South African Trade department reconsiders film strategies by JEVANNE GIBBS source THE CITIZEN
THE LOCAL SCENE
Caroline Setsiba( left) and Lehlohonolo Mokhosi
South African Trade department reconsiders film strategies by JEVANNE GIBBS source THE CITIZEN
Members of the creative industry, including film producers and artists, had an opportunity to formalise their businesses at a workshop in Johannesburg.
At the workshop at Museum Africa in Newtown, the Department of Trade and Industry’ s Lehlohonolo Mokhosi said the unit is reviewing film industry strategies.
“ There are different markets and developments happening in the sector currently, which includes adjusting the costs of producing films.”
“ Our basic assumption is that all films created in the country are created for the cinema, but some films go straight to DVD while others are made for television.”
He said the department is to consider funding films that incorporate extensive computergenerated imagery( CGI) and graphics.
City of Johannesburg representative Malungelo Tsekiso said the municipality aimed to promote the arts and culture sector more during the next financial year.
“ The city is building relationships with the National Arts Council and the Department of Trade and Industry to grow the knowledge base of the artists in the province,” said Tsekiso.
The workshop formed part of the implementation of a resolution that had been taken at the antipiracy conference in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni in 2010.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Thandi Tobias-Pokolo had launched the national antipiracy campaign to address some of the ills and inequalities that the creative industry players had been complaining about for some time.
84 | WGSA MAG July 2013