Snipes launches local film school

AN opportunity for formal training in the film industry was the farewell gift from the makers of the Hollywood movie ‘Gallowwalker’ and its star, Wesley Snipes.

Filming of the movie in the Namib Desert has wrapped up and the cast and crew have departed, but not before launching Namibia’s first On-set Film Training project (Noft) in Swakopmund just before Christmas. The main idea is to establish a basis to provide on-set training in film making to Namibians, said Moses Mberira, National Co-ordinator for Noft.Snipes, who plays the lead character, Aman, was overwhelmed with joy when the idea was put to him, and volunteered to be patron of the project, said Mberira.The film industry is rapidly growing in Namibia, he said, therefore the aim is now to equip locals with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet international production standards.At the official launch of the project, Snipes said the popularity of Namibia as location for international films is an opportunity to refute the myths about Africa.As an African-American, he insisted on giving an opportunity to as many locals as possible in the making of ‘Gallowwalker’.”The industry can help to return the African culture to Africa.You have a very young country; at 16 years you can’t even apply for a driver’s licence yet,” he quipped, “but you have a wonderful future – also in the film industry.”The project is envisaged to become a National Film Academy which will emphasise the involvement of previously disadvantaged local and rural communities.It will also be the basis for an independent local film/video house to provide various requirements such as locations, characters and historical items and sites.The project will run under the auspices of the Erongo Regional Governor Samuel Nuuyoma, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Film Commission of Namibia and the Pan African Centre of Namibia (Pacon).’Gallowwalker’ producer Joanne Reay said they were delighted with the active way in which Namibians contributed to the success of the movie, especially the five local trainees who worked on the set.”This is how we want to thank Namibia for the use of a fantastic location.We intend to return to Namibia for future productions and we’re confident that this training programme will flourish.”She said training should be a life-long process and therefore the project will not be exclusively for young people.”If … this project is not a milestone, … I will not know what is…”Governor Nuuyoma said.Namibians don’t romanticise the concept of training, because they know what it means to be deprived of training, he added.Namibian people are unhappy that they do not hold the reins of the budding multi-million dollar film industry in the country and they often complain about foreign personnel and equipment being used when movies are filmed in Namibia, he said.”My question is: would the foreign film personnel have that upper hand if they did not have the necessary training in on-set film production?” Without such hands-on training and practical experience, the controlling reins of the film industry will always evade Namibians, the Governor said.Although he doesn’t have a problem with Western films per se, Nuuyoma said, films are an expression of people’s cultures and beliefs.”Our films must tell the story of our glorious past, … liberation struggle … and the natural beauty of Namibia.”The formulation of a policy and curriculum for Noft will start soon, according to Mberira.The main idea is to establish a basis to provide on-set training in film making to Namibians, said Moses Mberira, National Co-ordinator for Noft.Snipes, who plays the lead character, Aman, was overwhelmed with joy when the idea was put to him, and volunteered to be patron of the project, said Mberira.The film industry is rapidly growing in Namibia, he said, therefore the aim is now to equip locals with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet international production standards.At the official launch of the project, Snipes said the popularity of Namibia as location for international films is an opportunity to refute the myths about Africa.As an African-American, he insisted on giving an opportunity to as many locals as possible in the making of ‘Gallowwalker’.”The industry can help to return the African culture to Africa.You have a very young country; at 16 years you can’t even apply for a driver’s licence yet,” he quipped, “but you have a wonderful future – also in the film industry.”The project is envisaged to become a National Film Academy which will emphasise the involvement of previously disadvantaged local and rural communities.It will also be the basis for an independent local film/video house to provide various requirements such as locations, characters and historical items and sites.The project will run under the auspices of the Erongo Regional Governor Samuel Nuuyoma, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Film Commission of Namibia and the Pan African Centre of Namibia (Pacon).’Gallowwalker’ producer Joanne Reay said they were delighted with the active way in which Namibians contributed to the success of the movie, especially the five local trainees who worked on the set.”This is how we want to thank Namibia for the use of a fantastic location.We intend to return to Namibia for future productions and we’re confident that this training programme will flourish.”She said training should be a life-long process and therefore the project will not be exclusively for young people.”If … this project is not a milestone, … I will not know what is…”Governor Nuuyoma said.Namibians don’t romanticise the concept of training, because they know what it means to be deprived of training, he added.Namibian people are unhappy that they do not hold the reins of the budding multi-million dollar film industry in the country and they often complain about foreign personnel and equipment being used when movies are filmed in Namibia, he said.”My question is: would the foreign film personnel have that upper hand if they did not have the necessary training in on-set film production?” Without such hands-on training and practical experience, the controlling reins of the film industry will always evade Namibians, the Governor said.Although he doesn’t have a problem with Western films per se, Nuuyoma said, films are an expression of people’s cultures and beliefs.”Our films must tell the story of our glorious past, … liberation struggle … and the natural beauty of Namibia.”The formulation of a policy and curriculum for Noft will start soon, according to Mberira.