News and Updates
Mannequin Films’ News Blog…
…for the latest in Mannequin news and update feel free to peruse through our weekly updates. All of the below stories are based on researched facts combined with a bit of personal opinion here and there. Our team of creatives go out of their way to keep you coming back for more. Not only will we report back on what’s happening with Mannequin, but we will provide a platform for the latest in international filming news and events. The Mannequin team is here to keep you entertained, so please let us know if there are any specific stories or news headlines, which might have caught your interest. We always appreciate feedback and input and value each and every opinion.
Until then, we sincerely hope you enjoy the read.
The Rise of South African Studios
An article on a 2015 film blog, labelled South Africa as “Hollywood’s other studio” and with recent developments in production facilities offered around the country, it looks definitely looks like the label fits. According to Cape Town Film Studios CEO Nico Dekker, their state of the art production facility is “already booked through next year, and possibly until 2020. It’s remarkable. We’re turning work away again and I never thought that would be possible.” Such is the demand from overseas production companies to film in South Africa. Producers and performers have praised the studio, with actor and author Stephen Fry tweeting that the Cape Town studio made Britain’s famed Pinewood Studios “look v shabby”. The 200-hectare studio has become increasingly popular amongst Hollywood circles, as it duplicates the looks of high-tech block blusters at a much lower cost. For example, Fox’s Chronicle earned close to $130 million worldwide, but cost only $10 million to make. The studio’s latest sound stage is the first in Africa, with a double-stage and movable sound wall. Dekker hopes to continue expansion of the studio In the wake of Cape Town Film Studios success, comes the launch of a filmmaking hub in Johannesburg. Studio Joburg was launched in May this year and hopes to become an “important content and entertainment hub for Gauteng Province”, said Managing Director Eddie Mbalo. The new studio is based at the Joburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, which is very familiar with film production – having served as the venue for TV series Rockville, BBC’s Undercover and Neill Blomkamp’s District 9. “The Expo Centre’s multipurpose facilities includes more than 50 000 square metres of indoor space and double that in versatile outdoor space, as well...
Robert Rodriguez’s Tips for Production Value
Robert Rodriguez. The name behind blockbuster hits such as Desperado, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, and Sin City, it is a name that is synonymous with success in the film industry. But the story of Robert Rodriguez is a rag to riches tale, and a fascinating one at that. At just 23, Rodriguez wrote, directed and produced the now industry famous and record setting cult classic El Mariachi for just US$7000, money that he earned himself from a stint in a research lab as a test subject for cholesterol medication. And lucky for him, his risk paid off. Columbia Pictures loved the finished film so much that they bought the American distribution rights, and El Mariachi went on to bank US$2 million at the box office. How did Rodriguez accomplish such a feat on less than an average Hollywood film’s daily catering budget? As a filmmaker looking to cut costs on your production (without compromising on quality and production value), Rodriguez has three pretty interesting tips for you: Zoom, Don’t Cut Since time is usually your most expensive and limited resource, Rodriguez suggests that you shoot your medium shot of a scene, then zoom in and get your close ups/additional shots from there. This gives the illusion of a whole new set-up, but cuts the time it takes for an actual reset (provided the images are not juxtaposed immediately next to each other in the edit). The less time spent on new setups of course means there will be more time to assure the highest quality is achieved on each setup, which translates directly into higher production...
RSA and Kenya Sign Co-production Treaty
Two years ago at Cannes, South Africa and Kenya signed a MoU and are now working towards taking their film making relationship up yet another notch. During Discop Africa which was held this year in November in the city of Johannesburg, delegations from these two countries were deliberating over how both could reap benefits from a partnership between them and how resources and distribution resources between the two nations could be tapped into. The aim is that both countries can benefit from what the other has to offer. South Africa currently has eight co-production treaties running, but an agreement with Kenya will be the first treaty with another African nation. It’s hoped that this would set in motion greater co-operation between other African nations as well and that it will allow the continent to begin consuming what it produces within itself instead of what comes from abroad. One concern that the delegations addressed was the fear that since South Africa possesses over the continent’s most advanced and developed film industry, that it might create a Big Brother situation, where the more advanced South African industry ends up dominating and controlling their Kenyan counterparts. Terrence Khumalo of the NFVF (National Film and television Foundation) stressed that this would not be the case and that the point is not for the South African industry to impose itself on Kenya, but for South Africa to learn from Kenya instead. Khumalo added that the South African delegation was very taken in by the how successfully Kenya had implemented DTT transitions that opened a plethora of new opportunities for its local content creators, and...
Ozonna – Believe It To See It
Ozonna releases music video shot in South Africa and facilitated by Mannequin Films
Mannequin Films Goes to AFM!
Mannequin Films Goes to AFM to market Victoria Films and other projects.
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