Durban vying for more business from moviemakers

A RECENT article published in The Star stated that Durban is making a concerted effort to break into the lucrative R2bn a year movie industry, which is dominated by Cape Town and to a lesser degree, Johannesburg. Apparently acclaimed South African director, Anant Singh, is leading the crusade with the Durban lobby group claiming Cape Town is becoming too expensive. The first move will see Durban establishing a film office as a matter of urgency. According to the article, Singh announced that Durban is to construct a R50m film studio to open in 18 months' time. The city is to vigorously promote its assets to filmmakers which include its reliable weather, long coastline, mighty Drakensberg and myriad of cultures and other shooting locations. (Miguel de Sousa)