The interns with Grade 12 qualifications receive NQF Level 4 film and electronic media training, while the college and university graduates receive NQF Level 5 training.

“The film industry is notoriously difficult to enter; even top graduates from our leading film schools struggle to get onto productions,” says F.I.L.M. project director, Seton Bailey. “We’ve become the bridge to get these passionate, talented people working productively in the industry.”
F.I.L.M. has placed over 100 trainees on productions since May this year, while three F.I.L.M. graduateswere winners at DSTV’s inaugural short film awards in March.

Of the 35 people on F.I.L.M.’s last Sallywood Project, 26 are now working successfully, either as entrepreneurs, trainees or crew. “We’ve consistently seen our trainees add real value, being asked back from production to production andbecoming full-time crew,” says Bailey.

Successful graduates from the recent Sallywood Project include budding camera operators Quinton Fredericks and Meredith Shearer-Aylward; ADs Gift Khumalo and Tebogo Mkhabela; editor Mzwa Fongqo; prosthetic technician Tarryn Kohler; Inge Jansen in continuity; Amandla Kasa in VT; Thandeka Mkhontwana, Vivienne Murison, and Zintle Gqoloza in accounts; and Kirstin Erasmus and Kwanele Arosi in the art department.

F.I.L.M. trainees have worked on many of the major local and international productions that have come through South Africa in the last year, including Long Walk to Freedom, with Idris Elba and current Bond girl Naomie Harris; Zulu, with Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker; Mary &amp Martha, with Hilary Swank; ITV’s Marple; Warner Premiere’s House Party; the Emmy-nominated Strike Back; and Bruce MacDonald’s debut feature film, The Perfect Wave, with Scott Eastwood.

F.I.L.M. trainees are already at work preparing for Black Sails, the massive TV series executive produced by Michael Bay, and Mad Max: Fury Road, with Charlize Theron.

F.I.L.M. is playing a critical role in the transformation of the film industry, a key requirement for the sector to receive ongoing support from government. As Film Afrika general manager Rudi van As says: “F.I.L.M. trainees are vital to the future of a sustainable South African film industry.”

The productions that hire F.I.L.M. trainees qualify for the Department of Trade and Industry’s BEE skills development points, but interns and trainees add far greater, enduring value. “Our primary focus is turning a grudge purchase into a real value proposition,” says Bailey.

As Film Afrika line producer Theuns de Wet says, “To tell you the truth, at times I had difficulty distinguishing my F.I.L.M. trainees on House Party from my crew … and my crew was fantastic and highly experienced.”

One of the keys to F.I.L.M.’s success is the hands-on, experiential learning the interns and trainees receive working alongside industry professionals and icons as mentors. “F.I.L.M. is a not-for-profit organisation created by leading Cape film production and servicing companies to coordinate mentorship, training and skills development in the industry,” says Seton. “We focus on preparing interns and trainees to be sustainable crew - and heads of departments - while filling actual skills shortages in an increasingly diverse, internationally-competitive industry.”

Jet Black Entertainment’s Roy Zetisky agrees. “F.I.L.M. trainees generally have a real understanding and healthy respect for the film production culture - just how tough it is and what it takes to break into it.”

F.I.L.M. will award the 2012 top industry trainees and mentors at Film &amp Event Media’s Monthly Wrap on Thursday, 29 November.

To become a F.I.L.M. partner company or if one is interested in including F.I.L.M. trainees for ones next production, contact [email protected] or call 021 4617950 Ext 143.

For more information, visit www.filmsa.co.za; the Facebook page; or YouTube.