Artists want a say in film industry

THE Oruuano Artists Union of Namibia has sent a petition to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, demanding an independent investigation into the film industry in Namibia.

They want the Minister to consider their grievances and to find a solution before any new filming is permitted in Namibia. A seat on the Film Commission of Namibia is among the union’s demands.The union lists 18 points of concern dealing with topics ranging from how Namibians working in the industry are treated, how permits are issued, which regulations apply to foreign film companies working in the country, types of work contracts, taxation of Namibian film workers and the legitimacy of the Filmmakers Association of Namibia (FAN).The union maintains that there is no law regulating the film industry, but the Namibian Film Commission Act was enacted in April 2000.The objectives of the Film Commission are to promote Namibia as a film location among international producers, to promote the local film and video industry, and to encourage the use of Namibian personnel when filming in the country.The Act has since been amended, allowing the Film Commission to consist of five people.Three of the commissioners are from Government, and the remaining two from a body recognised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.Currently that body is FAN.The petition demands that an independent commission be set up to investigate the state of affairs in the local film industry and to advise Government on how it should be run.Oruuano secretary general Vincent Mwemba signed the document along with president Banana Shekupe.A meeting between Oruuano and FAN was scheduled for last week, but Mwemba said the union would not attend it because of recent newspaper articles on the issue.Meanwhile, FAN spokesperson Dudley Viall says the filmmakers have no knowledge of the petition.Remarking that FAN board members had tried to meet with Oruuano on Monday and Tuesday with no success, he said: “They no longer wish to talk to us.”However, he was able to reply to some concerns raised in the petition regarding reported mistreatment of Namibians involved in the recent ‘Generation Kill’ television production.Viall praised FAN chairman Abius Akwaake for taking immediate action and sorting out the problems within 14 hours.He said the likely cause of South African authorities’ rejection of Namibian film workers on that project was late application for permits.Edwin Kanguatjivi, Executive Secretary of the Film Commission of Namibia, said since the petition was not addressed to the commission, it was not their place to respond, but added that if they chose to, they had responses to every point listed.The petition was received by the Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Raphael Dinyando, on Wednesday, as the minister was away last week.He said they would study it, particularly in relation to a ministerial conference held last year to discuss the film industry.A seat on the Film Commission of Namibia is among the union’s demands.The union lists 18 points of concern dealing with topics ranging from how Namibians working in the industry are treated, how permits are issued, which regulations apply to foreign film companies working in the country, types of work contracts, taxation of Namibian film workers and the legitimacy of the Filmmakers Association of Namibia (FAN).The union maintains that there is no law regulating the film industry, but the Namibian Film Commission Act was enacted in April 2000.The objectives of the Film Commission are to promote Namibia as a film location among international producers, to promote the local film and video industry, and to encourage the use of Namibian personnel when filming in the country.The Act has since been amended, allowing the Film Commission to consist of five people.Three of the commissioners are from Government, and the remaining two from a body recognised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.Currently that body is FAN. The petition demands that an independent commission be set up to investigate the state of affairs in the local film industry and to advise Government on how it should be run.Oruuano secretary general Vincent Mwemba signed the document along with president Banana Shekupe.A meeting between Oruuano and FAN was scheduled for last week, but Mwemba said the union would not attend it because of recent newspaper articles on the issue.Meanwhile, FAN spokesperson Dudley Viall says the filmmakers have no knowledge of the petition.Remarking that FAN board members had tried to meet with Oruuano on Monday and Tuesday with no success, he said: “They no longer wish to talk to us.”However, he was able to reply to some concerns raised in the petition regarding reported mistreatment of Namibians involved in the recent ‘Generation Kill’ television production.Viall praised FAN chairman Abius Akwaake for taking immediate action and sorting out the problems within 14 hours.He said the likely cause of South African authorities’ rejection of Namibian film workers on that project was late application for permits.Edwin Kanguatjivi, Executive Secretary of the Film Commission of Namibia, said since the petition was not addressed to the commission, it was not their place to respond, but added that if they chose to, they had responses to every point listed.The petition was received by the Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Raphael Dinyando, on Wednesday, as the minister was away last week.He said they would study it, particularly in relation to a ministerial conference held last year to discuss the film industry.