Filmmakers must wise up
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Although I was not mentioned directly by name in Roger Young’ s article“ A car ������ ���� ����� ����� ��� ���� ������ ������ from Hollywood”, Young cited two movies that I wrote and directed, so I thought I would respond.
��������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� thriller set on Table Mountain. It’ s going to feature an American lead. Why? Because if it features a South African lead nobody will come and see it. They would rather go and see one of the many ������ ���������� ����� ���������� ������� ������ ������
����� ��� �� ������������ ������ ��� ���� ���������� business. A movie star attracts an audience and if you don’ t attract an audience your movie will be �� ����� ��� ����� ������� ������������� ���� ���������� ���� ���� ������ �������� ���������� ���� ����������� nominations for our two South African leads.
Do you know how much money Retribution made at ������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������� to see a South African thriller with two“ unknowns” in it, no matter how good they are.( And hats off to Joe Mafela and Jeremy Crutchley for stellar performances.)
Filmmakers have to understand: unless your movie makes money you can’ t have a career. This is the movie business, and the National Film and Video Foundation( NFVF) has wisely seen this. You can’ t ������������������������������������������������������ nobody goes to see. The people at the NFVF and the Industrial Development Corporation( IDC) know what they are doing: they are trying to ensure that they ���� ��������� ��� ����� ����������� ����� ������ ������� that reality and plunge billions into projects the South
African public doesn’ t want to see. They know that, side by side with creative integrity, you need to have a commercial model that will keep the industry alive. They are, after all, not charities.
Audiences vote with their feet and the NFVF is listening. I’ ve worked with Clarence Hamilton, Eddie Mbalo, Basil Ford, Zama Mkosi, Thandeka Zwana, Neiloe Khunyeli. These are sharp people, and they want what we all want: more good South �������� ������ ����� ���� �������� ��� ����� ���� ���� should be applauded for all they are doing to help us.
The reason I set Drop in South Africa is precisely because of the NFVF and IDC’ s programmes to ����� ������ �������� ����������� ������������ ����� ��� ����� ����� ���� ����� ����� ������ ����� ����� ��� support helps to sustain and grow our industry.
����������������������������������������������������������� their notes on scripts— welcome to reality, my friend. There are always notes. From Hollywood to Parkwood, if people are giving you money they will also be giving you notes. A Hollywood producer’ s notes are no better and no worse than what you will get from the NFVF. I ��������������������������������������������������� like to get notes, but the more experienced ones know ����� �� ������������ ����� ��� ���� ������ ������������
So, when Young says“ there is no quicker way to ��������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� understand that if you want the creative autonomy afforded to the likes of Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and only a handful of other directors, then you need to have made movies like those directors have made.
Until then, you’ re going to get notes on what the people who are giving you money think will make your movie better. If you don’ t like that, you’ re in the wrong business.
I suspect a slight case of sour grapes in the grumbling about the NFVF. You’ re selling a product; you have to
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CONTROVERSY writersguildsa. org | 33
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