Filmmakers – just do it – without funding!
For various reasons, and not only because Editorista was hanging out in ‘film city’ Cape Town with the rest of Jozi this Krismuzi, films and how to make them seems to be highly topical. Well in our world anyway. Ed’s got friends moving to Durbs to make wildlife documentaries (lions in Durbs?), chomees in the Eastern Cape building their own crew accommodation ’cause there’s none available, Jozi film mates driving frantically round dodgy areas looking for a cheap laugh on HD and amazing travelogues being produced on a song and a prayer using 30 second still cameras (Ed will remain the originator of this one!Trademark.) So we decided to ask one half of one of our favourite film teams, CoalStove, to give us their predictions for all filmmakers in SA in 2007. Scotnes Smith, you rock!
Leading Questions.
There is something about leading questions that gets one so much quicker to the point then an ordinary monologue. Phrases like, “Did you have sexual relations with you secretary Mr President?” or “So you took a shower before or after the affair sir?” always get a conversation moving along swiftly. So imagine my surprise when Editorista herself dropped me a line and asked me to do an article for the glossy pages of Represent. What was surprising wasn’t that she asked, but that she asked me to do it by myself. That left me with that slightly vacant look of someone being caught enjoying a really good fart.
Faced with the terrifying task of spilling my guts alone, I had better go big. Last time I was talking about an event we at Coal Stove launched last year called Off the Shelf. Its about celebrating young film talent. We hope when people leave they do so with a warm feeling that something is being done to change the face of filmmaking in South Africa. It’s something fuzzy feeling you get watching Bambi.
That is not the sense you get sitting in the auditorium at the Gauteng Film Commision’s first annual Film Indaba though. Picture this: a room full of weather-beaten filmmakers, going at the throats of a group of flustered civil servants trying to explain that the ways of getting the money are complicated but do exist. Flying insults, cups of tea and the occasionally pantaloons; besides, it was a decidedly drab affair. Everyone in the room is convinced that the only way to build the local film industry is by having the government sponsor films which don’t make their money back.
Here is where I get gutsy. THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER! The way to get the film industry going in this country is not simply to get money. The way to get it going is to make films. The biggest film industries on the planet are not the ones that are getting the most money from their governments but those that make the most work. Here’s an example, the Nigerian film industry which by far releases the largest number of films per year ( 3000 films from Nigeria versus 1000 from India and films per year) does not receive a single Nira from its government. The Indian film industry only began being recognized by its government after critical acclaim at International film festivals like Cannes. The United States film industry receives only a minor subsidy compared to industries like farming and manufacturing in that country.
The point is that it isn’t by complaining about financing that we will build an industry but doing something everyday is the only way to make that a reality. So as we are sit on the brink of New Year, lets make sure that give it a go. Support local films, support local filmmakers. Mostly though to all the filmmakers out there: make movies that people want to see. The question is not what the local film industry can do for you, but what you can do for the local film industry.
That is it from me. Have a wonderful two thousand and great!
By: Scottnes L. Smith
