On Thursday, I flew to Johannesburg for the final presentation of the Gauteng Film Commission’s Film Permit Process Review. This presentation marked the end of a seven month programme intended to provide the Film Commission with insight into the way film permits are accessed in Africa’s business hub. I love the GFC; they are hard working, dedicated, sophisticated marketers, and they’re wickedly funny. But they’ve got their work cut out for them with this one……
As the home of the national broadcaster, the SABC, it’s estimated that Johannesburg’s film and television production business is at least as big as that of the Western Cape. And Joburg’s been the location of some pretty major international movies, including the Oscar nominated Hotel Rwanda. But in the greater scheme of things, this means very little to the powers-that-be in Africa’s pumping economic heart.
This is of course hugely dispiriting for the GFC, who are really trying hard to remain relevant and valuable to their stakeholders. I think it was perhaps hoped that the research would resoundingly prove that the GFC should open a film permit office, but I have to say, in my opinion, without meaningful buy-in by the city, this would be professional suicide. Instead, I’ve recommended a more small scale and realistic package of interventions including:
- CLEAR DEFINITION OF ROLES TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS & ALLEVIATE STAFF BURDENS
- NOT A FILM OFFICE / UNIT
- rather DEDICATED STAFF “INDUSTRY LIASON” POSITIONS TO
GATHER & MAINTAIN USEFUL LOCATION INFORMATION - BI-LATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS
- RECOMMENDED STANDARD PROCESSES AND FORMS (including a “permission” form)
- TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE STATISTICS COLLATION
- NEWTOWN “INCENTIVE”
- MORATORIUM ON FUTURE FEE INCREASES
You can read the whole report at the GFC’s website: www.gautengfilm.co.za