REPORT BACK ON CAPE TOWN MARCH
We had a good showing at the Cape Town picket for the short amount of time there was to organise it and also considering the stormy weather. There were plus minus 200 people strong, who were vociferous, angered and concerned, yet at the same time witty and playful. We sang, danced and vuvuzelaed in the drizzle, gave megaphone speeches and placarded.
We were not officially given permission to march but rather to picket outside the SABC. We received strong support from the public who drove past the picket in Beach Road and just about every car hooted loudly and yelled their support out of their car windows.
Everyone was very pleased to have been given a chance to demonstrate their grievances and frustrations with the SABC which have seriously mounted up over the years. Younger industry members were concerned about their futures.
There was a great sense of camaraderie and unity amongst all the various industry members. It was a very positive and encouraging experience. There is still much work to be done to create real change but we have taken the first step.
Thank you to you TVIEC Joburg for initiating this action and creating such an incredible show of collective energy, spirit and force.
A LIST OF ALL THE ORGANISATIONS AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES THAT TOOK PART IN THE CAPE TOWN PROTEST
(although we had students from the various varsities - there was not formal support from the actual institutions themselves but they were obviously sympathetic)
- City Varsity
- SAFREA - South Africa Freelancers Association
- IPO - Independent Producers Organisation
- PANSA - Performing Arts Network South Africa
- UCT (Performers Student Council)
- Cape Film Commission
- WWMP – Workers World Media Production
- WIFTSA - Women in Film and Television
- SAMGI - South African Media and Gender Institute
- TPA - The Producers Alliance
- STEPS
- DFA Documentary FIlmmakers Association
- CWUSA - Creative Workers Union South Africa
- SA Writers Guild
- Stellenbosch University
- Encounters Film Festival
- SAGA
- BEMAWU
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
- Rooster Collective
- Shamanic Organic
- Tonnic Audio
- Starving Comics
- Solid Pictures
- Sojourn Film and Media
- Blast
- Streetwize Casting
- The Callsheet
- Fierce Pix
- Penguin Films
- TOPCO
- Rainbow Circle Films
- Atomic Production
- US Drama Department
- North South Media
- Shoal Creek
- Joe Barber cc
- TIme Gate
- 1Cut Films
- Mama Dance
- Clockwork Zoo
- E Post Production
- Other-Wise media
- Plexus Films
- See Thru Media
- Fairweather FIlms
- Take 2 Films
- Soldiers of Informative Art
- Women Unite
- Get the Picture
- Three Writers Group
- Future Dimensions
- Free Range Films
- Brainwave Projects
- Mouthful Entertainment
- The Wendy House
- Bubblegum Productions
- APM cape - Artistes Personal Management
- Shoot the Breeze Productions
- 4 Wall Films
- Undercurrent films
- (apologies if anyone was left off the list)
The topics discussed dealt with blacklisting of broadcasters, the pulling of the Special Assignment documentary on Shapiro (Zapiro) days before the general election and the interference by Luthuli house in (s)electing the executive board of the SABC.
Interviews were conducted with:
Kali van der Merwe
Adrian Galley
Colin Moss
Mark Myburg
Erica Wessels
Grant Swanby
Bongo Mbutuma
Nicola Hanekom
and Brian Heydenrych
They say we can " Feel free to use this footage in any form you feel fit to help fight the SABC injustices"
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=116972110630&ref=nf
