In another significant step towards cementing its role as one of the leading global film industry destinations, Cape Town could soon become home to the lucrative Bollywood film production market.
And according to the Western Cape Minster of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Minister Allan Winde, "The time is now ripe for the Western Cape to take full advantage of the current global economic crisis by actively marketing your service offering to new markets like the Middle East and India."
Minister Winde, accompanied by the CEO of the Cape Film Commission, Laurence Mitchell, on Monday 3rd August 2009, visited the film set of the latest Bollywood Blockbuster, No Problem, which is currently being filmed at various locations in Cape Town.
"No Problem" is a Bollywood police action movie with stars such as Anil Kapoor (Slum Dog Millionaire), Sanjay Dutt and Suneel Shetty.
"The fact that Cape Town and the Western Cape has been able attract some of the most influential and leading men and women of Bollywood is to a large extent due to the fact that we are now truly recognized as a global film industry destination", was said by Minister Winde.
He also added that with the major Hollywood films that have been shot here during the past year and given the fact that Cape Town hosted several Oscar Winners and A-list actors and actresses, this has further amplified the fact that the film industry has come of age and has become a key contributor to the economy of the Western Cape.
Minister Winde also said that our service offering, whether it is in tourism or film, needs to be exceptional and unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
In addition Minister Winde stated that the successful hosting of the IPL earlier this year beamed images of our country into the homes of millions of Indians and this has provided the Western Cape with a wonderful opportunity to access this huge Indian tourism and film markets.
Mr. Laurence Mitchell (CEO of the Cape Film Commission), said that "The Cape Film Commission has over the past 5 years worked tirelessly to attract big Hollywood and in particular Bollywood productions to Cape Town, and we are now truly recognized as one of the leading film industry destinations worldwide."
This particular production of "No Problem" has already had significant spin offs in our Tourism sector and has contributed to 2000 bed nights, many local people were employed as crew and cast members and the service industry has been able to provide catering, transport and security services.
Mr. Mitchell further added that the CFC is already leading discussion with the Department of Trade and Industry to look at a restructured film rebate system that would see a much more seamless distribution of these funds and a system that would make it much easier to enter into co-production treaties with a specific focus on markets such as India.
The CFC will also be engaging with the DTI to look at increasing the subsidy that local film production companies could access.
Anil Kapoor who plays a cop in the movie expressed his satisfaction at how production has progressed and said that he beliefs Cape Town has the right service offerings within the film industry to be able to attract large Bollywood productions.
He remained confident that with big productions such as No Problem, Tasveer, Seasons Greetings and others, Cape Town has become the home of Bollywood films in Africa.
According to Anil Kapoor Cape Town have remarkable locations, diverse cultures, wonderful weather and even world class services that is able to compete with the best in the world.
The Cape Film Commission will later in the year undertake a mission to India to cement this relationship with Bollywood and directly present the film industry`s service offering to the huge Indian film market.
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