Studioย Joburgย opensย atย Expoย Centre!
Theย Johannesburgย Expoย Centreย (JEC)ย isย proudย toย announceย theย launchย ofย Studioย Joburg, a fully -fledges fil and television content hub.
Based at the JEC, Studio Joburg is the result of a collaboration between the owners of the Centre and a consortium of leading film practitioners. “We believe that this new development will provide a top class facility for the production of content within the film industry.” explains Craig Newman, JEC CEO. “It will also be an important development for the people of Soweto and the surrounding areas in term of job creation and skills development.”
For many years, South Africa has been a popular destination for the production of filmed content for the US and Europe. Since the creayion of the DTI’s Location Film and Television Productionย Incentive,
andย theย Southย Africanย Filmย andย TelevisionProductionย andย Co-ยญโProductionย Incentive,ย Southย Africa has become a desirable film location as well as a co-production partner of choice.
Theย filmย valueย chainย consistsย ofย severalย supportย servicesย thatย areย crucialย toย the completion and success of each film project. These services include set building, painting, catering, wardrobe, design and lighting to name a few
โEachย ofย theseย supportย servicesย meansย severalย job opportunities for people in the area” Explains Newman.
โInย other words, this venture will mean skills development, job creation and investment into the south of Johannesburg. People living in Soweto and the surrounding areas will also be able to work closer to home.”
Discussionsย areย currently taking place with a film school and broadcaster that could become anchorย tenants within the Studio Joburg facility. “The added benefit of this wouldย be the proximity to the potential workforce from Soweto and its surrounds”, explains Newman.
Eddie Mbalo, who joins Newman andย his team in this endeavour, is a film and television productionย expert with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. Mbaloย served as the CEO of the National Film andย Videoย Foundationย (NFVF) for 10 years, a statutory body within the Ministry of Arts and Culture, dedicated toย the promotion and development of the South African film industry. At the 64th Cannes Film Festival, the Hollywood Reporter in association withย Agoralumiereย International,ย honoured
Mbaloย withย anย Africanย Visionย Awardย forย hisย role as a creative defender of African Cinema.
Joburg Studio is set to take the South African film industry to the next level.
Contact the JEC onย T:ย (011)ย 4941920,ย E:ย info@expocentre.co.zaย W:ย www.expocentre.co.za
