South Africa is far away from most other international film hubs. And yet, annually,

producers, crews and talent from around the world make long journeys to the tip of Africa to film their productions. So what is it that draws them in?

“In 2017, I produced a mini drama series in South Africa. The series is called Liberty and

is produced for DR, the Public Service Television Broadcaster in Denmark. The series contains five hours of fiction, all shot in SA. I spent more than 20 weeks in South Africa,” says Karoline Leth, a Danish producer, whose work was supported in South Africa by Stage 5 Films. “My experience was life changing in the very best way. I think our journey of making

Liberty consists of highlights. Working late nights and early mornings; I’m also thinking of the landscapes of South Africa – all our wonderful locations that added so much into both the characters and the story of our TV series. I felt like I’ve found my best partners ever on another continent of the world. This is special, and I know it because I’ve filmed in

many parts of the world.”This might seem like one

person’s individual opinion, or a shoutout to one company, but testimonials from internationals who work in South Africa always sound equally glowing. “The crew over there are extraordinary,” says Jodie Whittaker, the current lead on BBC’s Doctor Who, which filmed in Cape Town in late 2018. “We were so well looked after.”

Doctor Who © Coco Van Oppens (BBC Studios 2018)

THE SOUTH AFRICAN FILM SERVICE

SUCCESS STORYNatasha Skoryk investigates the resounding appeal of South Africa as one of the world’s leading film service destinations.

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SOME OF THE WORLD’S TOP TALENTSouth Africa is home to many of the world’s top creatives – both in terms of on-screen and off-screen talent. South African actors, from Charlize Theron to John Kani, have stormed Hollywood over the past few decades, and increasingly, the behind-the-scenes talent is also being recognised for their incredible contributions to the industry. This is one of the major reasons producers from every corner of the globe flock to this country. South Africans have won awards at every level of the industry, and at pretty much every award show –

including the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards. “The South African film industry’s entering a bit of a golden period,” says Chris Symes, the Executive Producer on the now completed Black Sails. And, with the range of productions choosing to find a home in South Africa, this certainly appears to be true.

ALL ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINEDespite the focus on creative fulfilment, filmmaking is a business just like any other, and for many in it, the focus has to remain on the financial bottom line. South Africa

is an extremely appealing destination for keeping costs down. Firstly, this is because the local currency is weak. This means that keeping costs down for international productions is very simple. But there’s more good news. The South African government has been pushing to develop the local film industry, and as such has put a number of policies in place intended to drive international business into the country.

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has a number of incentive packages to attract international filmmakers. Since 2018, they’ve restructured their rebates in order to

develop the local industry while still bringing in service work. That said, a foreign production shooting on location in South Africa, will receive a rebate of up to 25% of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure (QSAPE), with a cap of R50 million. The only condition is that they spend at least R15 million (US$1.04 million) in the country. If the foreign producers collaborate with local companies, the amount of the rebate increases… While the QSAPE decreases! In short, there are major financial benefits to shooting in this beautiful country.

Black Sails shot four seasons in Cape Town

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Contact Ilse: ilse@q-studios.co.za

SOUTH AFRICAN RANDS (ZAR) US DOLLAR (USD) EURO (EUR) CHINESE YUAN (CNY) GREAT BRITISH

POUND (GBP)50 3.46 3.08 23.18 2.64

Disclaimer: These figures were correct as of March 2019, but are subject to change.

SA actor John Kani was in several Marvel films © Marvel Studios

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A WORLD IN ONE COUNTRYNo matter the type of landscape you’re after, South Africa can deliver it. The Western Cape can double up as pretty much any continent on the planet. From the South of France in the Winelands, to the Middle East in the Cape Town city centre, and the Caribbean on its sprawling, sandy beaches,

international producers can find absolutely any setting in this one province. There’s a reason TV shows like Doctor Who, Warrior, Black Mirror, Outlander and many others have all chosen to film in the Western Cape in the last year or so. The only real issue with shooting in the Western Cape is related to the costs. Producers have

noted that costs continue rising, and if that trend persists, they may look to greener pastures.

But Gauteng – home to the country’s executive capital, Pretoria, and the financial hub of Johannesburg – is also a diverse and interesting destination. Better still, it is a far more affordable destination for service work, due to not

being as in demand as it’s neighbour further south. And, just as with other parts of the country, the region can accommodate a range of landscapes. “We’ve got a very safe option for Africa,” says Deon du Preez, an award-winning location scout working locally. This can include the cityscapes and township scenes of Johannesburg itself, as well as nature reserves just outside the city.

But it’s possible to get far more creative in Gauteng. Deon loves a riverbank called Aloe Ridge for its diversity. “On the one side of the river you can shoot African landscapes with rhinos and game and everything else,” he explains. “Then you turn your camera the other way and you climb onto a river and you can be anywhere in Vietnam.” Aloe Ridge has come in particularly handy for military-themed movies. The Salvation, a 2014 Danish film starring Mads Mikkelsen and Eva Green, dressed up a farm on the outskirts of Joburg as frontier country at the height of American expansionism. “It looked amazing,” Deon recalls. “They built full villages out there.” That sort of scale and local professionals’ willingness to co-operate is tough to find anywhere else in the world.

Outlander © Casey Crafford (2017 Starz Entertainment, LLC)

Warrior © Graham Bartholowmew (Cinemax 2018).

Outlander Season 3 was shot at CTFS.

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KwaZulu-Natal is another burgeoning filmmaking destination. Its quick rise to prominence is spearheaded by a proactive and Film Commission. “There is a range of unique unspoiled never-filmed-before locations,” says Carol Coetzee, CEO of KZN Film Commission. And yet, despite the unique feel of many of the landscapes here, it is incredibly easy to get to KwaZulu-Natal and to it surrounds.

Chris Chibnall, the showrunner of Doctor Who, says it was South Africa’s locations that appealed to him most intensely: “We created a couple of different worlds in South Africa; we went there because there’s a different sort of scale, different types of landscapes. So just variety, really. It looks amazing.” His star, Jodie, agrees: “Just the elements and nature and the epic landscape serving the story was great; they made our job a lot easier.”

SHOOT ALL YEAR ROUNDThe South African climate varies from region to region. It’s a large country – the 25th largest in the world, in fact – at 1.22 million km². Such variation is, therefore, to be expected. But whether you’re looking at the Mediterranean climate

of the Western Cape or the subtropical climate of KwaZulu-Natal, it’s possible to shoot in South Africa all year round.

“We regularly come to South Africa and predominantly Cape Town. They consistently seem to have good weather,” marvels Mark Whittow-Williams of Academy Films. There’s no point during the year that shooting here is impossible, and this is demonstrated by the fact that Cape Town Film Studios is booked out year round for several years ahead.

In the Western Cape,

discussions around ‘the season’ tend to centre on summer months (November-March). That doesn’t mean shooting doesn’t take place in the South African winter. In fact, shooting ‘off-season’ can be a way for budget-sensitive internationals to keep their costs down while taking advantage of the things that make South Africa endlessly appealing.

EXCELLENT FILM STUDIOSCape Town Film Studios has received international acclaim, with Kate Breyda, the Senior

Vice-President of Phsysical Production at Warner Bros., going so far as to say: “In terms of technology, South Africa is actually ahead of the curve in many respects. Those sound stages at Cape Town Film Studios are incredibly advanced, and beyond anything I have seen before.”

This massive studio complex on the outskirts of Cape Town has hosted a number of big-budget, Hollywood productions – including Tomb Raider, Doctor Who and Good Omens – but has facilities for smaller-scale productions and commercial work as well. Its backlot features a permanent medieval set, and its pirate ship has featured on both Black Sails and Outlander. These advantages are, no doubt, the reason their facilities are fully booked until well past 2020, so the complex is not particularly suited to last-minute, fast turnaround or low-budget shoots.

There are a number of smaller studios around Cape Town and Johannesburg which are rising in popularity, and which can accommodate international productions which are more pressed for time.

Doctor Who © Sophie Mutevelian (BBC Studios)

Good Omens was shot in SA recently.

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EASY ACCESSWhile getting to the bottom of Africa may appear to be a daunting prospect, South Africa is incredibly connected to the rest of the world. Getting here is a breeze, especially for British and European producers, who are in almost the same time zone (South Africa is GMT+2). “One sleep on the plane and you are there,” notes Mark excitedly.

There are three major international airports in South Africa: O.R. Tambo in Johannesburg, King Shaka International in Durban, and Cape Town International Airport. Collectively, they service destinations the world over. The following airlines fly to South Africa:• Air China • Air France • Air Mauritius • Alitalia • British Airways • Cathay Pacific • Delta • EgyptAir • EL AL Israel Airlines • Emirates • Ethiopian Airlines • Etihad Airways • Iberia • Kenya Airways • KLM • Lufthansa • Qantas • Qatar Airways • RwandAir • Saudia • Singapore Airlines • South African Airways • SWISS Airlines• Turkish Airlines • United • Virgin Atlantic

Within South Africa itself, the infrastructure tends to be world-class. There are excellent road networks, good cellular coverage, and fantastic amenities. International guests can expect a top-notch hospitality industry, delectable cuisine, and helpful staff. After all, aside from being a popular filmmaking destination, South Africa regularly features on travel destination roundups.

It’s an excellent place to visit, whether for work, for pleasure, or indeed for a combination of the above. In short, not only is it easy to arrive in South Africa, but once you’re here, the stay tends to be a smooth one.

David Gyasi in Troy Fall of a City (2018) © BBC Studios

Johnny Knoxville in Action Point (2018)

Kate Beckinsale in The Widow © Coco Van Oppens

• The Widow• Warrior• Doctor Who• Maze Runner: The

Death Cure• The Kissing Booth• Origin• Black Mirror• Samson The Movie• Good Omens• Bloodshot• Monster Hunter• The Maze

RECENT PRODUCTIONS FILMED IN SOUTH AFRICA:

SOUTH AFRICA IS AN EXTREMELY APPEALING DESTINATION FOR KEEPING COSTS DOWN.