Rewriting the script

November 2004

As a new educational institution, Monash South Africa (MSA) works at a grass roots level by providing education for young South Africans as their country grows and develops. MSA's Film and Television Unit is part of that development, providing skilled workers for the country's fledgling film and TV industry. Jeanette Lamont reports that the training may also help disadvantaged youth broaden horizons that are too often narrowed by poverty.

Training program: MSA Film and TV Unit students get practical experience in the unit's studio.

Monash South Africa recognises that a skills shortage in film and television threatens the sustainability of the country's developing industry. Since its establishment in 2003, the MSA Film and Television Unit has introduced courses that are helping to turn that situation around.

This year, the unit has introduced two new courses aimed at helping young students who may have more potential than resources.

The entry-level Audio Visual Production course, which began in February this year, has already taught its first group of 20 students and the second intake is under way.

The 20-week course introduces students to the four main areas in the industry: creative, technical, production and editing. The course, funded by the Department of Labour, also offers life skills and computer literacy components and provides simulated and actual workplace experience.

The intermediate Protégé Project, which began in March 2004, was developed in partnership with the Johannesburg Metro Council.

This 12-week program provides mentored and coached practical training as well as theoretical knowledge within the context of actual industry requirements. The training expands on current knowledge, for those who have already proved their passion for, and commitment to, the industry.

Both these courses have been designed to assist predominantly historically disadvantaged individuals who have had no formal training, or who have had to drop out of a training program, due to lack of funds.

The two new courses fit within the framework of the South African's government's Film Incentive -- a new initiative designed to encourage and facilitate film and TV industry training.

"Our government has identified the need to support the industry, given the challenges of poverty and unemployment -- particularly among the youth," South Africa's Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Mandisi Mphahlwa, said at the launch in Johannesburg in June.

The skills-development component of the incentive package aims to address the skills shortages at intermediate and advanced levels by providing short, intensive courses. The unit has been closely involved in the development and roll-out of the courses.

Dr Melanie Chait, consultant to the MSA Film and TV Unit, and the unit's project manager, Ms Nikki Tilley, have consulted closely with the Department of Trade and Industry during this year.

The unit is recognised as a serious provider of short, intensive courses for industry professionals.

"In terms of serving the needs of the local industry, the unit is addressing capacity building at entry, intermediate and advanced levels," Ms Tilley said.

"Looking at international best practice, there is a need for people in the local industry to be up-skilled and kept abreast with world trends in order to be globally competitive.

"Our biggest challenge is for companies to embrace the need to invest, not only in their own staff, but in freelancers too -- in order to ensure that ultimately we have an industry that can sustain itself."

New directions: Ms Nikki Tilley, left, and Dr Melanie Chait with the minibus taxi used to transport Film and TV Unit students to and from the MSA campus.

Dr Chait agreed, saying industry skills must be present before production deals can be brokered. "In the industry we talk about new studios and new channels, and calls are repeatedly made on the Department of Trade and Industry to offer tax breaks to help finance feature films.

"All of this is important, but we need to build capacity -- not only in terms of studios but in terms of skills -- to make this a reality." she said. "If new channels are to be established, we need the people to run, manage, program, and schedule.

"We are all aware of how companies and corporations struggle to find experienced people. If we do succeed in getting the tax breaks, we do not have the necessary skills to make the films. Within the industry the importance of succession training also needs to be acknowledged."

As well as training entry-level participants from rural and urban areas, the unit also provides extra skills for people already involved in the industry. Participants have come from Gauteng, Botswana, Eastern Cape, Limpopo , KwaZulu-Natal , Swaziland and Malawi .

Several short courses have been offered for industry professionals this year, including 'Technical directing', 'The art of digital editing', 'Scriptwriting for features', 'Business skill development' and 'Production accounting'.

The unit has recently delivered a tailor-made course in promotion scheduling to participants from several South African pay TV channels.

"We also are fielding inquiries and tailoring courses for broadcasters from other African countries including Namibia, Nigeria and Uganda," Ms Tilley said. "We are collaborating with the Southern African Broadcasters Association (SABA) and delivered a presentation at their AGM in October. As a result, the director of the Asia Pacific Institute of Broadcasting has expressed interest in Monash Malaysia setting up a similar unit."

Dr Chait said the unit had created a unique and global platform for development of skills and training. "As a result of the intensity of the courses, an extraordinary amount of learning takes place in a short space of time. The unit is working towards taking talented individuals and building socially relevant highly skilled professionals," she said.