F.I.L.M. awards top mentors and mentees

Inge Jansen

Mentor awards went to Jannie van Wyk, CEO of Media Film Service and Sabido; director/DoP Roy Zetisky from Jet Black Entertainment; and rigging gaffer Mark Rabe; with a special commendation for motion graphics designer Paul Kalil.

F.I.L.M. project director Seton Bailey says, "The F.I.L.M. mentorship awards are about recognising people in the industry who are often overlooked, despite making an awesome contribution in probably the most important areas of our industry: skills development and mentorship, keys to creating a diverse, sustainable, globally competitive film industry in South Africa. So many people are doing really amazing things in the industry as mentors, but Jannie, Roy, Mark and Paul really stand out for us this year."

Bridge onto local, international film sets

Mentee awards went to production assistant Gift Khumalo, camera operator Quinton Fredericks and script supervisor Inge Jansen, who all benefited from F.I.L.M.'s unique role as skills development facilitator, training provider and a vital bridge onto local and international film sets. For example, after joining F.I.L.M.'s Sallywood Project, Khumalo worked as a trainee on Safe House, Long Walk To Freedom, Mankind: The Story of All Of Us, and The Great British Story, in the art department on Young Leonardo; the unit department on Strike Back; and as production assistant on Target Bin Laden and Zulu.

"Gift and Quinton are both working as crew on Zulu with Lobster Tree, while Inge is going onto Black Sails with Film Afrika," says Seton. "They epitomise the way our trainees are consistently seen to add real value, being asked back from production to production and becoming full-time crew."

Of the 35 people on F.I.L.M.'s last Sallywood Project, 26 are now working successfully, either as entrepreneurs, trainees or crew. Shack Attack, the Sallywood Project's final production, premieres at The Shortcuts Film Festival on 18 December 2012.

If you would like to become a F.I.L.M. partner company or would like F.I.L.M. trainees for your next production, contact az.oc.asmlif@acinumde or call +27 (0)21 4617950 ext. 143. For more information, go to www.filmsa.co.za.