Video
GEORGE NUUS - Die finale episode van die Ouma Sarie-televisiereeks se sewende seisoen word môre, Vrydag 18 Julie, by Garden Route Media se studio in Paddagat geskiet. Maar, soos Ouma Sarie sou sê, "it wasn't matter," want die span het daarna geen idee wat die toekoms inhou nie.
"Ons wou die mees populêre Afrikaanse televisiereeks wees, en dit het ons reggekry," sê regisseur Viljé Maritz tydens 'n besoek aan hul studio. Ouma Sarie se kontrak met e.tv het na die sesde seisoen gesluit. Die sewende seisoen sal waarskynlik op YouTube vrygestel word.
"Hierdie laaste reeks is geskiet met die hulp van 'n weldoener, wat glo in wat ons doen. Behalwe vir dit was daar geen finansiële hupstootjie van enige ander platform nie."
Beide Maritz en Moses Williams, die skrywer en hoofrolspeler van die reeks, is passievol oor filmwerk in die Tuinroete.
"Ons wil hier bly, ons kinders hier grootmaak. Maar hoe kan ons dit doen sonder ondersteuning van die owerhede?" vra hulle.
Volgens Maritz en Williams sou beter ondersteuning van die munisipaliteite en die Garden Route Film Commission 'n ander prentjie geskets het.
Viljé Maritz (regisseur) en Moses Williams (Ouma Sarie). Foto: Michelle Pienaar
"Beleide moet hersien word en uitgevoer word," sê Maritz.
"Dit is nie regverdig dat ander van buite hier verfilm sonder enige druk om plaaslike akteurs en filmpersoneel by hul produksies in te sluit nie. Daar is geen hulp vir diegene wat in die Tuinroete probeer om die bedryf aan die gang te hou nie. Ons ouens sukkel geweldig baie."
Op stel: Van links is Brutney Singrew (Maryna), Llewellyn Bond (Spyker), Regen Joël (Basil), Janion Kennedy (Drickus) en Mirinda Ntantiso (Ant Sylvia). Voor is Moses Williams as Ouma Sarie. Foto: Michelle Pienaar
VIDEO - Akteurs gesels oor hul ervaring van die 'Ouma Sarie'-verfilmingsproses
Patrick Walton, voorsitter van die Garden Route Film Commission, sê alhoewel finansiering vir 'n televisiereeks buite hulle raamwerk van ondersteuning val, gaan dit bitter swaar met die kommissie nadat die Tuinroete-distriksmunisipaliteit twee maande gelede alle finansiering onttrek het.
Patrick Walton, voorsitter van die Garden Route Film Commission
Film commission seeks funding
Patrick Walton, chair of the Garden Route Film Commission (GRFC), says it's been a struggle to support local industry and filming projects from the get go.
"All funds from the Garden Route District Municipality [GRDM] dried up two months ago after the GRDM cancelled their annual funding of the commission they had assisted to establish some years ago," says Walton, who also spearheaded the International Film Festival that has since been canned due to a lack of funding.
Not a 'funding body'
Marius Wannenburg, producer of the Ouma Sarie TV series and owner of Garden Route Media, claims the GRFC is giving them no financial support.
Marius Wannenburg
However, Walton says the GRFC is not a funding body. "It is there to represent the industry as a whole, which is the sum of all parts. On our limited budget we promote the Garden Route as a district to the international and national film community to persuade them to film in the Garden Route.
"I have to make it clear that we are not the appropriate body to approach for funding regarding a TV series such as Ouma Sarie, but we are nearing a situation where we will have to close our doors, because we don't receive any help on national, provincial or local level.
"All our applications for projects via the district with the national government have been turned down and support from municipalities has been withdrawn, despite our statistics showing a R7m to more recently R40m direct spend in the region, annually, since we started promoting the Garden Route as a film destination. Sadly, this also impacts our training of locals in the Garden Route who have benefitted from working on productions."
Walton shared numerous statements with George Herald that underscore the work they've done to mentor and give exposure to many budding animators, editors, graphic designers, actors, film producers and those finding their feet in the film industry through skills training, local talent development and connections with more established companies.
District municipality's injection
The GRDM's head of communications, Herman Pieters, says to date, the municipality has contributed R1.145m over a six-year period to support the GRFC's operations.
"This funding has primarily been used to assist the commission in promoting the Garden Route District as a film-ready and film-friendly destination," says Pieters.
"It is important to note that the GRFC is governed by a voluntary board of directors. These individuals dedicate their time to key functions of the commission, including marketing, training, supplier database management, film permitting, and more. The commission operates independently, guided by its own constitution and responsible for appointing its own board members.
"From a historical perspective, the GRFC was established by private sector stakeholders as a direct outcome of the district film strategy; a process initiated and adopted by the GRDM Council in 2017."
Pieters says for several years, the GRDM has remained the primary and often sole funder of the commission, resulting in a very limited operating budget.
George Municipality in supporting role
Tourism Manager Joan Shaw says the George Municipality recognises the film industry as a driver of revenue and job creation.
"However, like all industries, its growth should be led by the private sector, with the municipality providing support and an enabling environment for success," says Shaw.
She points out that the George Municipality has an active film permitting system that encourages the use of local suppliers and talent. "The tourism office has established a film supplier database, and regularly sends out calls for local talent and extras for productions filmed in the area," she says.
Tourism Manager Joan Shaw
"A great example is Juffrou X, filmed for kykNET by Meerfout Films. The production made use of local catering, accommodation and technical services, and several local actors and extras featured in the show. It was filmed at a local school, bringing valuable film revenue into the community. George Tourism also co-hosted a local premiere to celebrate the talent involved and highlight the jobs created.
"The recent Die Brug series by Red Pepper Films also made use of the municipality's co-ordination services to access local suppliers, further supporting the local film industry.
"We've also completed a digital film brochure (now in final proofing) and listed 20 local locations on the FilmSet Locations website to promote George as a filming destination."
- Local talent and suppliers who wish to register on the database may email film@visitgeorge.co.za or contact Heloine Crowley at the George Tourism office.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
