Hollywood strikes – an opportunity for SA film?

The tour is commencing directly after the AFCI (the Annual Association of Film Commissioners Locations Expo) in Los Angeles. The exchange involves a delegation of South African media professionals meeting with the leading decision makers in Hollywood to procure business (facilitation or co-production) for South Africa, as well as learning trend updates.

Typically there are 10 places available in a group.

An internationally recognised entertainment business exchange program, Katrina Wood's LA and London-based company “MediaXchange” partners with the SA film marketing entity, Metal Moon, run by Dezi Rorich, to set up the exchange.

“The first five places were reserved before we even commenced marketing it,” says Rorich, “this is obviously due to the fact that the Writers Strike has virtually brought production in Hollywood to a halt, providing the chance to reflect on all the opportunities available in what is now a global marketplace and the USA is very much more open to collaboration as new creative as well as business models are formed.

“A marketing exercise of this nature in no way resembles a generic marketing platform at trade fairs and festivals (such as Cannes) can offer. The exchange is a very personal, strategic arrangement that enables delegates to access leading players in the industry capital (Los Angeles). It costs a delegate 10 times less than attending an international festival does, and the exchange fee includes 5-Star accommodation on Sunset Boulevard.”

“These are heavyweights, studio bosses and show runners who are impossible to access at festivals and markets," says Rorich. “They participate in these programmes because the meetings are in their boardroom, and they make the time. We try to make the group a mix of delegates who bring a range of production knowledge – ranging from finance, facilitation, facilities (including studios, post and equipment) as well as officials who are charged with the remit to promote filming in South Africa."

MediaXchange was established 16 years ago by Katrina Wood (also a founder of Rotterdam's “Cinemart”) in Los Angeles and London. The programme is internationally recognised and designed to assist entertainment industry professionals to expand their business through developing effective knowledge and contacts in the global market place. It is hosted in global territories for major production entities, international broadcasters, film funds, industry organisations and independent professionals. The first (in-bound) South African Exchange, a run-away success, took place in 1995, bringing seventeen broadcasters and producers from 14 territories in Europe.

The SA/Hollywood Exchange Programme involves 20 back-to-back meetings over five days, and will hook the South Africans up with some of the world's most powerful producers and heads of production in the entertainment capital.

Among those who will be pitched (in television) to host meetings include the networks and show runners of shows such as ER, Lost, 24, Dirty, Sexy Money, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order, Will & Grace and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In the motion picture format, it will be all the major studios, as well as producers with studio deals and who have been involved in projects such as Ray, Lost in Translation, Godfather II, The Titanic, The Perfect Score, and The Aviator.

For more, contact Rorich on email: .