A group of South African media professionals are set to meet the highest level decision makers in the Hollywood film and TV industry during the SA/ Hollywood Exchange commencing 13 April in Los Angeles.
Confirmed meetings are with ABC TV Studios, NBC Network, Overture Films, United Artists, Silver Pictures (The Brave One, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon), Icon Films, ABC Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, Legendary Pictures, The Weinstein Company, 2929 (We Own the Night), Picturehouse, Warner Independent and Mandalay Entertainment (Donnie Brasco, Seven Years in Tibet), as well as a top Hollywood Entertainment Law Firm which will provide valuable consultation on the topic “How to Approach US Partners’, inter alia.
The Annual SA/Hollywood Exchange is produced by the renowned Los Angeles-based MediaXchange in association with Metal Moon, a niche marketing company in the South African Entertainment industry. Says Metal Moon’s Dezi Rorich: “There is no doubt that the participation of the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) this year has added significant impact to the project, as face to face meetings in this environment are material proof of government’s support for industry. Furthermore, it is perfect timing for the DTI to unveil its revised rebate scheme.’
The South African delegation includes the DTI’s Francisca Strauss and Moeketsi Marumo, the Gauteng Film Commission’s (GFC) Terry Tselane and Jacques Stoltz, Jackie Motsepe of the NFVF, Mike Smit (Waterfront Studios), and producers Genevieve Hofmeyr (Moonlighting Films) and David Heitner.
South African Vice-Consul in Los Angeles Kgopotso John will join in the meetings to support the group and acquire exposure to the inner track in Hollywood. For first time the City of Joburg (represented by Maja Ngcobo) is participating in an Exchange Programme in an effort to support the GFC’s robust drive to boost production in that Province.
For logistical reasons the New York leg of the Exchange was dropped to allow the group to focus on the number of meetings taking place in Hollywood.
Other South African Exchange Programmes and events that will take place over the balance of the year include an Animation Exchange to Hollywood, an Inner Market Programme which involves one on one pitching with Creative Executives, followed by Exchange Programmes to the UK and Canada – to explore co-production opportunities with the strength of Co-Production Treaties in those territories.
