Local film-maker makes waves
“I am really excited about the opportunities that have come up and I am hoping to grow my business."
AFTER identifying a gap in local film making production process, the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit, the Durban Film Office (DFO) introduced SCOUT, a location scouting and management programme as part of its overall mandate to encourage more film making in Durban.
One of the 2014 SCOUT participants, Berea's Sindisiwe Mngadi, has really taken the opportunity afforded her and is making waves in the industry, not only locally but on a national level too.
The 28-year-old worked at local production company Durban Motion Pictures after leaving school, where she gained invaluable experience working on the job and training at the same time.
The young go-getter then started her company, Lopper Media in 2010, with a focus on video production for events and editing. In the last few years she has ventured into film and commercial production services, and is fast developing a name for herself as a reputable service provider with a range of services that include location scouting, location and unit management, as well as security services .
“The scouting programme was very informative and it opened my eyes to the many opportunities that we have in Durban from a locations point of view and also within the industry as a whole. The knowledge that I gained from the training helped me so much and made me take my business more seriously,” she said.
She said after doing the SCOUT programme her business has definitely improved and grown very fast.
“We have even ventured into location and unit management, and we recently were able to work with major production companies such as Born Free Media, Natives at Large and Mobile Media, and I was also a location and unit manager for a recent Red Bull commercial that was managed by Mobile Media, here in Durban – the best two days ever,” she said.
Determined to make a real go of this industry, Sindisiwe is currently in Johannesburg where she is hoping to finalise the details for three new short films being shot in Durban.
“I am really excited about the opportunities that have come up and I am hoping to grow my business into a major unit management one,” she said.
