Proposal

To establish the

South African Conservatory for

Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Preamble

South Africa has been blessed with a plethora of problems that have prejudiced its ability to participate effectively in the global motion picture market. These include Apartheid and the failure of South Africans to market their motion picture products abroad effectively. There is also a seemingly endless battle between the products of our training institutions and the needs of industry. It is time, therefore, that we, the members of our industry, take action ourselves and stop relying on the authorities to do this work for us.

Objectives

To form an organised group of motion picture professionals to benefit the entire South African Motion Picture Industry from a members perspective.

1. To form a professional body to self-regulate the industry, to:
1. create a trust to run the affairs of the Conservatory,
2. establish a code of professional practice and to encourage all members to abide by these principles;
3. conduct research in fields that are of importance to the members;
4. accredit training programmes,
2. To promote the industry as a whole, to:
1. promote the regular production of local product for all markets, especially global and to create a sustainable industry;
2. continue to promote South Africa as an ideal location for motion picture production;
3. encourage and maintain proper archival methodologies for its members products;
4. deal with rogue situations as these arise;

e.g. to encourage the national broadcaster to act like one.

3. To establish a South African Motion Picture Distribution Agency whose sole mandate is to market SA motion picture products forcefully;
4. To be an umbrella body for smaller, less powerful guilds and unions, which include, inter alia:
1. The Camera Guild
2. SASWA
5. To encourage the formation of the Directors Guild of South Africa (and other guilds) with a mandate similar to that of the DGA, to:
1. deal with the minimum requirements for employment;
2. arrange long term financial benefits for members such as medical aid, pension plans et al.