GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - The Draft Garden Route Film Policy Framework, compiled by the Garden Route Film Commission (GRFC), was unanimously approved by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) council on Tuesday 25 May.
The key objectives of the Film Policy Framework are to promote the district as a favourable destination for film productions, increase investment in film, attract foreign producers and promote the unique characteristics of the Garden Route film industry.
According to GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen, the Draft Garden Route Film Policy Framework is the cornerstone required for a coordinated film industry and for accurate statistics of film production in the Garden Route district to be collated.
"This framework will make this region a film-ready and film-friendly region, promote job creation and ultimately create a conducive environment for emerging artists and skilled suppliers to operate in the region."
Patrick Walton, chair of the GRFC board, says the Garden Route Film Commission took a number of key considerations into account when they adapted the policy, transforming the existing one.
"The Garden Route is a unique environment that offers ancient forests, semi-desert, mountain passes, roads, bridges, wide open beaches via a chain of lagoons, mountains and preserved sections of fynbos, a fascinating and enchanting mix of locations, a filmmaker's dream.
"We anticipate that the policy combined with the central online permit and location system we have built, will serve to reduce the turnaround time on permits. This is a major step forward in attracting filmmakers to the Garden Route," Walton says.
The Garden Route has hosted productions for The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Black Sails, Temptation Island, Love Island, and several BBC and German documentaries.
The Garden Route Film Commission is a vital one-stop service entry point for local and international productions coming to the Garden Route. Services include permitting, crew, gear, locations, transport and accommodation, catering for services and suppliers in the Garden Route to encourage filmmakers to spend more of their budgets locally.
Suppliers only need to register on the website and complete their details to become a member of the film commission.
"We also bring our expertise to the youth by offering training programmes in media and film to see our local youth and emerging filmmakers participate in incoming productions," says Walton.
The Garden Route has hosted productions for The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Black Sails, Temptation Island, Love Island, and several BBC and German documentaries, such as Terra X, to name but a few.
In addition, local productions include Ultimate Braaimaaster, Toorbos and Fiela se Kind. The cost for US reality television can run up to R2-million per episode. Each episode is a three-day shoot, excluding pre-and post-production. Walton says the new Film Policy Framework will open doors to create endless possibilities.
GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen
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