It’s Lights, Camera and Diaspora as sought-after Hollywood gaffer and lighting
director Christian Epps conducts workshops on 15 and 16 September 2017…
The event is supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, and with sponsorship
by PioLED Lighting, a client of BEE Novation. PioLED is the manufacturer of Lite
Panels and LED lights for the film industry.
Christian Epps’ career as a lighting designer has spanned more than three decades
covering a wide range from major motion pictures, broadcast television, live theatre,
dance, music videos and special events. Epp’s passion for dramatic lighting has been
put to use by notable film directors such as Spike Lee, Hype Williams, Ava DuVernay,
David Lowery and Ice Cube. He captured the attention of big artists such as Michael
Jackson, P. Diddy, Biggy Smalls, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah,
Me’Shell N’degeocello, TLC, Boyz II Men, and many, many more. He served as the
gaffer on SELMA, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, and Belly, directed by the
seminal music video director Hype Williams.
Epps has also been involved with big corporate brands such as Nike, IBM, Sprite,
McDonald’s, Buena Vista Television, GE Capitol, Paramount Studios, Home Depot,
ESPN, Buick, Kaiser Permanente, Amtrak and Panasonic.
“My mission and vision for Africa is to impart skills and knowledge and bring up at
least one or two people to a level where they are ready to conquer the film and
entertainment industry, and are confident enough to handle big brands across the
globe. I am where I am because someone decided to mentor me and because
someone decided to give me a chance and assist in perfecting my skills and grow my
knowledge in the field.”
“I believe it is more than necessary for me to do the same thing for another young
upcoming filmmaker with the hopes of one day becoming a Technical Director in a big
production. This of course cannot be achieved in a one-day session, however, through
organisations like the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and PioLED through BEE
noVations, this could be a start of something that will have a lasting impact,’ adds
Epps.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission is excited to host Christian Epps, as he
represents a rare set of skills that we would like to see in our film makers. The KZN
Film Commission is committed to growing the local film industry and offer effective
support to local filmmakers through facilitating the creation of enabling environments
where there is exchange of information and knowledge with an intention to harness
and develop skills. I therefore encourage filmmakers to take advantage of such
initiatives as they are directed towards building a sustainable film industry in KZN.
This session will be used to give filmmakers access to an international professional
technician who has demonstrated that filmmakers in the province can build a career
by specialising in a particular area of skill in the industry. We are happy to see
Christian Epps in the province and hope that we can build on this initiative going
forward,” says Carol Coetzee, CEO of the KZN Film Commission.
“Discussions on having Christian Epps come to Durban to engage filmmakers in the
province on how to get it right when it comes to lighting during the production phase
of film making, started about 2 years ago when I first met him during the Africa
International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Nigeria. He came across as someone who was
very passionate about Africa and seeing transformation in our film industry. I really
am excited that today he has arrived in the province and we are starting a partnership
that we intend to sustain for a long period of time. The issue of skills development
and skills transfer is something that we are passionate about and we believe that for
us to build a thriving film industry such initiatives are a necessity,’ concludes Ms
Jackie Motsepe, COO of the KZN Film Commission.
