An innovative and sustainable approach to countering Johannesburg’s high levels of pirated DVDs launches on 4 December in the city centre. Bliksem DVD’s will legally tap into the massive informal/commuter market while contributing to youth employment and upliftment.
Supported by industry stakeholders, city authorities and government institutions, Bliksem has launched a six month pilot project – The Hoek Street Depot – at the Trading Spaces mall on the corner of Plein and Hoek Streets. The depot will be opened by traditional healers who will say prayers and call on the ancestors to bless the venture.
Bliksem intends to have existing street vendors who are currently selling counterfeit goods, set up and selling premium content DVD’s at affordable prices to a market that has called out for local language/local content films and music.
On 11 and 12 December, they’ll be joined by many industry stakeholders to stage a public awareness and education campaign about the detriment of piracy to the SA economy. Taking place in the deepest of the pirate waters, the corner of Sauer and Bree Streets, Johannesburg, the initiative is supported by Bliksem’s strategic partners Nu Metro Home Entertainment and media giant AVUSA, the City of Johannesburg, the Southern African Federation Against Copyright Theft (SAFACT), The Intellectual Property protection office of the Department of Trade and Industry, SARS customs divisions and distributors and producers of both film and music.
For more on Bliksem see January 2010 issue of Screen Africa
