South Africa

I just returned from a 12 day trip to South Africa. Se te deziem fwa mwen ale an Afrik Di Sid e mwen byen amize’m. Last year, I was commissioned by the South African Government, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Association for Transformation in Film and Television, to train their filmmakers on navigating the American Film Market. In that capacity, every year, I present comprehensive instructional seminars in major South African cities (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth).

Durban, South Africa.

Durban, South Africa

 

Cape Town, South Africa

 

Something must've been hilarious. Cape Town, South Africa.

During my seminars, I teach filmmakers how to navigate the American Film Market, how to digest and understand distribution and sales agreement, how to pitch to executives with limited time, how to attract investors, the numerous pitfalls of co-productions with companies overseas, and I give an overview of the city Los Angeles in all of its glory. Each seminar lasts approximately 6 hours. Following the seminars, my Melange Media team and I mentor the filmmakers throughout the annual AFM, which includes coordinating and managing the group’s AFM office in Los Angeles and throwing parties on its behalf. We work closely with the South African Consul General to organize intimate dinner parties for the group at the Consul’s private estate.

A few things I learned about the South African film market that I would like to share with you:

• Sineas Afrik Di Sid ap cheche ko-prodiksyon ak lot nasyon. Yo byen prepare, yo gen bel ekipman moden e yo gen sipo gouvnman tou (ki  tre enpotan), anpil rabe ak “incentives” pou fim. Yo ta renmen fe fim ak peyi tankou Ayiti.
  
  
  Sineas Afrik Di Sid ap cheche travay avek akte nan lot peyi. Yo renmen entrodwi akte lot nasyon nan fim yo. Li enpotan ke akte a pale angle.
    
  
  Gouvenman Afrik Di Sid ap cheche ede Sineas Afrik Di Sid ki gen koule nwa. Se paske peyi-a pase anpil tan anba mize apated, kidonk kounye-a, yo vle dedomaje ras nwa kite soufri anpil avan liberasyon peyi-a an 1994.
  
  
  
  
  Afrik Di Sid gen anpil zon ki ka bay bon jan vale a prodiksyon. Pa egzanp, gen de fim Bollywood ke yo fe an Afrik Di Sid, paske gen zon ki sanble tet koupe ak Lend, e gen yon gro popilasyon endien nan zon nan. Gen lot zon avek anpil zanimo (Elefan, jiraf etc.), e bel plaj, bel mon. 
  
  
  Afrik Di Sid gen anpil respe pou Ayiti. Tout kote’m pase, depi mwen di mwen se Ayisyen, tout chapo bese, tout respe monte. Moun sou moun ap di’m jan Ayiti se yon peyi djanm, avek yon istwa enconparab.
  
  
  The South African filmmakers, led by Mayenzeke Baza and Pascal Schmitz, will be in Los Angeles to attend AFM from November 5^th to November 12^th. The office is room 316 of the Loews in Santa Monica and the South African stand is on the 8^th floor. I will be there every day with my crew. Stop by, say hello, let’s work together!!