Thread: Film industry

desert, Pietro, desert ......

Originally Posted by Pietro

I want to be serious for a change. These people who clamour for recognition as " film makers" are just looking for an easy ride and hand-outs!!!!! Look at the private industry. I can name two, three or even more private sector film makers (OK, they make documentaries), but they do it with their own money!!! And don't tell me a decent doccie doesn't cost money!!!!. If they can do, make good money and keep on smiling to the bank and back to "Discovery Channel" and others, why can't our so-called "serious" film makers put their cameras where their big mouth is?? 'Nuff said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are onto something here, Pietro. It makes me suspicious, too, when the government is called upon to subsidise/support (essentially pick up the tab and pay for) what I think are essentially private creative endeavors. Sure, we need a film industry in our country. Sure, we need the legislative framework to make it possible to produce/distribute films in our country. But with public money? Not so sure - actually NO. At least not in the form of payouts as it happened with the Nujoma movie. That was not in the interest of building Namibia's film industry. That was using public money to finance a private pet project of one person to satisfy the ego of another person.

Ouch! Triple-ouch! It premiered last night, btw.

Did you see it/preview it?

I have seen it, but not there!

What do you think of it?

Comrade_007,

The overriding impression the film left me with was that it is not "a film by Namibians for Namibians". It is made for people who don't know or have never heard of Sam Nujoma (or Namibia, for that matter). Competently cast, a bit heavy-handed direction and a bit long (but then, maybe the version I saw was not the final, final, final, gold and shrink-wrapped version).

I am also not too sure whether European persons would really be able to immerse themselves in the film and the history it represents.

Whoever says it is a amateur film is talking pure rubbish. It is well-made. The best I can compare it with is a hot bath .... without the bubbles!

LOL, thanks Oneword - as ever to the point and clever. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Here is the whole thing in short: Sam is born; Sam founds SWAPO and gets PLAN going; Sam wins against the racist B**rs and sundry others; Sam becomes a big HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!