than 16 years and over 300 international commercials

we want you to do your best work right here in our beautiful country.

later, our unwavering support and determination to stretch your budget have made us a leading service production company in South Africa.

CONTACT DETAILS

Claire founded The Shooting Gallery in 1998, offering production houses

Claire Richards (Executive Producer)

from around the globe all she had learned from over a decade of living,

m: +27 82 466 6400

breathing and producing commercials for South African Directors. She

t: +27 21 461 7600

is the heart of the company, our fearless leader and your main contact.

e: claire@theshootinggallery.co.za

We treasure our many trusted friendships and associations with a

www.theshootinggallery.co.za


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PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Made in Mauritius Stranded in Paradise

In Einem WildenLand

BAFTA Nominated The Sinking of the Laconia

TWO OCEANS PRODUCTION

CONTACT DETAILS

With the primary objective of delivering a professional specially geared

Giselher Venzke: Company Director / Producer / Bertha Spieker:

service to the European television market, TOP has grown to one of

Company Director / Producer / Marco le Roux: Producer /

the leading production companies in South Africa. We have completed

Andrea Pienaar: Head of Production

over 75 international feature length films and numerous commercials for

2 Milner Street, Paarden Eiland, 7405, Cape Town, South Africa

clients around the world. We believe in building unique and personalised

PO Box 369, Paarden Eiland, 7420, Cape Town, South Africa

relationships with our clients and by giving hands on, expert attention to each

t: +27 21 506 3300

production from start to finish, TOP guarantees a cost-effective solutions-

f: +27 21 506 3316

driven experience. We offer tailor made, hands on, cost-effective commercials

e: top@topproductions.co.za

facilitation and long-form coproduction, co-financing and service facilitation.

www.topproduction.de


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

CAN-CAN FILMS Di Britz, Executive Producer Under the dynamic leadership of Di Britz, one of South Africa’s most experienced commercials producers, Can-Can offers an innovative approach to facilitating International Commercials. Please visit our website for background on our unique service and opportunities.

m: +27 83 227 3041 e: di@can-canfilms.co.za www.can-canfilms.co.za

CAPE DIRECT Cape Direct was established in 1992 and was one of the first production film service companies to operate in Cape Town. Dianne Bramhill is still at the helm of this well-established and highly-esteemed company. We like to think of ourselves as an extension of our international clients, working together as a team to provide cost-effective solutions and great commercials. We offer all services necessary for setting up and executing a successful shoot. t: +27 21 424 4495 e: production@capedirect.com www.capedirect.com

GINGER PICTURES Ginger Pictures is a creative production and facilitating company based in Johannesburg. We exist to give life to your ideas. At Ginger Pictures, we shoot top end commercials, no matter the budget because we are passionate about filmmaking. We shoot in Africa and South Africa. Our last award is an Emerald Award (Bronze) at the African Cristal Festival 2014 in Marrakech.

m: +27 76 030 7284 e: julie@gingerpictures.tv www.gingerpictures.tv

PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

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PRODUCTION COMPANIES A- Z

HUNGRY FILMS With two experienced resident directors — Oscar Strauss and Ian Difford — Hungry Films has established itself as a leading commercial production company in South Africa. Oscar specialises in directing performance, especially children’s performance, while Ian, with his background in art and commercial photography, has a master’s touch for creating beautiful pictures, whatever the subject. t: +27 11 482 2171 / 2 e: info@hungryfilms.co.za jackie@hungryfilms.co.za www.hungryfilms.co.za

LUCKY FISH PRODUCTIONS Lucky Fish Productions is a boutique production house in Cape Town, specialising in servicing and producing local and international commercials, feature films and documentaries. Lucky Fish believes in strong on-going relationships based on trust and has loyal clients that return year after year creating a strong understanding of what their clients require and expect. Contact: Platon Trakoshis t: +27 21 424 3513 m: +27 83 2901502 e: platon@luckyfishproductions.co.za www.luckyfishproductions.co.za

SPITFIRE FILMS

Spitfire Films is a creative content studio and collective based in Hyde Park Johannesburg, specialising in creating content for advertisers big and small. We offer a turnkey solution and offer brands opportunities to get their message or awareness onto any screen. We are locally and internationally awarded. Our awards include Cannes Lions, Loeries and Promax. In a nutshell, we make flipping great ads and we won’t rip you off. t: +27 11 325 6227 e: liesl@spitfirefilms.tv www.spitfirefilms.tv

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za



CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

You really get a chance to delve into your character when you’re away from home and you’re immersed in a different setting for six months. I think it’s a great adventure. Homeland star Nazanin Boniada

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CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

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CREATIVE PROFILES

Eva Green © Campari Calendar 2015


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CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

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JAN VERBOOM Jan Verboom is an award-winning photographer from Cape Town with years of advertising experience. He understands that images need to communicate ideas, concept and appeal. Jan looks for those unique angles, those images that capture the feel of the shoot. Images that tell a story that can be used across the board

CONTACT DETAILS

whether it’s a brand building ad campaign, a conceptual billboard, that

m: +27 82 652 2278

ambassadorial portrait, the cute lifestyle image, a perfect product shot,

t: +27 21 447 6326

delicious food visuals or those behind-the-scenes Facebook pics.

e: jverboom@iafrica.com

Jan will give you more than just the Ad shot!

www.janverboom.com


CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

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PETER POHORSKY

Based in Cape Town, working 50/50 in Joburg and Cape Town, backed by

Ranked one of the top performance directors in South Africa, Pete not

a strong effective production team from a stunning office in Cape Town

only comes with many years of directing experience, most of which

and our satellite office in Joburg. Looking forward to working with you.

during the 12 years in his own company, Plank, but he also comes with a wicked sense of humour. What he doesn’t have, is an ego and you

CONTACT DETAILS

definitely won’t find any airs and graces. What you see is what you get

Anco Henning (Executive Producer)

from Pete, but what you get from his work always exceeds expectations

m: +27 83 235 6720

and sometimes even surprises him a little. Needless to say, never a dull

t: +27 21 461 0887

moment with a beautiful mix of hard, dedicated work and fun, topped

e: anco@plank.co.za

with a healthy dose of craziness.

www.plank.co.za


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CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

BOUFFANT bouffant launched in 2007, headed by directors Erik Van Wyk, Dean Blumberg, Marc Sidelsky and Andre Liebenberg, reaching the status of number one ranked production company in South Africa in 2012. Now headed up by Executive Producer Peter Carr, the brand continues to be recognised as a leading company in the industry.

38 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Johannesburg t: +27 11 234 8820 e: peter@bouffant.tv www.bouffant.tv

DAVID HOUSTON Mantra is the home of Sound Engineer, Designer and Composer David Houston. With a strong emphasis and clarity, creativity and emotion plus years of experience in the Industry, David specialises in providing solutions with quick turn around for your projects. Key areas are Location Sound, Sound Editing, Noise Reduction/Restoration, Sound Design, Final-mix and Music Composition.

m: +27 72 698 3834 e: dave@mantrasound.co.za www.mantrasound.co.za

ENDPOST EndPost recently opened their doors in Woodstock with Roshni Haraldsen on board as the company’s Creative Director. With over 150 hours of programming, EndPost are experts in long-form editing and have produced award-winning shows, including Best Reality and Best Variety shows at the 2015 SAFTA’s, as well as their first feature film, Hollywood in my Huis, which won three awards at the 2014 Silwerskerm Fees. Contact: Roshni Haraldsen t: +27 21 447 1139 m: +27 82 498 4803 e: roshni@endpost.co.za www.endpost.co.za

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

REFINERY Refinery is one of SA’s longest standing and leading post production facilities. International productions include Disney/ Marvel, Warner Bros, HBO, ABC, Sony, CBS, NBC Universal, Fox, BBC, Discovery and Weinstein. Services include: Digital Dailies, Editorial cutting rooms, On-line, VFX and Animation, Truelight Colour Grading, Dolby Accredited Sound Studios, DCP Encoding, and Mastering, QC and Deliveries. Contact: Tracey Williams t: +27 11 799 7800 f: +27 11 706 0300 e: tracey@refinery.co.za www.refinery.co.za

VATIC Vatic is a creative studio co-founded by photographer Brett Rubin and art director and stylist Nicole Van Heerden. Since their launch in 2011, Vatic has developed a unique perspective on contemporary South Africa through their collaborations, on photographic, film and styling briefs, with many of the country’s leading and emerging fashion designers, artists, performers, luxury brands, advertising agencies and publications.   t: +27 82 515 1386 e: nicole@vatic.co / brett@vatic.co www.vatic.co

VELOCITY Velocity is currently ranked as the number one production company in South Africa and has offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Founded in 1990, we continue to house some of the country’s top awardwinning directors and have the invaluable support of experienced and specialised production teams. 38 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Johannesburg 30 Keerom Street, Cape Town t: +27 11 807 0100 +27 21 424 4971 e: helena@velocityfilms.com / karen@velocityfilms.com www.velocityfilms.com

CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

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CREATIVE PROFILES A- Z

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VISUAL IMPACT Visual Impact South Africa is the leading provider of broadcast and multicam solutions in Africa and productions originating from South Africa. Visual Impact does not only rent out broadcast equipment, but sells a wide range of equipment through our expert personnel. Visual Impact is able to engineer and setup workflows anywhere in the world. We have participated in large and specialised reality TV projects such as MasterChef, Fear Factor, Idols, The Block, The Apprentice and Survivor. t: +27 87 550 0737 e: SArentals@visuals.tv / sales@visuals.tv www.visuals.tv

VINCENT SHANTALL Special Effects and Flutter Fetti (confetti) applications - Based in the Western Cape Stockist of the largest range of Flutter Fetti and relevant machines to expel confetti as well as Bubble Machines, Pyrotechnics, Snowmachines, Streamer Cannons, Fireworks, Balloons, Laser Machines, Flame machines and many other products. t: +27 21 511 9676 m: +27 82 553 0438 e: viscreatect@mweb.co.za www.visualc.co.za Facebook: (Top Level Effects Cape Town): facebook.com/pages/Top-LevelEffects/1404392953160056

WINK We do film. That’s anything and everything that involves a vision and a camera. Our service is competitive, accessible and honest. Your storyboard is our challenge and we understand what it takes to win jobs. We head up a kick-ass network of resources and talent, providing an excellent production service with offices in both Cape Town AND Johannesburg. 30 Keerom Street, Cape Town 38 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Johannesburg t: +27 21 424 4971 e: alison@winkfilms.tv chrism@winkfilms.tv www.winkfilms.tv

production service


Joe Alblas MOTION PICTURE STILL PHOTOGRAPHER

CLIENT LIST Apollo Movie Beteiligungs, Ascot Entertainment Group, BBC One, BBC America, Canal Plus, Conquering Pictures, DNA Films, DO Productions, Elite Filmproduktion AG, Entertainment One, Film Afrika, HBO, Hollywood Media Bridge, Hollywood Pictures, History Channel, ITV, Jumping Horse Film, Kalahari Pictures, Kudos Film & Television, Left Bank Pictures, Light Workers Media, Lionsgate, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Moonlighting Films, NBC, Nordisk Film Egmont, Nostromo Pictures, Nova Film, Nutopia, One Three Media, Open Road Films, Out of Africa Entertainment, Sienna Films, Silver Pictures, SKY HD Atlantic, Spier Films, Starz Entertainment LLC, Tandem Communications GmbH, Thunder Road Pictures, 20th Century Fox Entertainment, United Artists, Warner Bros. GmbH, Warner Premiere, Working Title Television, Wiedemann & Berg Film GmbH, Wrekin Hill Entertainment and Zentropa.

CONTACT DETAILS t: +27 21 438 2773 | m: +27 83 338 7800 | e: joe@joealblas.com | www.joealblas.com

Image courtesy


SPECIALIST SERVICES A-Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

South Africa has proven itself many times… The support system that has been set up with the government, the dti and Wesgro is exceptional in that everyone is so invested. In America we don’t have the same support from our government officials. You have direct personal and financial investment in building an industry… The commitment you have from all levels of government is truly astounding. I’ve never seen the degree of investment and courage as I’ve seen in South Africa.

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- Vance van Petten, Executive Director of the Producers Guild of America


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

SPECIALIST SERVICES A-Z

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SPECIALIST SERVICES

© Silver Bullet Productions


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SPECIALIST SERVICES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

LIFT UP TELEPORTER

All our operators are trained and certified. Our certified mechanics are

LiftUp Teleporter, based in Cape Town is a leading supplier of

available for repairs, servicing and maintenance.

Manitou and Magni telescopic material handlers to the Film Industry,

LiftUp Teleporter is available 24/7; our motto is: “You call - we deliver.�

specializing in telehandler sales, rentals and support. With a fleet of Manitou and Magni telescopic and rotating teleporters

CONTACT DETAILS

from 2.3 to five tons, and from five to 30 metres in height, and more

LiftUp Teleporter, Container Depot Culemborg,

than 20 available attachments, a single machine can be used to

Christaan Barnard Street, 8001, Cape Town

perform multiple tasks.

m: +27 83 375 9661 (Ulli Plotz) / +27 83 458 4326 (Lambert Ludik)

We also design and manufacture custom attachments to suit your

t. +27 21 418 7773

every need.

e: info@liftup.capetown / admin@liftup.capetown


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

SPECIALIST SERVICES A- Z

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SAE INSTITUTE

de force of architecture and technology located in Cape Town’s

The cornerstone of SAE’s approach is to produce graduates that

Woodstock Exchange.

are not simply talented animators, filmmakers, music producers and

If the ethos of SAE Institute resonates with you, please visit us online

sound engineers, but credible citizens of the world who make a

www.capetown.sae.edu or call us on +27 87 351 0828.

significant contribution to society and the economy. It is no secret; employers seek to hire mature, astute and humble professionals and

CONTACT DETAILS

not idealistic prima donnas.

t: +27 87 351 0828

SAE Institute offers bachelor degrees, higher certificates and a

e: capetown@sae.edu

suite of short courses in their remarkable campus that is a tour

www.capetown.sae.edu


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SPECIALIST SERVICES A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Aon South Africa Sport, Recreation & Entertainment Insurance Aon specialises in insurance cover for the film and advertising agency industries. Innovative, custom made insurance solutions to cater to the unique risks associated with feature films and TV commercials. We can arrange Film Producers’ Package Policy, Weatherday, Personal Accident for Crew and Cast, as well as Film Errors and Omissions. Aon is an Authorised Financial Services Provider. t: +27 11 944 7290 e: info@aon.co.za aon.co.za

Film Finances Ltd came into being in 1950. Over the years they expanded around the world becoming the world leader in completion guarantees. It was imperative that in the early 90’s Film Finances develop a presence in South Africa to support local and international filmmakers by protecting them against the unforeseen. The guarantees are an important element of financing providing the necessary reassurance to the investor and banks. t: +27 11 513 3563 e: jane@filmfinances.co.za / thandeka@filmfinances.co.za www.filmfinances.com

INSPIRE FURNITURE RENTALS We supply rental furniture to the Exhibition, Conference and Events Industry. We also sell furniture to the Corporate, Hospitality and Domestic Markets. We have well trained staff who go above the call of duty to make sure that they meet and exceed the client’s expectation. We have a manufacturing department in house therefore our furniture is always up to standard. t: +27 76 644 0271 (Johannesburg) +27 73 893 0315 (Cape Town) e: JHB@inspirefurniture.co.za CPT@inspirefurniture.co.za www.inspirefurniture.co.za

© Chappie

FILM FINANCES SOUTH AFRICA


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

MOUNTAIN MARINA Unrivalled comfort and elegance on the water’s edge, offering a world-class location with Table Mountain as a majestic backdrop. Mountain Marina is a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with the penthouses as the premier units. The apartments are fully serviced and equipped to the highest standard. Each apartment comprises modern, airconditioned, spacious en-suite bedrooms with separate lounge and dining areas. t: +27 21 421 3070 f: +27 86 613 5208 e: stay@mountainmarina.co.za www.mountainmarina.com

PERFECT HIDEAWAYS Perfect Hideaways has a portfolio of farms, villas, houses, cottages, boutique hotels and island locations– each handpicked because of their individual beauty, quirks and charm. Be transported to a world away from the one you know… and be matched to your ideal escape whether for a holiday or location in South Africa and Mozambique.

t: +27 860 8888 62 e: stay@perfecthideaways.co.za www.perfecthideaways.co.za

SPECIALIST SERVICES A- Z

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SOUTH AFRICA

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www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

SOUTH AFRICA

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SOUTH AFRICA

Limpopo © SA Tourism


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AFRICA FILM FACTS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

AFRICA FILM FACTS Film Incentives in Africa The African continent has a number of film co-production treaties and film 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,

Why Africa? •

labour costs and catering. For more information contact

Variety of landscapes and locations within close

Jean-Claude Labat on +230 57533702 in Mauritius

proximity of city centres

or Sebastian van’t Hoff on +27 76 226 0161 in South

CBD’s can double for many cities worldwide

Lengthy daylight hours in summer

World class skills base - Local industry professionals

offer outright film incentives to productions, it does

are competent, experienced and technically proficient,

continue to make the country an attractive spot with

professional local actors, sector includes pre-and post-

low production costs backed by a 20% VAT reduction

production activities

on goods and service bought in Morocco. Imports are

First rate film studios capable of mammoth

simplified for producers, while fees for shooting at

productions, such as The Cape Town Film Studio and

historic sites may also be waived. In Ouarzazate, one can

Africa. Email: info@vanthoffassociates.com •

Waterfront Studios • •

save between 30-50% of production costs. •

to the incentives South Africa already offers, it launched

The province has highly competitive production cost

the Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive in July last

rates when compared to major film markets.

year. This rebate offers locals up to 50% rebate for the

Major international films already been produced within

first R6 million spent from the Qualifying South African

South Africa •

SA Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive: In addition

telecommunications, road networks, and ports

Numerous film festivals and markets are hosted in South

Production Expenditure and 25% thereafter. •

Namibian Film Rebates: The Namibian Film Commission

Africa and Africa

(NFC) launched a new tax rebate in 2014 for production

South Africa has high standards of copyright protection

companies that spend a minimum of US$500,000. One

South Africa has a film friendly policy, enabling ease of

of these incentives is a 20% direct grant and a 10% cash

access and governmental support

rebate for qualifying expenses. Visit www.nfc.na

Black Sails © Starz Entertainment

World-class infrastructure in terms of banks,

Morocco Tax Breaks: Although Morocco does not



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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

GAUTENG:

A Rich History in the Cinematic Arts © Karin Blid Alsbirk

Gavin Hood made history with Tsotsi. © Coming of Age

H

ome to the economic powerhouse of Southern Africa – Johannesburg – Gauteng is a province of vibrant diversity; from wildlife reserves and World Heritage Sites to art and culture set against a thriving urban

backdrop. Its history is steeped in film, too, with the first cinema newsreels shot on the frontlines of the Anglo-Boer War and with ‘blaxploitation’ films of the 50’s through 80s silently making their rounds in the townships. Joburg has become known for films like Cry, The Beloved Country, Sarafina!, and anti-apartheid films such

as the critically acclaimed Cry Freedom and A World Apart despite being banned until 1990. More recently, however, Gauteng has forged a completely different name for itself in the filmmaking arena. Director Gavin Hood made history in 2005 with Tsotsi, which won Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars that year and forever placed the country on the map. Ralph Ziman’s Jerusalema (2008), also known as Gangster’s Paradise, was well-received by critics and grossed R2.8-million (US$400,000) locally. And in the last few years, Johannesburg has seen a slew of high-profile productions from Catch a Fire and Goodbye Bafana to Endgame and Invictus, as well as Neil Blomkamp’s highly successful District 9 and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Coming of Age screened at the 65th annual Berlin International Film Festival.

The Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) helps develop, promote


REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Gauteng has a host of locations within its borders, from the historic and industrial to the artistic and the gritt y. Its township and central business districts are sought after as unique urban settings for a myriad of productions, both local and international.

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• The GFC has released industry Guidelines for Location Filming in Gauteng, as well as an A-Z Guide to Studios

© SA Tourism

Facts in Gauteng, and other information manuals for film producers. • Project Gaullywood was a 2007 investigation into the size, scope and impact of the Gauteng film production industry. It is now widely considered one of the most comprehensive sources of sector data in the country. • Some new film festivals have emerged from Gauteng in the last few years: the Jozi Film Festival in 2012, the Independent Mzansi Short Film Festival, which was launched in 2014, and the Females in Film and Television Industry (Fifti) Festival, which takes place in August 2015. • More information on filming in Gauteng can be found at www.gautengfilm.org.za.

Cinematic Soweto in Johannesburg. and coordinate the film and television production industries

initiative, it helps ensure that the region’s fascinatingly diverse

in the region. Some of the services they offer include logistic

locations are matched with technical capability, skilled crew and

support, content development support and funding, and advisory

competitively priced services.

and marketing services among others. The region has almost 20 major studios that feed the broadcasting, commercials and film

How to Get There

sectors, with many more smaller studios working on both local and

Although Gauteng is a landlocked province, it offers easy and

international projects. The GFC also supports ‘Made in Gauteng’

convenient access to the rest of the region. It is a two-hour flight

projects and practitioners by providing development funds, offering

to the Okavango Delta, the Victoria Falls, the Cape Winelands

production assistance, granting funding for internships and training

and the tropical beaches of Maputo in Mozambique, as well as

programmes, and is active in creating a “vibrant screen sector for

the Namib Desert and the Kruger National Park. Flights to most

independent filmmakers”.

international and regional destinations can be booked through OR

Filming Requirements

Tambo International Airport, while private taxis, buses, trains and other alternative transportation is available intercity. Gauteng’s

Gauteng has a host of locations within its borders, from the historic

climate is summery, warm and wind-free, although in winter it can

and industrial to the artistic and the gritty. Its township and central

get very cold at night.

business districts are sought after as unique urban settings for a myriad of productions, both local and international.

Did You Know?

All film crews are required to obtain film permits when filming in

Seven South African films were screened at the 65th annual

public spaces such as streets, pavements, and government-owned

Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) this year, one of the

buildings and should be applied for at least 14 working days before

largest festivals in the world – Breathe Umphefumlo, Coming of

the shoot. The GFC has a listing of location scouts, managers and

Age, Necktie Youth, Joe Bullet, Umbango, Abaabi ba boda boda and

facilitation companies. Through the GFC’s Film Friendly Gauteng

Black President.


92

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Š Jaap Buitendijk

Blood Diamond

KWAZULU-NATAL:

A Firm Favourite for Feature Films


REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Kingdom, KwaZulu-Natal – fondly known to locals as KZN – is a well-established location for both South African and international filmmakers. The region has some spectacular

destinations, from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to the mountainous ‘Barrier of Spears’, the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: both of which are World Heritage Sites. KZN is the land of a thousand hills, flanked by the pristine Indian Ocean and also holds one of the continent’s major port destinations in the city of Durban. Apart from being a domestic tourism leader, KwaZulu-Natal is also renowned for its stunning locales and is the third-largest film

Films like Blood Diamond, Thunder, Blue Crush, Spud: The Movie, Mr Bob, Man to Man, BBC’s Blood and Oil, I Dreamed of Africa, Durban Poison, and the 1960’s classic Zulu were all shot on location here.

A

province of indescribable beauty and home to the Zulu

93

industry in South Africa, worth R237.6-million per year. Films like Blood Diamond, Thunder, Blue Crush, Spud: The Movie, Mr Bob, Man to Man, BBC’s Blood and Oil, I Dreamed of Africa, Durban Poison, and

Because visas are no longer issued at South African ports of entry,

the 1960’s classic Zulu were all shot on location here. The region has

crew will need to arrange this before leaving for intended destinations.

access to highly experienced crew, award-winning stunt performers,

Film incentives are available through the Department of Trade and

excellent technicians and an ethnically diverse talent pool. Because

Industry, SARS, a number of co-production treaties, as well as the

of its proximity to Southeast Asia, it is also a popular destination for

province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Bollywood films with stars like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra gracing Durban with their presence. South Africa recently

How to Get There

signed one of SA’s largest Bollywood deals offering a rebate for two

KwaZulu-Natal is easily accessible through King Shaka International

films by Javed Aboobaker, who will be shooting locally in April.

Airport, the third-largest airport in South Africa. Located on the

KZN is home to one of South Africa’s biggest events on the film

outskirts of Durban, it is conveniently located for ease of travel and

calendar – the Durban International Film Festival and its counterpart,

offers a number of other travel options in and around the city. Prince

Durban FilmMart. Other notable events that take place around the

Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport in Ulundi is conveniently situated near

festival are the annual Simon Sabela Awards and Talent Campus

a number of National Parks and historic Zulu attractions. Flights can

Durban. This is coordinated by the Durban Film Office in conjunction

be booked through www.federalair.com. KZN’s climate is varied yet

with the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, both of whom support and

verdant, with a subtropical coastline and much cooler inland regions.

facilitate the local film industry in the region along with the Zulu Coast

Durban has warm winters, while the Zululand north coast has the

Film Office.

highest humidity.

Film Requirements

Did You Know?

Film permits are required for most international and local productions

One of South Africa’s most acclaimed local films for 2014 was

in KZN, as with much of the country. Durban Film Office offers the

produced in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Hard To Get tells a twisted Romeo

option of applying for permits online, while more information and

and Juliet story of two young lovers trying to survive in Joburg’s

required documentation is available on all other film commission sites.

underworld.

Durban is the fastest growing urban area in the world, with the busiest harbour in South Africa and one of the

© SA Tourism

Facts 10 largest in the world. •

Durban was the first city in South Africa to erect a permanent building for motion pictures – the Electric Theatre in 1909.

A number of documentaries and reality formats were filmed in KZN in 2013, including ITV’s 28UP South Africa, SA’s Got Talent, Step Up or Step Out and Ultimate Braai Master.

For more information on filming in KwaZulu-Natal, visit www.kwazulunatalfilm.co.za, www.durbanfilmoffice.com or www.film-zulucoast.co.za.

KwaZulu-Natal, flanked by the pristine Indian Ocean, is the perfect location for filming surf scenes.


94

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

WESTERN CAPE: Brimming with Production Opportunities

W

ell known for its stunning locations and world-class

parastatals and film industry representative bodies. Some of the

crew, the Western Cape is situated on the tip of

most recent productions that have been filmed in the Western Cape

the African continent. From blue flag beaches to

include Adam Sandler’s Blended, children’s book adaptation The Giver

elegant modern and period era locations – not to

featuring Meryl Streep, and the widely acclaimed, South African

mention home to the state-of-the-art Cape Town Film Studios –

feel-good film Felix. Other noteworthy productions are Wallender,

there’s no end to the possibilities here. The province is a popular

Bluestone 42, Black Sails seasons 1 and 2, local animated feature

production haven for both locals and internationals, with four main

Khumba, and Anant Singh’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom featuring

filmmaking regions: the City of Cape Town, the Cape Winelands,

Idris Elba.

George and Plettenberg Bay.

Wesgro also helps facilitate and promote films and locations in the

The Cape Film Commission, established in 2000, helps promote and

region, with Monica Rorvik at the helm of the Film Promotion sector.

facilitate filmmakers and television producers to the Western Cape,

She says that South African locations are a force to be reckoned

working closely with local municipalities, government agencies,

with on the continent and that “the Western Cape has an abundance of world-class locations” for filmmakers. Not only are places like the V&A Waterfront, Stellenbosch and the Table Mountain National Park © Keith Bernstein

renowned for their beauty and touristic appeal, but many are well preserved to ensure environments remain pristine.

Film Requirements It’s not difficult to obtain location permits to places in the Western Cape, although these do take time to process. “Apply for permits as early as possible with the most accurate information you can deliver,” says Rorvik. It should also be noted that the City of Cape Town has the only formalised system for location permits in the province, making it advisable to inquire with various commissions and governing bodies – or to hire a local scout who knows their way

Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

around the area.


REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

95

• To date, South Africa has entered into eight Audiovisual Co-Production treaties, although these vary from

© SA Tourism

Facts country to country. The National Film and Video Foundation have prepared guidelines for filmmakers applying for Co-Productions. • According to a recent economic impact assessment study ordered by the Cape Film Commission, the film industry’s direct annual turnover reaches over ZAR2.65billion (US$213.9-million) and contributes an indirect annual turnover of more than ZAR3.5-billion (US$282.5million) to the country’s GDP. • At least 21 major projects were shot in South Africa in 2014, most of which were shot on location in the Western Cape, either partially or fully. • More information on filming in the Western Cape can be found at www.capefilmcommission.co.za or www.wesgro.co.za.

Penguins ponder the scene at Boulders Beach, Cape Town.

Due to recent changes in visa requirements, passport holders both

and other parts of the country. The city is easily navigable, sprawled

from non-exempt and visa-exempt countries must apply for short-

around Table Mountain, with quality highways across the province

term work visas. These must be done from the country of origin

connecting smaller coastal towns. The Western Cape’s climate is

rather than at a Port of Entry, so it’s once again advisable to start

Mediterranean, with war, dry summers and mild, moist winters.

preparing travel documents as early as possible. Most applications require a Letter of Invitation, which can be provided by the Cape

Did You Know?

Film Commission upon request. One visa extension is allowed per

Khumba has become one of the most successful films and the

person and applications must be made 60 days before the current

first feature animation to come out of Cape Town. It topped one

visa expires.

million tickets in China recently, grossing over $6-million, ran

How to Get There

in Belgium for an incredible seven months in theatres, had over 500,000 admissions in France and became one of the top-grossing

The Western Cape is easily accessible through Cape Town

independent films of all time in the Netherlands. It also became the

International Airport, which offers a number of international flights

first triple simulcast broadcast in SA when it was shown on TV in

out of South Africa and serves as a connector with Johannesburg,

English, Afrikaans and isiZulu simultaneously on Heritage Day.


96

AFRICA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

AFRICA

97

FILMMAKER’S GUIDE TO AFRICA

Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania North © japrea


98

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | MOROCCO

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

MOROCCO:

Mediterranean Hollywood © Universal Pictures

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator


COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | MOROCCO

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

99

Major Airports: Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport Film Permits: A film permit from the Moroccan

© Piotr Menducki

Facts:

Cinematographic Centre (CCM) is required for any filming 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. Travel items: Sunglasses, light clothing, sunscreen

S

Imilchil Lake, Morocco weeping deserts, flawless lakes, and deep gorges comprise

Morocco’s film commission has reported 2014 as a record year

the enthralling country of Morocco. Morocco is home to

for international companies filming in Morocco. 38 international

a number of charming and vibrant cities boasting unique

film productions, with a combined budget of $120-million in 2014,

attractions. From palm-lined boulevards in Casablanca,

constituted a six fold increase from $22-million in the previous year.

picturesque beaches in Agadir, and ancient souks in Marrakech;

The country saw major productions being shot, with its city streets

Morocco caters to every taste.

and deserts as the backdrop, including Christopher McQuarrie’s

Filming in Morocco

anticipated new Bond film Spectre, all releasing this year.

The monarchy has its very own remote Hollywood in the gateway

Mission: Impossible 5 and scenes from American Sniper and the highly

city to the Sahara Desert, Ouarzazate. The marvel that is Ouarzazate

You need to know about

is sprawled across Southern Morocco. Resting atop a bare plateau in

Beyond the epic nature of productions that have been filmed in

the High Atlas Mountains, the dry land is home to unspoiled locations

this location, and the location itself, costs are drastically reduced.

and cultures, unique fortified villages, and traditional Berber adobe

These studios are estimated to give a 50% saving, as the cost of

houses. Gorges in this region, depending on the lighting, appear to be

labour is much less than Western counterparts in the same field, and

red, pink or mauve.

incentives for filming in Morocco include an exemption from VAT on

The desolate city is a noted filmmaking location, and is home to CLA

all costs.

Studios Morocco and Atlas Corporation Studios – the world’s largest movie studio – which extends over 20 hectares.

Climate

World-class directors haven chosen Atlas Corporation Studios as

Morocco has a moderate and subtropical climate, cooled by breezes

their canvas including the likes of David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia

off the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Temperatures range from highs

was made on location here before the studio opened), Martin

of 35°C to lows of 5°C, with hot and dry summer months and inland

Scorsese (Kundun), Ridley Scott (Kingdom of Heaven), and Oliver Stone

regions experiencing a hotter, drier, continental climate. The country

(Alexander the Great). The location was also the set of Mel Gibson’s

enjoys warm winter temperatures and low humidity, and is an ideal

The Passion of the Christ and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.

filming destination all year round.


100

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | NAMIBIA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

NAMIBIA:

Where the desert meets the ocean

Facts Major Airports: Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport Visas: All foreign cast and crew entering Namibia require work visas to film in Namibia. Travel items: Sunscreen, shades, light clothing with a longsleeve top for cool evenings


COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | NAMIBIA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

N

101

amibia is large desert country boasting an extremely

where wildlife thrives. This region serves as a genuine “African

low population density with about two people per

Safari" background for your shot.

square kilometre. From seas of desert dunes to crystal

The Fish River Canyon, one of Namibia’s main tourist attractions,

blue oceans, Namibia is home to spectacular locations.

is the second-biggest of its kind in the world. The gigantic ravine spreads 160 kilometres long, and up to 27 kilometres wide,

Location location location!

offering spectacular views as it cuts deep into the arid plateau.

The Namib Desert, said to be the oldest desert in the world,

The Namib Escarpment is a region between the Namib Desert

stretches along the Atlantic Ocean from Angola to South Africa.

and the Central Plateau is a plain. The landscape is rugged with

This ancient desert offers high-rise dunes and an inspiring sense of

peculiar rock formations, dry river beds, and dissected ground,

space. The dunes display colours from yellow to red across rolling

as a result of the glaring sun. This particular region, although

dunes as far as the eye can see.

easily accessible, is so barren that there is no trace of trees or

Amidst the dunes is a central plateau, home to thorn bush typical

civilisation, giving this region a doomsday atmosphere as seen in

to African drylands, rising mountains, and savannah landscapes

Mad Max: Fury Road.

© Warner Bros Entertainment 2014

© Frank Fassen

Mad Max: Fury Road, produced and co-written by George Miller.

Filming in Namibia The Namib Desert and surrounding areas 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, released this year. City of Violence is a film 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 horrific murders, with the hostile and arid locations of Namibia as the backdrop. Namibia is fast becoming one of the world’s preferred filming destinations for international film productions, and the country’s attraction of interest from major studios and independents looks promising.

Climate: This unexplored wilderness has a climate 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.




104

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | NIGERIA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

© Zouzou Wizman

One of three bridges from Lagos Island to the mainland. © Rainer Wozny

Makoko, Nigeria.

NIGERIA:

Africa’s Filmmaking Powerhouse

N

igeria, often referred to as the ‘Giant of Africa’, is the most

is iROKOtv, an online streaming service with access to thousands

populous country on the continent with a fascinating 500

of hours of Nigerian, continental and now international films and

ethnic groups and 250 indigenous languages, of which

television shows. Although the country still only has 23 movie

Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are the most common. It also

theatres in a nation of almost 170 million, there is untapped potential

boasts one of the biggest film industries in the world, but it is also

in the predominantly young population and rapidly growing middle

a country that plays by its own rules. Nollywood, as the local film

class. According to the Association of Nollywood Core Producers

industry is fondly known as, produces around 1 000 films annually

(ANCOP), the country generated around N126.4 billion (US$800

and has over one million film industry workers. It is the second-largest

million) in film revenue in the last three years. The country has over

producer of movies in the world after Bollywood, and with its unique

30 associations for various professionals in the industry, and is also

and vibrant distribution model – largely local street vendors – it

home the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs) and the African

keeps its average film budgets at around US$40 000 (roughly

International Film Festival (AFRIFF). The critically acclaimed film Half

R500 000). This of course, has led to films that are sub-standard

of a Yellow Sun was filmed in Nigeria.

in quality, and has, in turn, begun an educational and upskilling

In 2011, then President Goodluck Jonathan established a US$200

movement in recent years as the government and private sector

million fund for the film industry, making it possible for two film

have realised its international potential.

distributors to establish new channels which commenced business

Perhaps one of the best-known companies to come out of Nigeria

last year. In March 2013, President Jonathan announced the


www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Facts • iROKOtv has been hailed as the ‘Netflix of Africa’, and has drawn users from 170 countries worldwide. The streaming platform scored 152 million views by the end of 2011. • The Nigerian film industry is estimated to contribute US$9-billion to Nigeria’s GDP of US$510-billion. • The film industry employs 250 000 directly and one

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | NIGERIA

105

130 people. • 56% of films 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 filming in Nigeria, contact the

million people indirectly, according to the World Bank

Nigerian Film Corporation (www.services.gov.ng/nfc). For

2011, making Nollywood the largest employer after

support while filming in Lagos, contact the Lagos State

agriculture. The average film production employs

Film Office (www.lagosstate.gov.ng/entities.php?k=206).

Half of a Yellow Sun was filmed in Nigeria.

founding of Project ACTNollywood, a N3-billion (US$17-million)

is the official regulatory agency for the film and video sector, while

grant scheme to support training and skills acquisition for film

Lagos State Film Office assists filmmakers shooting in the capital.

production and distribution. Plans are also afoot for a muchanticipated Lagos Film Village.

Film Requirements

How to Get There Most international and regional flights land in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with other international airports located in

Nigeria has a host of extraordinary landscapes to choose from

Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt. A number of domestic airports

when filming on location. Its bustling cities in the south are filled to

serve as connections to the rest of the country. Nigeria’s location in

the brim, creating dramatic urban jungles, while its far north holds

the tropics means that its climate varies dramatically during the year

Sahara desert transitioning into savannahs. The far-south boasts

from rainy season to dry season.

idyllic rainforests and beaches, and the southeast and southwest are marked with rugged plateaus. Filming requires permits from the

Did You Know?

Nigerian Film Corporation, as well as Journalist Accreditation from

Nigeria has an energetic culture with a lively young population.

the Federal Ministry of Information. Permits are typically given within

As such, the nightlife and entertainment sectors are enticing and

a couple of days, although it’s always prudent to apply well ahead of

unparalleled to the rest of Africa. Think you can twerk? Visit Lagos

the planned shooting time. The National Film & Video Censors Board

and have your mind blown.


106

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | TANZANIA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

TANZANIA:

For scintillating cinematic settings

T

anzania has a wealth of beauty and creatures. The volcanic

National Park. Mount Kilimanjaro towers at 5,895 metres above sea

country boasts tranquil scenes of turquoise waters and

level in northern Tanzania. The mountainous terrain of the country

pearly beaches, as well as a dense concentration of

offers magnificent views and unparalleled elevation scenes.

wildlife. Tanzania has the largest concentration of wildlife

The Ngorongoro Crater is another of Tanzania’s iconic backdrops.

per square kilometre, with more than four million wild animals and

The magnificent volcanic crater spreads 20 kilometres in width and

representatives of 430 species and subspecies. Teeming with game

gorges 600 metres deep. The crater is the largest unflooded and

reserves and national parks while skirted by the warm Indian Ocean,

unbroken caldera in the world.

Tanzania parades a classic African setting.

Land is in abundance in Tanzania. Sprawled over 14,750m² is the

Filming Attractions in Tanzania Africa’s highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro, resides in the Kilimanjaro

incredible Serengeti National Park. The vast terrain comprises savannah and woodlands, as well as the almost treeless grasslands of the Serengeti plains.


COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | TANZANIA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Tanzania has the largest concentration of wildlife 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.

107

© Sidney Baldwin, Warner Bros. Entertainment

© Feans

Tanzania created the backdrop to The Bucket List. © Gopal Vijayaraghavan

Facts Major Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport and Julius Nyerere International Airport Visas: Visas are required for entry into Tanzania. However, no visas required for South African passport holders. Film Permits: Filming permits are required, and can be obtained from High Commission Travel items: Swimming costume, sunscreen, something warm for cool nights, comfortable walking shoes

Sensory explosion at the Arusha Market in Tanzania. The African paradise, Tanzania, flaunts a jewel: Zanzibar.

Wildlife stampede. Reiner’s feel-good comedy-drama, The Bucket List. Tanzania was also

The prized extension of the country is a semi-autonomous

the backdrop for the classic 1950’s film, The African Queen directed

archipelago. Zanzibar consists of a number of exotic islands

by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

with pristine beaches offering some of the most picturesque destinations. The islands also serve agricultural scenes of interest,

Climate

including coffee, tea, cotton, and spice plantations for shots of

Situated just below the equator and rugged by the Indian Ocean,

yester-year.

Tanzania offers a tropical climate. As a result of its topography,

Tanzania comprises beauty and substance. This combination,

Tanzania has a regional variation of seasonal temperatures. For the

among other attractions, results in Tanzania being a destination

larger part of the land, temperatures rarely falls below 20 °C, while

of choice for foreign film companies. With its bountiful location

temperatures in the highlands range between 10-20 °C in cooler and

options, it is no surprise that Tanzania was the setting for Rob

warmer months respectively.


108

DIARISE

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

JANUARY

APRIL

ROTTERDAM

KKNK

INTERNATIONAL FILM

3 – 11 April

FESTIVAL

Oudtshoorn, South Africa

21 January – 1 February MIPTV

Rotterdam, Netherlands

13 – 16 April SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Cannes, France

22 January – 1 February TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

Utah, USA

15 – 26 April CINEMART 24 – 29 January

MARCH

JUNE

New York, USA ANNECY INTERNATIONAL HOT DOCS

ANIMATION FILM

AFCI LOCATION SHOW

DOCUMENTARY FILM

1 – 6 June

SAN DIEGO BLACK FILM

5 – 7 March

FESTIVAL

Annecy, France

FESTIVAL

Los Angeles, USA

23 April - 3 May

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Toronto, Canada

29 January – 1 February San Diego, USA

ENCOUNTERS

LUXOR AFRICAN FILM

DOCUMENTARY FILM

FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL

Cairo, Egypt

MAY

ADFEST

AFRICAN, ASIAN & LATIN

EUROPEAN FILM MARKET

19 – 21 March

AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL

AMERICAN BLACK FILM

3 – 15 February

Pattaya, Thailand

MILAN

FESTIVAL

4 – 10 May

11 – 14 June

Milan, Italy

New York, USA

BROADBAND & TV

ZANZIBAR

CONNECT ASIA 2015

INTERNATIONAL FILM

NORTH CAROLINA BLACK

12 – 13 May

FESTIVAL

JOZI FILM FESTIVAL

FILM FESTIVAL

Suntec, Singapore

18 – 26 June

19 – 22 February

26 – 29 March

Johannesburg, South Africa

North Carolina, USA

ALUTA FILM FESTIVAL

MERCEDES-BENZ BOKEH

26 – 28 February

FASHION FILM FESTIVAL

Durban, South Africa

27 – 28 March

SATCOM AFRICA

Cape Town, South Africa

26 – 27 May

16 – 21 March

FEBRUARY

4 – 14 June Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa

Berlin, Germany SAFTAS BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

20 – 22 March

5 – 15 February

Johannesburg, South Africa

Berlin, Germany

PAN AFRICAN FILM &

Zanzibar, Tanzania CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 13 – 24 May

CANNES LIONS

Cannes, France

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 21 – 27 June

Johannesburg, South Africa

Cannes, France AFRICAN MOVIE

TELEVISION FESTIVAL OF

CINEMAFRICA FILM

OUAGADOUGOU

FESTIVAL

OTT TV AND VOD SUMMIT

(AMAA)

28 February – 7 March

27 – 29 March

26 – 28 May

June

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Stockholm, Sweden

Johannesburg, South Africa

Lagos, Nigeria

ACADEMY AWARDS


DIARISE

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109

NOVEMBER DISCOP AFRICA 4 – 6 November Johannesburg, South Africa AMERICAN FILM MARKET 4 – 11 November California, USA AFI FEST

JULY

5 – 12 November

INDEPENDENT MZANSI

CAIRO INTERNATIONAL

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

FILM FESTIVAL

2 - 5 July

8 – 17 November

Johannesburg, South Africa

Cairo, Egypt

California, USA

OCTOBER

THE NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2 – 12 July

DOCKANEMA FILM FESTIVAL 8 – 29 November

MIPCOM

Grahamstown, South Africa

Pedro Pimenta, Mozambique

5 – 8 October MEDIATECH AFRICA

Cannes, France

15 – 17 July

AFRICACOM 17 – 19 November

BFI LONDON FILM

Johannesburg, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

FESTIVAL DURBAN INTERNATIONAL

7 – 18 October

NEW YORK AFRICAN

FILM FESTIVAL

London, England

DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL

16 – 26 July

23 November – 11

Durban, South Africa

SHNIT INTERNATIONAL

December

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

New York, USA

DURBAN FILMMART

7 – 18 October

17 – 20 July

Clermont-Ferrand, France

Durban, South Africa

SEPTEMBER

KUNJANIMATION TBC November

SILICON VALLEY AFRICAN

Cape Town, South Africa

FILM FESTIVAL

AUGUST

TORONTO

16 – 18 October

INTERNATIONAL FILM

Silicon Valley, USA

FESTIVAL

DECEMBER

ANIMATION FESTIVAL

10 – 20 September

AFRICA IN MOTION

1 - 2 August

Toronto, Canada

22 – 31 October

MANDELA

Glasgow, Scotland

INTERNATIONAL FILM

New York, USA

FESTIVAL

URBANWORLD FILM FEMALES IN FILM AND TV

FESTIVAL

ABUJA INTERNATIONAL

3 – 13 December

INDUSTRY FESTIVAL

17 – 21 September

FILM FESTIVAL

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

6 –10 August

New York, USA

27 – 30 October

Johannesburg, South Africa

Lagos, Nigeria

MARRAKECH INTERNATIONAL FILM

CAPE WINELANDS FILM FESTIVAL

PHOTO & FILM EXPO

FESTIVAL

10 – 16 August

27 August – 5 September

28 October – 1 November

4 – 12 December

Durban, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa

Marrakech, Morocco

©Derek Serra

LOERIES CREATIVE WEEK


110

FUNDING ASSOCIATIONS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

FUNDING ASSOCIATIONS

British Council The British Council in South Africa aims to build partnerships with local and UK organizations to deliver development projects, arts events, skills

Business and Arts South Africa

training, policy dialogues and examination services.

Chicago Underground Film Fund

The council in recent years has created campaigns that

The Chicago Underground

The fund is motivated

Business and Arts South

provide certain grants for

Film Festival established its

towards supporting and

Africa (NPC) promotes

filmmakers if the project

film fund five years ago. The

promoting works that push

mutually beneficial,

has a link to Britain. The

aid of the fund was to help

boundaries defy commercial

equitable and sustainable

council also may provide

support underground and

expectations and transcend

business-arts partnerships

funding for a visit to a

independent film makers.

the mainstream of

for the benefit of the

British film festival if your

The fund specifically looks

independent filmmaking.

whole of society. We do

film is being screened there.

at candidates that share

The fund is open to all film

this through research and

t: +27 11 718 4300

the festival’s spirit and

and video directors and

seminars that examine the

f: +27 11 718 4402

defiant attitude. Selected

producers.

arts-business relationships.

e: information@

winners will receive cash

t: +1 773 327 3456

t: +27 11 447 2295

britishcouncil.org.za

grants of between $500 and

f: +1 773 327 3464

e: info@basa.co.za

www.britishcouncil.org/

$2000 for post production

e: info@cuff.org

www.basa.co.za

southafrica

on works-in-progress.

www.cuff.org


FUNDING ASSOCIATIONS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Additional Cinema Funds

South African Co-Production Treaties

African cinema can also apply for funding from the likes of:

• South Africa / Canada, 1997

• Africa Caribbean Pacific Films

• South Africa / Italy, 2003

• Atelier des Journees Cinematographiques De Carthage

• South Africa / Germany, 2004

• Fonds Images Afrique

• South Africa / United Kingdom, 2007

• Francophone Fund For Audiovisual Production of the South

• South Africa / France, 2010

• The Global Film Initiative

• South Africa / Australia, 2010

• The Hubert Bals Fund

• South Africa / New Zealand, 2011

• The National Empowerment Fund

• South Africa / Ireland, 2012

111

• SANAD • Visions Sud Est • The World Cinema Fund • World Cinema Support Fund

French Institute The French Institute in over the last few years have created various programs to assist those in the creative arts industry. The institute each year under the IFASCulture umbrella offers a bursary in the field of

Frameline Completion Fund

Wesgro

theatre and mime to South African artists who would like to attend the Lecoq

The Frameline Completion

School in Paris (France). The purposeful effort to address

main aim is to promote the

to both established and

the shortage of gay film

exchange of South African

emerging filmmakers. This

makers in the industry and

and French arts and culture.

program was created to

additionally to encourage

Specifically for film makers

provide financial aid and

gay film makers to tell their

the French Institute calls for

support to artists who often

story. Grants in a range

those interested to submit

struggle to secure funding

of $1000 to $3,000 are

proposals for funding for

to complete their works.

available for projects in the

their various films.

The fund specifically targets

final stages of production.

t: +27 11 836 0561/2/3/4

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and

t: +415 703 8650

f: +27 11 836 5850

transgender film and video

e: info@frameline.org

e: ifas@ifas.org.za

makers. This is done as a

www.frameline.org

www.ifas.org.za

©Wavescape Surf Film Festival 2014

Fund provides grants

Wesgro is the official Destination Marketing, Investment and Trade Promotion Agency for the Western Cape, located in Cape Town. 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. t: +27 21 487 8600 e: info@wesgro.co.za wesgro.co.za


112

FIXERS IN AFRICA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

FIXERS IN AFRICA NAME

COMPANY NAME/ FREELANCE

COUNTRY

SPECIALITY

CONTACT DETAILS

Ayubu Kasasa

Freelance

Rwanda

Director, Producer, Securing Film Permits and Sourcing Local Actors

Tel: +25 07 88 844 473

Bernd

Lemon Reel Film Services

Namibia

Scouting, Locations, Permits and Local Crew/ Equipment

Tel: +264 81 122 7717 Email: bernd@lemonreel.com

Brad Logan BLM

Productions Film and Stills Production

South Africa: Cape Town, Durban

Production, Locations

Tel: +27 21 437 1621

Caleb Bahati Kabanda

Freelance

Democratic Republic of Congo

News crews in politically volatile areas

Tel: +243 82 249 1027 Email: calebkaban@yahoo.fr

Coen Oldenhof and Hary Rason

CinĂŠroutes

Madagascar

Fixer/producer, Crews, Documentaries

Tel: +261 32 400 0404 Tel: +261 32 021 7843 Email: cineroutes@moov.mg Email: routes.2000@wxs.nl

Colette Massier

Desert Rain Films

Namibia

Landscapes, Wildlife, People, Cinematography

Tel: +264 81 659 5405 Email: colette@naankuse.com

Derrick Kibisi

talking film PRODUCTION

Uganda

Producer/Crew Fixer

Tel: +25 6792 902 991 Email: dkibisi@talkingfilmproduction.com

Gavin McJannet

Farm Film

Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Congo, Nigeria, Swaziland, Zambia

Producer/Fixer/Documentaries/ Locations

Tel: +27 21 424 7714 Email: gavin@farmfilm.tv

Ginger Wilson

Ginger Ink Producer

Nairobi

Locations, People, Equipment, Ccrew, Logistics

Email: info@gingerink.tv

Helen Atty

Two Seas TV

South Africa

Locations, People, Equipment, Crew, Logistics

Email: helen@twoseas.cc

Jean Hartley

Viewfinders EPZ Ltd

Kenya

Facilitation, Documentary Film Crews, Permits

Tel: +254 716 875928 Email: info@viewfindersltd.com

Joseph Muwowo

Mystic Pictures Zambia

Zambia

Post-Production, Electronic News Gathering, Shooting

Tel: +26 0955 558 259


FIXERS IN AFRICA

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

Wildlife Documentary Production, Reality Production, Budget Development

113

Karen Brooks

Freelance

South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia,

Tel: +27 83 259 6324 Email: kbrooks@netactive.co.za

Lesley-Anne Mulder

Outbound Film

Namibia, Zambia

LĂŠonce Ngabo

Freelance

Burundi

Researching

Tel: + 257 79 563 611 Email: lngabo@yahoo.fr

Margie McMahon

Freelance

Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Seychelles,Ghana

Line Producing, Locations, Logistics, Equipment

Tel: +27 21 422 1321 Email: mcmahon@icon.co.za

Paul van der Ploeg

Sandstone Logistics

Namibia

Scouting, Location Management, Permits, Environmental Impact Studies

Tel: +264 81 2769 Email: paulnamibia@iway.na

Ramses Mahfoudh

Godolphin Films

Tunisia

Researching

Tel: +216 71 755 610 Email: Info@godolphin-films.com

Richard and Janice Beatty

African Environments

Tanzania

Location, Accommodation, Talent Finding, Aerial Filming

Tel: +255 27 250 8625 Email: beatty@africanenvironments.co.tz> janiceb@africanenvironments.com

Rick Matthews

Big Banana Films

South Africa, Namibia

Producer / Location Scout / Photographer

Tel: +27 11 880 6686 Email: bigbanana@mweb.co.za

Rob Clifford

Robin Pope Safaris

Zambia

Wildlife-specific Fixer

Tel: +260 978 695 732 Email: rob@robinpopesafaris.net

Rob Neuhold and Greg Chater

Forward Motion

South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia and other parts of Southern Africa

Documentaries, feature films, TV commercials, reality TV, wildlife series, corporate videos, event live streaming

Tel: +27 72 879 7921 (Rob) Email: rob@forwardmotion.tv Tel: +27 71 857 6363 Email: greg@forwardmotion.tv (Greg)

Tania Jenkins

AfriScreen Films

Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia

Editorial ideas, Logistical Support and Production Management

Tel: +267 680 1123 / 6862570 Email: tania.jenkins@afriscreen.com

Zablon Beyene

Zab Ethiopia Tours

Ethiopia

Researching, Locations Management

Tel: +251 118 60 85 64 Email: zablon@zabtoursethiopia.com

Tel: +264 81 458 6554 (Namibia) Email: lesley@outboundfilm.co.za

Š Candy Kennedy


114

CLASSIFIEDS ACCOMMODATION

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

ACCOMMODATION

BROADCAST EQUIPMENT

Nestled amidst the natural beauty of the Cape Winelands, NH The Lord Charles welcomes guests with warm hospitality and eortless

Awarded Best All Suite Hotel for 2010.

luxury. Located 20 minutes from Cape Town

30 one or two bedroom sea-facing suites, each

International Airport and only 10 minutes

with en-suite bathroom, separate lounge and

from Cape Town Film Studios, the hotel oers

dining room, kitchen, private balcony and free Wi-

198 beautifully appointed bedrooms and

Fi access. Facilities include The George restaurant,

a fully equipped conference centre with a

bar and lounge, spa and swimming pool.

capacity of up to 1500 delegates.

Specialists in service to the Production Industry.

Jaco du Plooy

Corner Hill & Romney Roads,

Arne Sack

t: +27 21 855 1040

Green Point, Cape Town

75 Fleet Street, Ferndale, Randburg

f: +27 21 855 1107

t: +27 21 439 4555

m: 082 576 1366

e: j.duplooy@nh-hotels.co.za

f: +27 21 439 4747

t: +27 11 462 0000

www.nh-hotels.co.za

e: info@romneypark.co.za

e: info@pro-sales.co.za

www.nh-hotels.com

www.romneypark.co.za

www.pro-sales.co.za

CASTING DIRECTORS

CONSUMABLES

DIVING AND MARINE SUPPORT

At Kayos Casting Directors we are passionate about making sure that everyone we work with looks good. It's that simple and is what still drives us after nearly 20 years and

Sourcing and delivery of digital storage media and technical consumables to

The Frog Squad is the premier commercial

the film, stills and tv industry.

diving and marine support service to the South African Film Industry.

+- 4500 television commercials. Contact:

genevieve le cordeur

Monique Murray /

m: +27 82 335 3973

Cape Town, South Africa

Kay Price-Lindsay

t: +27 21 447 8857

t: 0823496688 / 0823400991

Unit 5, Zoe Park, Capricorn Park

t: +27 21 462 6353

f: +27 86 697 1082

e: jason@frogsquad.co.za /

e: monique@kayos.co.za

e: gen@hotsource.tv

jimmy@frogsquad.co.za

www.kayos.co.za

www.hotsource.tv

www.frogsquad.co.za


CLASSIFIEDS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

MULTI-MEDIA PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION COMPANY

PRODUCTION COMPANY

Velocity Afrika produces commercials

Commercial & Video Production

115

We offer clients true 360° strategically driven creative solutions. We are devoted to producing the most innovative and highest-quality productions across a variety of media platforms, from Broadcast Design to Bespoke Event Solutions, Online and Social Media Videos, Animation, On-Air Promos, Visual Effects, AV Production, Post-Production and Print Design.

in SA and on the African continent. The team values their uncanny ability to shoot anywhere – from the forests of Cameroon to the urban surrounds of Johannesburg.

Events Management & Activations Artist Management

Orijin CPT & JHB m. +27 83 414 6788

38 Wessel Road, Rivonia, Johannesburg

t: 011 465 4066

t. +27 21 686 1411

t: +27 11 807 0883

e: kirsten@witchwizard.co.za

e. info@orijin.co.za

e: monareng@velocityafrika.co.za

jenny@witchwizard.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

www.velocityafrika.co.za

www.witchwizard.co.za

TWO-WAY RADIOS

VIDEO / DIGITAL EQUIPMENT

facebook: www.facebook/orijin

PHYSICAL SPECIAL EFFECTS

Need two-way radios for a commercial,

Cape Town’s quirkiest HD video camera

movie, event or short term project?

and digital cinema equipment rental house.

MXFX is headed by the Emmy award winning

Need two-way radios throughout

Zootee Studios caters to indie filmmakers

Max Poolman who has over 32 year’s

South Africa? Need them urgently?

needing cameras at affordable rates ranging

Working to a budget?

from RED DRAGONs to DSLRS. We also

experience in the film and effects business. We offer: Rain bars

Electric / Gas Smoke Machines Wind Machines

and Bubble Machines

Snow, Fog

Need advice on what to get?

hire out grips, lighting, sound and

Use Lazer Communications.

studio space. Plus we’re friendly, solar

Air Cannons

powered and smell nice. Winning.

16 Transvaal Street, Paarden Eiland,

2 Berkley Road,

Unit 10B Gold Street, Northgate

Cape Town, 7405

Maitland, Cape Town

Business Park (in Northgate Estate),

t: +27 21 510 0076

t: +27 21 510 5450

Brooklyn, Cape Town, 7405

f: +27 21 510 0087

f: +27 21 510 2622

t: +27 21 510 1928 / +27 21 510 4641

e: max@mxfx.co.za

e: info@lazer.co.za

e: info@zooteestudios.com

www.mxfx.co.za

www.lazer.co.za

www.zooteestudios.com




118

DIRECTORY A- Z

COMPANY

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

TEL

EMAIL

WEBSITE

PAGE

+27 21 439 4555

info@romneypark.co.za

www.romneypark.co.za

Film Product Placement

+27 11 824 3750

wendy@filmproductplacement.co.za

www.filmproductplacement.co.za

Marnox Media

+27 11 789 6614

mark@marnox.co.za

www.marnox.co.za

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

CIVAIR Helicopters & Aeroplanes (Pty) ltd

+27 21 934 4488

info@civair.co.za

FC Hamman Films

+27 11 465 2210

fch@iafrica.com

www.fchammanfilms.co.za

Bugbox Animation

+27 11 875 2303

margo@bugbox.co.za

www.bugbox.co.za

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

+27 21 510 0076

max@mxfx.co.za

www.mxfx.co.za

115

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

Sony South Africa

+27 11 690 3200

anu.thomas@eu.sony.com

www.sony-psmea.com

Inside Back Cover

Zootee Studios

+27 21 510 1928

info@zooteestudios.com

www.zooteestudios.com

115

+27 21 864 2872

action@bickers.co.za

www.bickers.co.za

+27 82 658 7987

kay@kayos.co.za

www.kayos.co.za

+27 21 934 4488

info@civair.co.za

Accommodation Romney Park

114

Advertising

115

Aerial Filming

Animation

Animation & FX MXFX Audio Visual Orijin Broadcast Television Orijin Camera Equipment

Camera Rentals & Broadcast Sales Bickers Action SA Casting Studio Kayos

114

Charter CIVAIR Helicopters & Aeroplanes (Pty) ltd

Commercials Production Company Axis International

+27 21 713 1424

noel@axisinternational.co.za

www.axisinternational.co.za

Birdfilm

+27 21 448 8771

alan@birdfilm.com

www.birdfilm.com

Farm Film Africa

+27 21 424 7714

gavin@farmfilm.tv

www.farmfilm.tv/farm-africa/

Groundglass (PTY) Ltd

+27 21 422 2591

gabby@groundglass.co.za

www.groundglass.co.za

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

+27 21 447 8857

gen@hotsource.tv

www.hotsource.tv

114

Consumables Hot Source


DIRECTORY A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

COMPANY

119

TEL

EMAIL

WEBSITE

PAGE

Film Freight cc

+27 11 706 0143

vivian@filmfreight.co.za

www.filmfreight.co.za

Royale International

+27 861 769 253

helga@royaleafrica.com

SAE Institute

+27 21 469 3600

capetown@sae.edu

www.capetown.sae.edu

83

DTI

+27 12 394 1681

contactus@thedti.gov.za

www.dti.gov.za

Outside Back Cover

82

Couriers

55, 99

Creative Media Institute

Director / DOP / Cinematographer Say Cheese Productions

+27 63 775 6952

pmcgee@ion.co.za

Lift Up Teleporter

+27 21 418 7773

info@liftup.capetown

www.liftup.capetown

Media Film Service Cape Town

+27 21 511 3300

info@mediafilmservice.com

www.mediafilmservice.com

Media Film Service Johannesburg

+27 11 258 5000

info@mediafilmservice.com

www.mediafilmservice.com

Panalux

+27 21 529 4200

michele.starnaud@panalux.co.za

www.panalux.biz

Inside Front Cover

Panavision SA / Panalux

+27 21 555 1780

nicholas.doble@panavision.za.com

www.panavision.com

1

Say Cheese Productions

+27 63 775 6952

pmcgee@ion.co.za

Visual Impact

+27 11 788 9879

goran@visuals.tv

www.visuals.tv

78

+27 21 510 5450

info@lazer.co.za

www.lazer.co.za

115

+27 11 462 0000

info@pro-sales.co.za

www.pro-sales.co.za

114

+27 83 263 9489

mbp@vodamail.co.za

www.mandelabaypictures.com

64

Cape Film Commission

+27 21 701 0924

info@capefilmcommission.co.za

Gauteng Film Commission

+27 11 833 0409

puisano@gautengfilm.org.za

www.gautengfilm.org.za

22

KZN Film Commission

+27 33 355 6515

info@kwazulunatalfilm.co.za

www.kwazulunatalfilm.co.za

24

South African Film Commission

+27 21 701 0924

info@southafricanfilmcommission.com

Zulu Coast Film Office

+27 35 799 2582

mavundlan@uthungulo.co.za

www.film-zulucoast.co.za

32

DIFF

+27 31 260 2506

diff@ukzn.ac.za

www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

2

Aon

+27 11 944 7290

info@aon.co.za

www.aon.co.za

84

+27 82 506 8312

pascal@aaa-entertain.com

www.aaa-entertain.com

62

+27 82 411 4088

jane@filmfinances.co.za

www.filmfinances.com

84

Equipment Rental

Equipment Rental - Two-way Radios Lazer Communications Equipment Supplier Pro-Sales

Facilitating Growth & Development – Film & Television Mandela Bay Pictures Film Commission

Film Festival

Film Sales and Distribution AAA Entertainment Financial Institution Film Finances SA


120

DIRECTORY A- Z

COMPANY

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

TEL

EMAIL

WEBSITE

PAGE

+27 861 274 96753

films.support@cpiworld.co.za

www.cpiword.co.za

+27 11 783 0474

genie@igpcc.co.za

www.igpcc.co.za

+27 83 229 1811

res@pakamisa.co.za

www.pakamisa.co.za

+27 21 487 4868

monica@wesgro.co.za

www.wesgro.co.za

6

+44 20 3033 4000

delegates@canneslions.com

www.canneslions.com

116

+1 312 650 9275

info@intlmediaconcierge.com

www.intlmediaconcierge.com

89

+27 11 885 2042

klr@movievision.co.za

www.movievision.co.za

Aquila Game Reserve

+27 21 430 7260

res@aquilasafari.com

www.aquilasafari.com

14

Cape Nature

+27 21 200 1388

locations@permitz.co.za

www.permitz.co.za

16

CTICC

+27 21 410 5000

info@cticc.co.za

www.cticc.co.za

18

JHB Expo Centre

+27 11 494 1920

info@expocentre.co.za

www.expocentre.co.za

20

Kurland Hotel

+27 44 534 8082

info@kurland.co.za

www.kurland.co.za

26

Mountain Marina

+27 21 421 3075

info@mountainmarina.com

www.mountainmarina.com

85

NH The Lord Charles Hotel

+27 21 855 1040

info@nh-hotels.co.za

www.nh-hotels.co.za

114

The Rockwell All Suite Hotel

+27 21 421 0015

reservations@rockwellhotel.co.za

www.rockwellhotel.co.za

30

+27 21 408 7632

locations@waterfront.co.za

www.waterfront.co.za

34

+27 21 790 0972

jessica@perfecthideaways.co.za

www.perfecthideaways.co.za

85

+27 82 349 6688

jason@frogsquad.co.za

www.frogsquad.co.za

114

+27 11 824 3750

wendy@wmta.co.za

www.wmta.co.za

Film Payroll CPI

53

Full Service Video & Photography - Studio / Agency IGProductions Game Reserve / Lodge Pakamisa Private Game Reserve Government Agency Wesgro International Festival Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

International Film Travel Services International Media Concierge Lighting, Sound & Staging Movievision Location

Location & Venue V & A Waterfront Location Agent Perfect Hideaways Marine Film Company Frog Squad Modeling Agencies Wendy's Talent Agency

Music & Sound Design - Film / Commercial Arcadia Sound

+27 83 963 9220

tristan@arcadiasound.com

www.arcadiasound.com

TheWorkRoom Audio Post

+27 21 426 5497

info@theworkroom.co.za

www.theworkroom.co.za


DIRECTORY A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

COMPANY

TEL

EMAIL

WEBSITE

PAGE

+27 72 698 3834

dave@mantrasound.co.za

www.mantrasound.co.za

+27 11 438 7038

publishing7@sheer.co.za

www.sheerpublishing.co.za

+27 82 333 9901

hello@brettrubin.com

www.brettrubin.com

77

+27 21 447 6326

info@roodebloemstudios.co.za

www.roodebloemstudios.co.za

74

Loco VFX

+27 83 414 0026

info@locovfx.com

www.locovfx.com

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

Ministry of Illusion

+27 11 463 8538

wendy@moi.co.za

www.moi.co.za

Refinery

+27 11 799 7800

info@refinery.co.za

www.refinery.co.za

TheWorkRoom Audio Post

+27 21 426 5497

info@theworkroom.co.za

www.theworkroom.co.za

Waterfront Film Studios

+27 87 742 2210

ivan@lasernet.co.za

www.waterfrontfilmstudios.com

85

+27 21 447 1139

info@endpost.co.za

www.endpost.co.za

76

Lucky Fish Productions

+27 21 424 3513

platon@luckyfishproductions.co.za

www.luckyfishproductions.co.za

70

Ministry of Illusion

+27 11 463 8538

wendy@moi.co.za

www.moi.co.za

Moonlighting Film Production Services

+27 21 447 2209

philip@moonlighting.co.za

www.moonlighting.co.za

66

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

Plank Film Productions

+27 21 461 0887

anco@plank.co.za

www.plank.co.za

75

The Shooting Gallery

+27 21 461 7600

claire@theshootinggallery.co.za

www.theshootinggallery.co.za

67

alan@birdfilm.com

www.birdfilm.com

Music and Sound Design David Housten

76

Music Supervisory / Clearances Sheer Publishing Photographers Vatic Photographic Studio Roodebloem Studios Post Production

115

77

Post Production Studios End Post Production Production Company

Production Company - Commercial Service Birdfilm

+27 21 448 8771

Cinergy

+27 21 447 4700

Farm Film Africa

+27 21 424 7714

gavin@farmfilm.tv

ShootAway Production

+27 82 475 1212

info@shootawayproduction.com

www.cinergy.tv www.farmfilm.tv

Production Company - Directors Cinergy

+27 21 447 4700

www.cinergy.tv

Direction Films

+27 21 461 0887

anco@directionfilms.tv

www.directionfilms.tv

Groundglass (PTY) Ltd

+27 21 422 2591

gabby@groundglass.co.za

www.groundglass.co.za

Production Company - Film & Television DO Productions (Pty) Ltd

+27 82 451 5492

marlow@doproductions.com

www.doproductions.com

Film Afrika

+27 21 461 7950

belinda.johnson@filmarika.com

www.filmafrika.com

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

121


122

DIRECTORY A- Z

COMPANY

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

TEL

EMAIL

WEBSITE

PAGE

African Film Services

+27 21 424 9999

info@afsproductions.com

www.afsproductions.com

63

Black Brain

+27 11 709 6600

info@blackbrain.co.za

www.blackbrain.co.za

64

Bouffant

+27 11 234 8820

peter@bouffant.tv

www.bouffant.tv

76

Can-Can Films

+27 83 227 3041

di@can-canfilms.co.za

www.can-canfilms.co.za

69

Cape Direct

+27 21 424 4495

production@capedirect.com

www.capedirect.com

69

Ginger Pictures

+27 11 888 8240

julie@gingerpictures.tv

www.gingerpictures.tv

69

Hungry Films

+27 11 482 2171

info@hungryfilms.co.za

www.hungryfilms.co.za

70

Imwe Namibia Holdings

+264 64 46 3371

gwen@namibiafilms.com

www.imwe.com.na

102

Metal Tiger Productions

+27 21 448 8794

liz@metaltigerproductions.co.za

www.metaltigerproductions.co.za

65

Orijin

+27 21 686 411

info@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

Spitfire Films

+27 11 325 6227

liesl@spitfirefilms.tv

www.spitfirefilms.tv

70

Two Oceans Productions

+27 21 506 3300

top@topproductions.co.za

www.topproduction.de

68

Velocity Afrika

+27 11 807 0883

monareng@velocityafrika.co.za

www.velocityafrika.co.za

115

Velocity Films

+27 11 807 0100

helena@velocityfilms.com

www.velocityfilms.com

77

Wink

+27 21 424 4971

alison@winkfilms.tv

www.winkfilms.tv

78

Witch & Wizard Productions

+27 11 465 6066

kirsten@witchwizard.co.za

www.witchwizard.co.za

115

+27 11 438 7037

mandrew@skumba.co.za

www.sheerpublishing.co.za

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

+27 61 497 2945

info@inspirefurniture.co.za

www.inspirefurniture.co.za

84

+27 11 887 9351

johnharrison@southernlighting.co.za

www.southernlighting.co.za

+27 21 465 0000

info@aubergine.co.za

www.aubergine.co.za

+27 21 425 2170

info@proevents-sa.co.za

www.proevents-sa.co.za

Plaster Art

+27 21 531 3609

info@plaster-art.co.za

www.plaster-art.co.za

Sets Non Stop

+27 11 882 8822

action@setsnonstop.co.za

www.setsnonstop.co.za

+27 21 785 5487

soundtrax@icon.co.za

Production House

Production Music Skumba Music Library Production TV Orijin Props Inspire Furniture Rental Companies Southern Lighting Solutions Restaurant Aubergine Restaurant Security Services Pro Events

9

Set Design & Construction

Sound Recording Sound-Trax (Pty) Ltd.

47


DIRECTORY A- Z

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

COMPANY

TEL

EMAIL

WEBSITE

PAGE

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

115

Vincent Shantall

+27 21 511 9676

viscreatect@mweb.co.za

www.visualc.co.za

78

+27 83 376 9044

michael@michaelcarstensen.com

www.michaelcarstensen.com

+27 83 338 7800

joe@joealblas.com

www.joealblas.com

+27 21 511 9151

info@stuntco.co.za

www.stuntco.co.za

+27 21 465 1000

info@ermstars.com

www.ermstars.com

+27 76 453 6497

film@cellucity.co.za

www.cellucity.co.za

59

+27 87 150 0100

info@lionpark.com

www.lionpark.com

28

+27 21 461 7950

seton@filmsa.co.za

www.filmsa.co.za

4

+27 21 426 2727

info@foliotranslations.com

www.folio-online.co.za

41

+27 21 906 0429

info@imvusatransport.co.za

Imperial Truck Rental

+27 21 551 7687

donreh@i-t-r.co.za

www.imperialtruckrental.co.za

11

Value Logistics

+27 86 010 0046

traceylr@value.co.za

www.value.co.za

71

+27 21 975 6907

sales@goldtravel.co.za

www.goldtravel.co.za

39

+27 21 424 1661

avisfilm@avis.co.za

www.avis.com

117

+27 21 511 8501

carolync@kempston.co.za

www.kempston.co.za

95

Loco VFX

+27 83 414 0026

info@locovfx.com

www.locovfx.com

Orijin

+27 83 414 6788

rudy@orijin.co.za

www.orijin.co.za

+27 72 230 3206

nerinepienaar@gmail.com

www.wardrobehire.co.za

Special Effects

Steadicam Owner Operator Michael Carstensen Steadicam Stills Photographer Joe Alblas

79

Stunts The Stunt Company

Talent Management & Castings Emma Ress Management Telecommunications Cellucity Tourist Destination Lion Park Training and Skills Developer FILM Translation Services Folio Translation Consultants Transport & Logistics Imvusa Transport Transport Rental

Travel Agent Gold Travel Vehicle Hire AVIS Rent-A-Car Vehicle Hire Bloemfontein Kempston Visual Effects

Wardrobe & Costume Rental The Wardrobe Studio Johannesburg

115

123


124

CREDITS

www.filmmakerafrica.co.za

2015 The Filmmakers Guide to Africa (fmg) is an annual African film industry marketing publication targeted at an international audience. As a marketing resource and information guide it makes a strong financial and strategic case for shooting in Africa by detailing incentives, rebates and subsidies, exploring regional features, locations, and logistics and creating a thorough overview of the infrastructure and experience that Africa has to offer. fmg is Africa’s premier marketing tool for African film.

CREDITS publisher Lance Gibbons strategic director Kathy English Brower executive editor Katie Reynolds contributing writer Kevin Kriedemann head of design Sheree Steenkamp editorial & design coordinator Kim Muller editorial assistant Carryn Gabriels group sales manager Lloyd Kirsten account executive Jennifer Dianez account executive Theo Jacobs production coordinator Tammi Klein business manager Taryn Fowler sales coordinator Tracey-Anne Arendse cover photographer © Brett Rubin: www.brettrubin.com photographic contributions Thank you to all the photographers, governments, organizations and advertisers who contributed. published by Film & Event Media copyright ©Filmmaker’s Guide to Africa. The copyright, including the right of reproduction in any form, of all material in the Filmmaker’s Guide to Africa is expressly reserved in terms of section 12 (7) of the South African Copyright Act. isbn number 978-0-620-65326-8 printing tandym print www.tandym.co.za for advertising queries Filmmaker’s Guide to Africa Please contact: +27 21 674 0646

Film & Event Media (FEM) is dedicated to growing and developing the film and business events industry in Africa. FEM publications include: The Event, Africa’s Leading Meetings Industry Magazine, The Callsheet, Africa’s Leading Film Industry Magazine, Event Planner’s Guide to Africa, and Filmmaker’s Guide to Africa.

ALSO ONLINE Visit Filmmaker Africa (www.filmmakerafrica.co.za) to access Film & Event Media’s filmrelated products including The Filmmakers Guide to South Africa (fmg) – the annual African film industry marketing publication targeted at an international audience, and The Callsheet – an award-winning monthly trade publication for the African film industry, which covers the commercials, features, stills, television, new media, and corporate videos markets. For Advertising Queries for The Filmmakers Guide to Africa and the range of publications and online products available from Film & Event Media please contact: +27 21 674 0646

57 2nd Avenue, Harfield Village, Claremont, 7708 Cape Town, South Africa Tel: +27 21 674 0646 www.filmeventmedia.co.za disclaimer Opinions expressed in the Filmmaker’s Guide to Africa do not necessarily represent the official 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, Film & Event Media and/or its employees may not be held liable or responsible for any act or omission 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.




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