LOS ANGELES: Has anyone noticed the scores of recent movies featuring South Africa? There’s been “District 9” (rumors are out that it’s up for an Oscar!), “Disgrace”, “Skin”, “Endgame” and, if you’re in the US and passed a TV screen lately, you can’t miss the trailer for “Invictus” produced and directed by Clint Eastwood—releasing in theatres Friday December 11.

Apparently Hollywood has also connected the dots if a recent write-up in LA Times is anything to go by. The extensive article included a mention of the recent trek to Hollywood by one of South Africa’s own film industry businessmen, Cape Town Film Studios (CTFS) CEO Nico Dekker.

Dekker was touring Tinsel Town marketing the new Cape Town based ‘Hollywood quality’ film production complex scheduled to launch in 2010. The private facility on the outskirts of Cape Town will comprise of 75,000 square feet of sound stages, support facilities, workshops and production offices, providing a base for local and foreign filmmakers and crews.

A R430-million (US$44.3-million) majority-shareholder investment by Anant Singh’s Videovision Entertainment (producer of “Place Of Weeping”, “Sarafina!”, “Cry the Beloved Country” and Academy Award nominated “Yesterday”) and Marcel Golding’s Sabido Investments (owner of independent free-to-air channel e.tv.) is coupled with financial support from municipal, provincial and federal governments—indicating the national enthusiasm for promoting film production in South Africa.

Spotlight on South African filmmakers, crews and cast

While in LA, Dekker told SAABC that his three-point value proposition to incentivize Hollywood studio executives to completely produce their films in SA included: South African production services cost around 50% less than Hollywood;  South African crew, cast and production support are experienced, non unionised, creative and universally English speaking;  and, Cape Town has been a long-time popular destination thanks to its beautiful scenery and climate—the mountain, the sunshine, the incredible beaches and the variety of urban environments. 

Sci-fi thriller "District 9", which portrays undertones of apartheid years in its story about extraterrestrials caught as refugees in South Africa, was directed and co-written by South African native Neill Blomkamp who now lives in Vancouver. It also brought South African actor Sharlto Copley into the international spotlight for his portrayal of a nerdy government official responsible for evicting aliens from their homes in Johannesburg's townships.

LA Times also notes that apparently more than 200 of the 240 crew members and 62 of 70 actors who worked on "Invictus" were South African. Producer/Director Clint Eastwood's historical drama about the upset win by South Africa in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which helped unite the country during the crucial early months of Mandela's presidency, stars Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as Springbok captain Francois Pienaar.

Hollywood reaction to Cape Town based production

“Reaction to our visit in Hollywood has been overwhelming,” says CTFS’ Dekker who has met with several major studios and production companies. “With this economy they are very interested in our cost analysis indicating the enormous savings from producing in SA.”

Dekker believes they are making history this week for the relationship between the US and SA, moving South Africa’s role from one of host to now a world-class film manufacturing location. Calling CTFS the largest investment in film infrastructure in the history of South Africa, Dekker notes: “This is an investment for many future generations of the South African and African film industry.”

CTFS has several productions already pencil-booked and plans to start opening portions of the complex in May 2010, with hopes of being fully operational by September.

It seems the world’s football fans will now be joined by Hollywood movers-and-shakers in casting their attention towards the tip of Africa in 2010!

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“Disgrace” was adapted from the novel of the same name by Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee and stars John Malkovich. Produced by Steve Jacobs it tells the story of a middle-age Cape Town professor who becomes exiled within his own country as he adjusts to the challenges of post-apartheid's social realities.

“Skin” - a story of family, forgiveness and the triumph of the human spirit - is a British-South African produced film about Sandra Laing, a South African woman dealing with the challenge of her mixed-race ancestry. Directed by Anthony Fabian it stars Sophie Okonedo as Sandra and Sam Neill as her father Abraham.

“ENDGAME” is a real-life political thriller about negotiations that helped lead to the end of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela. Michael Young, a British businessman working in South Africa, has the audacious hope of bringing both sides of the apartheid conflict together — the entrenched government and the rebel African National Congress (ANC). But when his dream of secret talks is realized on an estate in England, it quickly becomes clear that common ground will be elusive as explosive tensions boil just below the surface. Against a backdrop of danger, terrorism and escalating unrest, a high-stakes chess match plays out, ultimately proving that peace is possible. The international cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster, Kinky Boots), William Hurt (Damages), Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone, Trainspotting), Derek Jacobi (Gosford Park) and Clarke Peters (The Wire)

And who can forget Gavin Hood's "Tsotsi" (2005) - filmed in Johannesburg and Soweto, adapted from a novel by playwright Athol Fugard – which won the Academy Award for best foreign language film.