Studio Joburg opens at Expo Centre!
The Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) is proud to announce the launch of Studio 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 Production Incentive,
and the South African Film and TelevisionProduction and Co-‐Production Incentive, South Africa has become a desirable film location as well as a co-production partner of choice.
The film value chain consists of several support services that are crucial to the completion and success of each film project. These services include set building, painting, catering, wardrobe, design and lighting to name a few
“Each of these support services means several job opportunities for people in the area” Explains Newman.
“In 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.”
Discussions are currently taking place with a film school and broadcaster that could become anchor tenants within the Studio Joburg facility. “The added benefit of this would be the proximity to the potential workforce from Soweto and its surrounds”, explains Newman.
Eddie Mbalo, who joins Newman and his team in this endeavour, is a film and television production expert with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. Mbalo served as the CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) for 10 years, a statutory body within the Ministry of Arts and Culture, dedicated to the promotion and development of the South African film industry. At the 64th Cannes Film Festival, the Hollywood Reporter in association with Agoralumiere International, honoured
Mbalo with an African Vision Award for his 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 on T: (011) 4941920, E: info@expocentre.co.za W: www.expocentre.co.za
