Among those who express their worries, MPHO Tau, a seasoned filmmaker and film tones are located in Bloemfontein, who says that local artists continue to struggle due to a lack of investment and exposure.
Tau has been in industry for more than ten years and worked on acclaimed productions such as Isidingo (SABC 3) and Big Brother. He now runs his own production company, 1976 films, which he founded five years ago.
The free state is left behind
Despite his experience and efforts to tell authentic stories from the free state, Tau says that the province lags behind others, such as Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, when it comes to supporting the creative sector.
“If you look at the Free State film and television landscape, it is not as great as Gauteng, so chances are limited. So as a result we are not exposed to filmmakers who make work in the free state. As a result, we are struggling,” Tau said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dswjva30hni
“There are not many works. I currently do not know any (show) that is freely state -oriented, which is broadcast on television. As a result, we regulate because our work is not exposed.”
Tau urged the provincial Ministry of Sport, Art, Culture and Recreation – as well as the Ministry of Tourism – to become more intentional in cherishing the local film industry. He pointed to the approach of the eastern cape of the television series Qqeberha: the story As a good example of cooperation between the government that had a significant impact.
“The Eastern Cape was deliberately about their film industry. Qqeberha: the story Came on board, the provincial government put money in it and let people train local talent; They built a studio, created a story and invested money in it. The majority of people who were part of the cast in the second season were young people from the Eastern Cape. “
Through the Films Company from 1976, Tau made documentaries that show the lives of ordinary residents of the Free State, including a focus on a blind radio presenter who is also a university student, who emphasizes stories about resilience and the experiences of people with disabilities.
Tau takes talent through open auditions and sometimes goes to communities to find individuals whose stories are worth telling.
However, the production costs remain a big barrier. “Financially it takes a lot to make a good film,” he said. “If I got R40,000 from R80,000, I could make a film,” Tau said, and noted that this budget is relatively small in the industry.
“That money is not for a well -known or experienced producer.”
OFM
www.ofm.co.za
