Coronavirus: South Africa starts new Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund to help struggling workers, Netflix donates R8.3 million as industry bodies ask more companies to contribute.

by Thinus Ferreira

A new Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund is being set up to help struggling workers in South Africa's film and TV industry, with Netflix donating some of its $150 million set aside to help the global film and TV industry during the Covid-19 pandemic to South Africa, and with local industry bodies asking for more companies to donate to this new fund.

Netflix has decided to donate R8.3 million to the new Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund that is being established by the South African Screen Federation (SASFED).

SASFED, supported by the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) will establish this Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund in collaboration with Netflix to provide emergency relief to the hardest-hit workers in South Africa’s film and TV industry.

This Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund will be administered by Tshikululu Social Investment that will screen the applications for eligibility as well as disburse the funds to beneficiaries.

This Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund will provide a one-time emergency relief grant to behind-the-scenes workers such as electricians, carpenters, hair and make-up artists, drivers, costume designers and many other freelancers who are paid hourly wages and work on a project-to-project basis.

These workers will be eligible to apply online for the R15 000 one-time benefit from 3 August 2020 at Tshikululu’s website (tshikululu.org.za) or would also be able to mail in a physical application. The eligibility criteria will be posted on Tshikululu’s website on 3 August 2020 when applications open.

In March the pay-TV operator MultiChoice announced that it had decided to set aside R80 million to pay the salaries and wages of workers in the collective film and TV industry in South Africa as well as across sub-Saharan Africa. SuperSport said it would pay freelancers working on productions.

In a statement announcing the new Covid-19 Film and Television Relief Fund with funding from Netflix, Unathi Malunga, SASFED executive director, says "SASFED is delighted about the announcement that the COVID-19 Film and Television Relief Fund will provide relief for workers in the film and TV sector who are not eligible for other available relief funds".

"The South African economy has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Netflix fund supporting the local film industry brings hope to struggling industry professionals."

"We hope other potential partners will follow Netflix's example and support SASFED’s broader initiatives which offer assistance to industry professionals across the whole value chain - an initiative undertaken by industry, for the industry. SASFED applauds Netflix's support of the local industry during the global crisis."

Sisanda Henna, IPO co-chairperson, says "Following months of extreme hardship for most of our sector, the IPO is overjoyed that Netflix is providing this desperately-needed relief for those most hard hit by the pandemic – the industry’s below-the-line freelancers to whom no other relief has been available".

"This is a clear demonstration of Netflix’s commitment to the sustainability of the South African film and TV production industry, and we welcome them – with wide open arms – as a partner in our broader efforts to support the screen sector."

Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix's Amsterdam-based boss for Netflix Originals from Africa, says "We’re proud to be working with SASDED and the IPO to support the hardest-hit workers in TV and film production".

"South African crews are vital to Netflix’s success and we want to help those freelancers who most need support in these unprecedented times."

Netflix commissions its first-ever Nigerian series; 6-episode supernatural drama series to be directed by Akin Omotoso starring Kate Henshaw and Ade Laoye.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has commissioned the video streaming service's first-ever Nigerian series, an as-yet-untitled supernatural drama series directed by Akin Omotoso.

Netflix's first Nigerian series commission with a first season of 6 episodes, follows after series like Queen Sono in South Africa headlined by Pearl Thusi that will debut on the streamer this Friday, the Cape Town, South African set youth drama Blood & Water, and the animation series, Mama K's Team 4.

The so-called "Akin Omotoso project" will be directed by Akin alongside Daniel Oriahi and CJ Obasi.

It will star Kate Henshaw and Ade Laoye in leading roles alongside newcomers like Richard Mofe Damijo, Joke Silva, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Kehinde Bankole, Ayoola Ayolola, Toyin Oshinaike, Goodness Emmanuel, Ireti Doyle, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Bimbo Akintola, Tope Tedela and Ijeoma Grace Agu.

The supernatural series, set in modern-day Nigeria and shot in Lagos, will tell the story of Kemi, a goddess reincarnated as a human to avenge her sister’s death. First, however, she must learn how to use and harness her superpowers to defeat her enemies and save her family from destruction.

The series will be produced by Rififi Pictures.

"I'm excited that in the same week that we're launching Queen Sono, we had the opportunity to be here in Lagos with Nigerian storytellers to share plans of our first Nigerian original production," says Dorothy Ghettuba who leads African Originals at Netflix.

"Our continent has a wealth of diversity, multiplicity and beauty in stories that have yet to be told and we want to be top of mind for creators in Nigeria, especially when it comes to stories they haven't had a chance to tell yet."

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, in the prepared statement announcing Netflix's first commissioned series, says "We're incredibly excited to be investing in Made in Nigeria stories - bringing them to audiences all around the world".

Netflix hires Kenyan producer, Dorothy Ghettuba, the CEO of Spielworks Media, as manager for international original series for Africa.

Netflix has hired Kenya's Dorothy Ghettuba, the founder and CEO of Spielworks Media, as manager for international original series for Africa.

Dorothy Ghetubba will join the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service as Netflix's manager for international originals for the Europe, Middle East and Africa EMEA) region from June, tasked with commissioning more content for and from Africa.

Dorothy Ghetubba will move to Netflix's headquarters in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Netflix's main competitor in Africa is MultiChoice's Showmax, followed by Amazon Prime Video.

"We are excited to confirm that Dorothy is joining the international originals group, which produces original series across the world, such as Dark, The Protector and Baby," Netflix confirmed to TVwithThinus in a statement.

"She will focus on adding shows across countries in Africa to our strong and growing international originals slate."

At the Nairobi-based Spielworks Media she launched a decade ago in 2009, Dorothy Ghettuba has helped produce several TV series for local Kenyan TV channels ranging from Block D, Higher Learning, Saints, Ladies 1st and the civic education drama series Know Your Constitution, as well as shows like Lies that Bind for pan-African channels like M-Net's Africa Magic available on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

She also had a starring role in the Sumu la Penzi TV series.

"Telling our African stories," Dorothy Ghettuba posted on Twitter, showing the Netflix logo, and referring to her appointment, simply said: "Onwards and upwards.

She since deleted the message but after being congratulated by several people and also thanking them.