Description

You will be individually placed in a specific company within the film, advertising or media industry, based on your experience and interests. Opportunities include film production and post-production, television, photography, advertising, print media, etc. The following is a description of the South African Film Industry:

South Africa's political transformation in 1994 vastly benefited the film and television production industry. Not only did it broaden and liberalize the South African market, but it also opened the world to national film producers and vice versa. The film industry - still mainly dependent on overseas producers- is one of the top five growth industries in the Western Cape.

Movies that have recently been shot in the Cape include Country of my Skull featuring Juliette Binoche and Samuel Jackson, Lord of War with Nicholas Cage, Ultimatum with Vinnie Jones and Eddie Griffith, The Piano Player, featuring Christopher Lambert and Dennis Hopper and Manhunt with SA-born mummy star Arnold Vosloo.

The opportunities for filming in the Western Cape are almost unlimited. The Western Cape has Alpine-style mountains and lakes, tropical beaches, rugged rocky coastlines, rolling wheat fields and mysterious forests. Within a short distance from the international airport, filmmakers can find a Roman Colosseum, a Hong Kong street market, a Paris fashion show, South Beach Miami, 1960's London as well as numerous other generic American cities. And, of course, there is the weather. It is nearly guaranteed that the sun will shine for at least fourteen hours a day in the Cape, in the middle of the European winter.

In addition, shooting a film in Cape Town is at least 30% cheaper than in Europe and the United States and 20% cheaper than in Australia, making it all the more attractive to overseas film producers.

To engage the industry of filming, the Cape Film Commission and thirty film companies in Cape Town are trying to develop the market. Film industries in Europe and the United States are highly-developed and offer South Africa big competition, especially in post production facilities.

The most lucrative part of the film industry in the Cape is the international commercials business with over 400 film shoots per year. Cape Town offers 6 equipment rental companies, more than 25 stills production companies and around 45 commercial service companies. The city attracts 58% of all commercial shoots.

A R30 million post-production facility opened in summer 2003, enables international film companies to complete their total film productions in Cape Towns and solidifies the city's prominence in the international film industry.

Highlights

All South African Film Industry internships are facilitated through the Volunteer Adventure Corps professional internship program. A few highlights of our internship program are as follows:

- We are an internship program that only accepts the most serious and professionally focused applicants. Our participants work full time and are expected to make an impact at their internship sites. Central to our program philosophy is the concept of mutually beneficial experiential learning, through which the intern, partner organization, and the communities they serve, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop in dynamic and positive ways.

- Outside of your internship, you will be able to participate in our program's free weekly Friday Excursions. Excursions take place in the afternoon and are an optional, yet highly recommended, way to see a new part of the city every week while socializing with other interns in the program. The following are examples of previous Friday excursions: surfing lessons at Muizenberg Beach, hikes in Table Mountain National Park (Lion's Head, Boomslang Caves, Elephant's Eye, Constantia Nek, Cecilia Forest), wine tasting in Constantia, chocolate tasting in Franschhoek, picnics in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, champagne sunset cruises in Table Bay Harbor and the list goes on!

- All interns participate in a comprehensive 2-day arrival orientation.

- We offer regular community service volunteer opportunities.

- We offer free weekly Xhosa classes (one of South Africa's 11 official languages).

Qualifications

Applicants must have an academic background in film and/or Photography. Prior experience in the field is encouraged, though not necessary. Candidates for internships that involve production may be asked to submit examples of their film/photography/post-production work.

Intern Types

• Fashion Design
• Journalism
• Marketing, Ad, PR
• Media (Radio, TV, & Film)
• Photography

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Visit our program website.

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

4-6 weeks

Volunteer Adventure Corps's Mission Statement

Central to our program philosophy is the concept of mutually beneficial experiential learning, through which the intern, partner organization, and the communities they serve, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop in dynamic and positive ways. Ultimately, we want you to have an incredible experience in Africa while gaining the type of professional exposure that will be one of the first talking points in any job interview.

Year Founded

2006