Film industry sharks are the top feeders
The programme submission process of the SABC favours well-established, well-resourced production houses. The process is tedious and leaves young filmmakers from previously disadvantaged backgrounds vulnerable.
Emerging filmmakers are left with no option but to approach established production companies. This leads to exploitation by the industry sharks who do not want to see young people taking ownership of their work. This is the reason big production companies are dominating our airwaves.
We welcome the focus on local content, but it would be sad if this means prosperity only for the production companies owned by the rich and famous. Entry is still blocked to many young talented South Africans who want to get into this industry.
The rich and famous run out of creativity because they party more. Their only source of content is the hungry, aspiring, marginalised, talented youth, who will do anything to get a foot in the industry.
We hear of stories of David and Goliath: every time a young person gives their material to the well-established companies, hoping they will rope them in, what happens is that Goliath comes out on top because he has resources to back him up.
The SABC content hub needs to prioritise and protect emerging filmmakers. We are not scared of these Goliaths and, in terms of content, we can take them on. We just don’t have the resources they have.
Many shows by the experienced production companies are weak and rushed. I do not suggest there are no good shows — there are still hardworking, experienced filmmakers who inspire us. Some of these filmmakers have also suffered to get where they are, so it would be great if they could open doors for the generation coming after them.
We call on the public broadcaster to level the playing field. We are new and want to tell our stories. No one can tell our stories better than we can. Please protect us from the industry sharks. All the funding models suit them, not us. All we have is our great content. —