The South African Film Industry’s Reputation for World-Class Production
Prepare the Cameras, We’re Going to Cape Town!
Upon first glance, the futuristic horror series Black Mirror, the movie The Woman King, which is set to be released in 2022, and the feel-good Netflix teenage romantic comedy, The Kissing Booth would appear they do not have very much in common. They are so stereotypically different from one another that it would be difficult to guess what they have in common. Except if the audience members recognize the unbelievable panoramas of streetscapes, rolling hills, and tropical coastal regions – all of which belong to different areas across South Africa.
UCT Campus Was Used as an American School Setting
Production companies from all over the world have made South Africa their top destination for filming due to the country’s affordable rate of production, outstanding artistic talent, and diversified filming locations. Blockbuster movies like “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Invictus” have already been filmed in this country, and their scenes were shot on location on the nation’s roads and sporting venues.
In the movie “The Kissing Booth,” the classes, courtyard, and hallways of the very American LA Country Day High School are filmed on the campus of the University of Cape Town. The stunning Smuts Hall serves as the location for all of these scenes. In this scenario, Victoria Road in Santa Monica, and the Cape Town International Convention Centre is Los Angeles International Airport.
The Rooiplein at Stellenbosch University served as the location for the carnival and legendary kissing booth game which were shot on location for The Kissing Booth 2; Elle’s house is a real private residence in Hout Bay, while Flynn’s residence is an identical villa that Love Island utilized while it was filmed in South Africa; both homes are in Cape Town (before Covid).
The House in the Kissing Booth, Located in Cape Town
In the movie “The Kissing Booth,” Elle lives in a private residence in the Hout Bay neighborhood. However, despite the recent influx of worldwide films, South Africa already possesses a thriving film industry.
Gcobisa Yako, a film director from South Africa, was recently recognized by UNESCO for being one of the winners of its first-ever ‘African Folktales Reimagined short film competition. This is a significant accomplishment considering that only six winners were chosen from the African continent. The winners of this competition will obtain payments from Netflix to generate a short film that featured on the streaming service at the end of the year 2022. This is only one of the several illustrations that demonstrate how South African producing companies are firmly establishing themselves on the world stage.
A report released, titled “The African Film Industry: Challenges and Opportunities for Growth” describes in detail the important contribution that the audio-visual and interactive media sub-sector has made to the Cultural Creative Industries. The report was written by researchers from the University of Cape Town and the University of Johannesburg (CCIs). According to the report, the South African movie industry has “absolutely loved one of the fastest growth rates inside the CCIs, at 5.2%,” and has “seen a substantial rise in local appeal and global recognition in recent times.” The report also notes that the film industry is the primary driver of advertising sales for television companies.
In addition, South Africa’s film industry constitutes nearly $600-750 million to the country’s economy, with $220 million coming from the production of films in other countries. The significance of the sector to the economy of South Africa is further demonstrated by local statistics, which list a predicted contribution of 3.86 billion South African rands for the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
So Where Exactly is the Majority of the Action Taking Place?
The majority of the influential South African film industry players are based in the large cities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town, with the latter being a notably common choice. This is despite the fact that the country’s varied and beautiful natural locations are frequently used as the setting for international film sets.
The Cape Town Film Studios is a shining illustration of a production company that has garnered the attention of audiences all over the world. The Cape Town Film Studios are described as “the first custom-built elevated film studio complex of its kind in Africa, with top-notch support services.” These studios are located just outside the city on the appropriately named Film City Boulevard.
The studio’s options are diverse because it contains several stages and studios, as well as a “multi-themed world” and an American 1950s Motel Set among its various facilities. It was also the setting for the hit Starz television series Black Sails, which was a prelude to the novel Treasure Island written by Robert Louis Stevenson. Black Sails won multiple awards and was a fan favorite.
Even though South Africa’s film industry has been long considered to be a popular choice, a sudden uptick in worldwide attention has further emphasized the advantages of the country’s film industry in the international arena. Idris Elba, a British actor, was recently in South Africa to film the movie “Beast,” which was filmed in our country. Elba has stated that he not only wants to make more movies in South Africa, but he also wants to assist in the growth of the film industry in Africa.
The filmmakers behind “Beast” praised South Africa as an excellent location for shooting movies. Strong is the word to describe South Africa’s film industry. After setting foot in this country, exploring the surrounding area, and gaining an understanding of what South Africa’s film community has to offer, we were confident that we had made the best choice,” said the production companies of The Beast.
One of the many advantages that can be taken advantage of is the low production costs, in addition to the unmatchable settings and cutting-edge facilities. If you find yourself in one of South Africa’s major cities, don’t be shocked if you run into a few well-known actors or actresses. Furthermore, if you need a professional and world-class production company in Cape Town to organize your film shoot production from start to finish, visit this site.