April 2008

In a historic move, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has brought together broadcasters SABC and M-Net to participate in the South African Pavilion at this year’s MipTV. The pavilion will officially be co-hosted by the NFVF and the Film and Publications Board (FPB).

The Gauteng Film Commission (GFC) has appointed Kagiso TV & Communications as its marketing and PR agency. The communications and developmental education company will assist GFC to both promote the province as a film location and production hub of choice, nationally and globally, as well as encourage greater local awareness of the social and economic value of film.

Scriptwriters who would like to develop their craft and write for a visual medium are invited to participate in the upcoming The Writing Studio’s weekend workshop. During the past eight years The Writing Studio, an independent training initiative, has done more than 250 writing workshops throughout South Africa, including a Masterclass for Screenwriters for 40 writers from Africa at the Sithengi Film and TV Market’s Talent Campus.

Scriptwriters who would like to develop their craft and write for a visual medium are invited to participate in the upcoming The Writing Studio’s weekend workshop. During the past eight years The Writing Studio, an independent training initiative, has done more than 250 writing workshops throughout South Africa, including a Masterclass for Screenwriters for 40 writers from Africa at the Sithengi Film and TV Market’s Talent Campus.

Realtime Resources, the Gauteng based online resources website, has made satisfying inroads into its target market since its inception three months ago. The website, which offers producers and resources the ability to register and then browse for suitable crews and projects, has now over 650 resources listed over the various categories on the site, which includes 104 options from Assistant Cameraman to Writer.

In Focus correspondent, Andrew Worsdale finally gets to understand what INPUT – the exciting global showcase and convention around public television – is all about. He also chats to Sylvia Vollenhoven, the National Coordinator of Input 2008 about her life in broadcasting and journalism and the challenges her team faces in hosting a public television showcase of international renown.

I’ve known of this big event called Input for a while now, but have never attended as press or even as a filmmaker looking for partners, debate and perhaps inspiration. After reading about it extensively I plan to finally go this year – but it looks like a very hectic week and my advice is to plan carefully – don’t try eating the whole buffet – otherwise you’re guaranteed broadcast indigestion!

Veteran South African journalist Jon Qwelane once wrote an article about Sylvia Vollenhoven entitled :The Witty and Beautiful Sylvia’ remembering his days as a mentor to the novice journalist, “Sylvia was a tear-jerker supreme, and a born flirt with an incomparable sense of humour…(she) was the extrovert who enjoyed a bit of exhibitionism. She took baloney from no one; editors knew exactly where they stood with her, the scourge of everyone. For sheer loyalty and dependability, Vollenhoven had no equal.”

Is it necessary to go to a film school to become a successful filmmaker?  How important is the knowledge of technology and film theory to getting into the business? Or is it better just to become a production assistant and move through the ranks? Our correspondents report on the many film and television institutions active throughout Gauteng.

Deja vu. I had last stood on the spot – in the Wits Downstairs Theatre – when it was a parking lot in 1981. Before relocating to Rhodes University, Grahamstown, in May that year, I had under John van Zyl’s direction introduced film and TV production in the newly established School of Dramatic Art at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 1976. We had started with a single Super-8 Camera. A year later we bought an editing table. We had a totally dysfunctional monochrome TV studio which the Wits Educational Technology Unit had imported in 1972 when the ban on TV technology had been lifted in anticipation of a national service starting in 1976.   

Cinema Nouveau Brooklyn Mall, 18 – 20 April
Cinema Nouveau The Mall of Rosebank, 25 – 28 April
www.sterkinekor.com

10:30m to 12:30pm, 12th April 2008
Postmasters Auditorium
Lecturers: Graham Cooke, Susan Scott and Candice van der Valk.
Cost: R55.00 for SAGE Members and R110.00 for non-members. Booking is essential as space is limited. RSVP: suescott@gmail.com