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 Dark Tower unveils the versatility of South African film locations
With the film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower soon to be released in local cinemas, audiences from around the world will get another opportunity to see some of South Africa’s unique and captivating film locations. The Dark Tower is a science-fiction film that depicts gunslinger Idris Elba going head-to-head with Matthew McConaughey, the infamous Man in Black. The film presents two contrasting environments, present-day New York, and a barren wasteland that forms part of another dimension, called the Mid-World. The South African leg of production was based in Cape Town, with the filmmakers making use of its surrounding areas to create the Mid-World. The production made use of the arid, semi-desert areas of the Tankwa Karoo National Park, the mesmerising rock formations of the Cederberg mountain range, and the beautiful Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga. Other locations included Athlone Stadium and Rawsonville, a small farming and wine growing community 120km outside of Cape Town, in which the set for the Manni Village was built. Production Designer, Christopher Glass, described some of South Africa’s desert locations as “almost like being on Mars. The horizon just kept going; I’ve never seen anything like that before. I think that there’s a romance and a certain sense of adventure that goes into filming in Africa.” The film is not the first science-fiction or action film to utilise our shores, as previous examples include The Giver, Dredd, Safe House, Eye in the Sky, Chronicle, District 9 and 10,000 BC. Recent productions such as Mad Max: Fury Road, as well as the reboots of The Mummy and Tomb Raider, have made use of...
Amazon Studios Moves into Self-Distribution
In recent years the world of theatrical distribution has been challenged by the colossal presence of online platforms such as Amazon Studios and Netflix. But after a number of successful acquisitions, including Amazon’s Academy Award-winning Manchester by the Sea, there has been a much-anticipated move to in-house production from Amazon Studios and Netflix. Woody Allen, who has already partnered with Amazon Studios on his previous two films for distribution, has now partnered solely with the streaming giant for his upcoming film, Wonder Wheel, starring Justin Timberlake and Kate Winslet. Previously, Amazon Studios partnered with recognised distributors Lionsgate, Magnolia Pictures and Roadside Attractions, but Allen’s film signifies the intent of Amazon Studios to become an entirely self-sufficient production company. Amazon Studios has been particularly welcoming to the maverick director, who demands total creative freedom on his projects, stating, “when I make a film, I like the people backing the film, sometimes the studios, to put the money in a brown paper bag and then go away. And then six months later I give them the film. That’s the way I’ve always been able to work, having complete control of every aspect of the film.” Allen’s sentiments echo that of director Bong-Joon Ho, who lauded the merits of releasing his latest film, Okja, on Netflix at the end of June. “Netflix guaranteed my complete freedom in terms of putting together my team and the final cut privilege, which only godlike filmmakers such as Spielberg get,” he said. The creative license, along with the reduced pressure of not having to worry about opening weekend box office receipts, has resulted in both streaming...
Neil Blomkamp Ventures into the Online Sphere
Neill Blomkamp is once again blazing a new trail in the film industry. It has been nearly eight years since Blomkamp revitalised the science-fiction genre with District 9, and now he is seeking to reach audiences directly by releasing his latest series of short films online. The series of shorts are a product of Blomkamp’s new experimental incubator, Oats Studios. After completing three feature films within the last decade, Blomkamp felt the need for a creative space where a variety of ideas could be explored and produced, with the added benefit of having instant audience interaction that would allow him to see which ideas prove popular. If there is considerable interest in a particular short film, the story world could be developed further into a feature length film. The idea behind Oats Studios was to house the entire production process, from post-production and visual effects to production design and legal work, all under one roof. The incubator has been running for the past two years, employing approximately 35 people on a daily basis. Although Blomkamp intends to return to making feature films in the near future, having already signed on to direct an adaptation of The Gone World, he has also stressed the need for having alternative outlets for his creativity. “That’s where the thing with Oats is interesting. It’s this place where you can go from making massive films like ‘The Gone World’, which are traditional in the sense that they are released to theatres. But I wanted the other 50 percent of my life to be a creative sandbox, and see how those two things interact with...Mannequin @ Cannes 2017
We are excited to announce that Mannequin Films will be at Cannes 2017! We will be forming part of the Marche du Film market, spreading the word of the great benefits of filming in South Africa. Besides the weather, filming in South Africa is financially the smarter choice as there are many benefits awarded by the Department of Trade and Industries (DTi). If you would like to know more about these, come visit us at our stand: Mannequin Office 19 – 03 Level 01 Palais des Festival Cannes Film Festival There are many great films showing at Cannes this year, among them is the controversial Okja, Sophia Coppola’s The Beguiled and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, all of which we are so excited to see. We’re especially looking forward to the Cannes Classics section, which will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Cannes Festival, with features such as All That Jazz and El Sol del Membrillo. See you all there for a magical few weeks of...
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...
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