Blue Ocean Film Symposium

ABOUT

WESGRO BLUE OCEAN FILM SYMPOSIUM

The Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival, in partnership with Wesgro, invites any aspiring ocean, sustainability and adventure film makers to attend a special symposium at the Wave Theatre, 44 Long Street in Cape Town from 11am to 2pm. Come and enjoy talks, panel discussions & mentorship at this career-entry and networking day to grow the Western Cape film industry.

This is the ideal opportunity for filmmakers who are in the late stages of studying film, or in the early stages of their career, to get exposure to some veteran and young voices in the film industry from the perspective of the Western Cape ocean, conservation and adventure film space. Young people are the future of the industry, and this event encourages the growth of a vibrant and diverse network. 

Several speakers will take the podium at the beautiful bioscope auditorium at the Wave Theatre in Long Street. After a quick break for refreshment, a panel comprising speakers will field questions from the audience. 

EVENT RUNSHEET

11am - 12.15pm

Speakers (10 minutes each)

Spike from Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival

Welcome and intro (2min)

Monica Rorvik, Head of Film and Media Promotion at Wesgro

MONICA RORVIK gives us an update on the Western Cape film industry, and big strides towards ensuring that the region is a major player in film. She also speaks about the Made in the Cape project and upcoming New Vision Film Studios launch, the largest by area in the southern hemisphere.

Liana Hassim, AFDA Creative Writing Lecturer and Film Director

LIANA HASSIM is a writer and director for film. She has a Bachelor degree in Drama and Performance and a Honours degree in Motion Picture Medium from AFDA. She began her love affair with film as an actor and then turned to writing and directing. She speaks of her journey, and the importance of skills and technical training when it comes to making films.

Tshepiso Makoni, Cape Town Team leader for Youth4Tourism

TSHEPISO MAKONI is team leader for a multi-disciplined content creation hub for tourism and destination SMMEs. At the age of 25, she was appointed to this position after moving down to Cape Town from Gauteng. With her team - who shoot and edit video, and take stills for a variety of clients - she looks forward to how she can contribute to the growth of the South African hospitality and tourism industry. 

Brett Eagle, Co-found of the Action Distribution Group of Companies

BRETT EAGLE showcases the cutting-edge advancements in drone and underwater housing technology. Delve into the realm of innovative filmmaking where drones aren't just tools for capturing stunning visuals but also vital instruments in anti-poaching efforts. Explore how our drones transcend conventional filmmaking, doubling as guardians of wildlife and protectors of our planet's most vulnerable ecosystems. Join us in harnessing the power of technology for both creativity and conservation.

Nick Chevalier, Director/Producer of Wild Coast Warriors (www.wildcoastwarriorsfilm.com/)

NICK CHEVALIER screens part of his film and chats about the process of making it. The film tracks the indigenous people of the Wild Coast who have had to resist a variety of spurious attempts to steal the resources of their coastal land. In this documentary about a David and Goliath court-case struggle against Shell, the communities succeeded in halting oil and gas exploration, winning ongoing protection for their ocean and culture. Nick speaks of the general challenges of making a film in this genre, from funding to logistics.

Five minute water break 

12.20pm - 1pm

PANEL DISCUSSION and Q & A

Steve Pike

Liama Hassim

Monica Rorvik

Tshepiso Makoni 

Nick Chevalier

Brett Eagle

1pm

Lunch and Networking

2pm

Ends

DIRECTIONS