Cape Town’s film industry is finally beginning to flourish after the drought. For two year’s during the water crisis international films were discouraged from investing in the city and now the industry has made a turn for the better.
According to Wesgro, the film industry contributes approximately R6-billion to the Western Cape’s economy. The industry, however, suffered a downturn in 2016/17 when drought emergency measures were first implemented and severe water rationing took place.
Several major international productions have made their way to the Mother City this year, including a sci-fi series named Raised By Wolves – which is directed by renowned filmmaker, Ridley Scott. It is rumoured that Miley Cyrus is in Cape Town to film the anthology series, Black Mirror. The second season of The Crown is also filming in Cape Town.
A Vin Diesel film, titled Bloodshot, has also just wrapped up filming in Cape Town.
Speaking to Business Insider, Wesgro’s Head of Film and Media Promotion, Monica Rorvik, said that industry has shown a fast recovery. “Cape Town is now a water-resilient city and a world leader in water usage best practice, but that wasn’t the headline over this period and the negative messaging globally put off some of the commercial and stills industries,” she said. “Our rand saw a much-needed strengthening in February this year which was a positive, but had a knock-on effect on the short-term film cycle.”
Wesgro also recently announced that production company CINEMAX would be filming the first season of the 10-part series called Warrior.
The series, inspired by legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, is set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the aftermath of the Civil War and tells the story of a martial arts prodigy who finds himself caught up in the bloody Tong wars.
“We are very excited about the decision by CINEMAX to film their new series in Cape Town. The Cape Film Studios is an excellent facility and this recent decision by CINEMAX is yet another vote of confidence in the city and in the film studios themselves,” Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris, said.
Picture: Pixabay