Nelson Mandela Bay elects film committee

Nelson Mandela Bay’s world class beaches, the area’s tranquil surroundings and wildlife that have been a draw card to tourists; have now begun to attract a new industry to the city. Film is a robust industry that has seen a global boom. Accordingly, film has been prioritised by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as a key component of its focus on the creative industries. The municipality has seen film as a means to inject growth to the local economy; and create jobs in the extended value chain of the industry.   To mark a significant step towards the development and promotion of film in Nelson Mandela Bay, the municipality convened a workshop to discuss the development of the industry on 29 January 2009. National Film and Video Foundation CEO Eddie Mbalo, Eastern Cape Film Office Manager Vuyisile Zukelwa, and representative from the Cape Town Film Commission, Linton Rensburg of the Cape Town Film Commission, were some of the guests that pledged their support to the initiative. In his welcoming speech, the municipality’s portfolio chairperson for recreation and culture Mike Kwenaite challenged representatives of the local film industry and said:  “Political and administrative leadership, as well as the private sector support is needed in order for this initiative to be fruitful.” “The election of the interim film committee is a positive step taken by the local industry,” said Glenn Meyer, a photography lecturer at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Meyer also attended the workshop. The newly-elected film committee has been tasked to implement a number of recommendations brought forward that will ensure the Bay’s competitive position in the industry. These included: •   Establishing a formal structure that will develop the film industry into a competitive sector in the local economy; •   Developing a tunnel vision to establish the scope the industry in the country; •   Developing a short-to-long term strategy;   •   Ensuring that film interventions are supported by political and administrative champions, as well as the private sector; •   Identifying means to gather equipment that is required by local and international production crews; •   Transferring skills to previously disadvantaged peoples and communities; •   Launching an interactive website which will be a platform for contributing information and suggestions; and •   Setting up of a research team that will assess other successful case studies in other areas.   In support of the new venture, Rensburg outlined some critical steps the Bay film industry could follow to ensure success. “Promoting the area as a film and commercial destination to the national and international industry; as well as ensuring that there is adequate infrastructure and appropriate skills to support production crews are fundamental for a successful industry.” Rensburg also cautioned that Nelson Mandela Bay should use the FIFA 2010 World Cup as a springboard to generate interest about the area, especially with international visitors. On the other hand, Mbalo said; “In South Africa, film has lost its expression of culture and has become nothing more than an economic activity.” He advised that Nelson Mandela Bay and the province at large should see this as an opportunity to tell their own stories through film since past and present political icons, famous South African artists and musicians hail from this part of the country.

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