US film location scouts visit landmarks of Mossel Bay
Film location scouts from the United States and people involved in or linked to the film industry in South Africa visited the Garden Route, including Mossel Bay, from 11 to 18 October.
They were hosted by the Garden Route and Little Karoo local tourism offices, including Mossel Bay Tourism.
The film scouts were shown attractive locations in the Garden Route to film movies.
The tour took place in partnership with Locations Africa, the Garden Route District Municipality and the Garden Route Film Commission.
Locations Africa is a private sector initiative focusing on film locations, facilities and skills, which was started in 2015 as an expo and discussion forum.
It aims to position African countries as key filming destinations, equipped with all the necessary elements for production.
Mossel Bay Tourism hosted the filmmakers from the USA and the rest of South Africa, who are active in both local productions and servicing international productions coming into South Africa, the tourism office noted in a statement.
There were representatives present from the Locations Managers Guild International (LMGI), which is a professional organisation of location managers and scouts and affiliated business members, such as film commissions, location services vendors and filming venues. The visitors from abroad and South Africa visited locations in Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness and George.
Mossel Bay Tourism chief operations officer Lieschke Steven-Jennings said: "Film tourism has the potential to be a huge contributor to the local economy, so exposure of our beautiful area through familiarisation trips with key film professionals is vital.”