THE GARDEN Route Film Commission estimates that the fresh lot of travel bans will cost the industry about R13 million in losses.
The commission’s chairperson Patrick Walton said they were still coming to grips with the travel bans that hit the local movie industry like a sci-fi thriller.
“This is a conservative number but that total is just for us,” he said.
Ironically, while the bans were brought in a panic response to the new variant Omicron, there was a sci-fri movie of the same name released in 1964.
The stark effects of the arrival of the Omicron variant on the film industry have caused many to shut down productions. The travel ban has meant that many cast and crew members couldn’t travel to or from South Africa for filming.
Walton said under their commission, three productions have had to be cancelled since the new variant was detected.
Walton said the bans saw them spending money they had not planned to.
“People who we worked with can’t get home so they’ve had to extend their stay, which has increased the cost of production for an indefinite period.
“We’ve had to look at alternate routes of travelling for them, which is also costing us more money,” he said.
The latest ban has raised concerns around the probability of achieving Wesgro’s film and media unit’s plans of securing R17.8 billion-worth of productions over the next fears years.
Two month’s ago the unit’s Monica Rorvik had welcomed the country’s removal from the UK’s Red List, a market that accounts for the province’s 25% summer-season foreign commercials.
Walton said the uncertainty surrounding the way the world treated South Africa left them feeling defeated.
“We’re just barely recovering and now we’re almost back to square one. It’s like starting from square one,” she said.
Every year the Garden Route Film Commission aims to attract 10 international film productions but the uncertainties have made this goal impossible.
Independent contractor Liesl Steinberg works as a chaperone on film productions, and said she was gutted at the effect the travel ban has had on her industry.
“I’ve had to move four times since lockdown started in 2020. My family and I have to move again, and it’s so disheartening,” she explained.
Steinberg has been working in film since 2008 and said she spent the majority of the lockdown period at home.
“I had a job two months ago and the one I am working on now are the only two payslips I have to show in my application for a place to stay.
“When we got vaccinated, I was hopeful that things might get better. I wish they (governments imposing bans) could sit in my shoes, and see what it’s like to lose your dignity and your livelihood,” she said.
She added: “I had to sell my furniture. From a four-bedroom house with a pool, we had to downscale to a flat.
“I barely have furniture left. I had to sell it all to survive. There were times when we had no bread and butter on the table,” she said.
Steinberg said she was never looking for handouts.
“I am used to working for my money and paying for everything myself. My independence is down the drain,” she said.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith, said there have been cancellations with productions at the Cape Town Film Permit Office.
Smith said that a few productions have had to adjust their filming schedules as a result of the ban.
“We are aware of five commercials and two feature films that have been impacted by the latest travel ban,” he said.
He added: “Three of the commercials have been postponed and two have cancelled their productions.”
“Both feature films have postponed production pending further clarity on the impact of the latest Covid variant and the government’s response to the outbreak.”
Wesgro CEO, Wrenelle Stander, said that while extended bans could affect the production cycle of long-form TV series and feature films, which take years to create, the animation sector has only grown.
“Standing us in good stead for recovery is a set of robust safety protocols aligned with global best practice strictly implemented on set, ensuring the safety of those shooting in the destination.
“Due to the online and work-from-home nature of animation, this sector of our local industry remains unaffected by the new variant and continues to grow and requires more skilled workers,” she said.
Stander said that Cape Town Film Studios, in which Wesgro has a10% stake, was on track to being fully booked for the next two years.
“Our region’s world-class skill set has been in high demand and will continue to be. We will continue to ensure that our destination remains top of mind for filmmakers when international travel resumes,” she said.