The Whole World in Mauritius
Mauritius is a favourite destination for tourists and filmmakers, not only because of its scenic beauty, but also because it is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. The country comprises the two main islands of Mauritius and Rodriguez, as well as the outer islands of Cargados Carales Shoals and Agalega. The capital Port Louis is lively and busy and the main island resorts are filled with tourists all year round. Visitors who venture further out to the mountains of Le Morne or Le Ponce to explore hiking trails can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of these secluded spots, while Blue Bay is a paradise for divers.
Egypt, Land of Contrasts
Egypt is a land of stark contrasts: the remains of an ancient civilization are juxtaposed with today’s modern, bustling society; desert landscapes stretch away from the great Nile River on one side, while crowded, chaotic towns and settlements encroach on the terrain on the other side; mud-brick villages stand beside buildings of steel and glass; some wear traditional, long flowing robes while others are dressed in Levi’s jeans and Nike shoes. The sound of the muezzin – the Islamic call to prayer- clashes with
boisterous dance music from clubs and donkeys compete with street vendors and taxis for space on the narrow streets of ancient cities. Certain film locations in Egypt require film producers to leave behind a structured routine and go with the flow, and often, filming in Egypt requires patience! African Fixer will help you navigate the aspects of filming that require patience and flexibility. In between periods of shooting, you can enjoy ‘a million marvellous things,’ as the ancient historian Herodotus wrote in the 5th Century B.C.E.
Film Locations in Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the most well-known destinations in Africa. It is the most populous country in Africa and ranks seventh in the world! It is a diverse country with over 500 ethnic groups and languages and a variety of landscapes from mangroves, coastlines, national parks and arid desert-like regions. It is an excellent choice for a filming location and the energy in Nigeria is infectious from the music, to the fashion.
UK Trade Department Sets Sights on Nigerian Film Industry
Nigeria has a thriving film industry in Nollywood, and recently the UK government took a keener interest in this by embarking on a fact finding trade mission to explore opportunities in the industry.
Nigerian Culture Experienced Through Music
The ‘Unplugged Talent Show” is the most popular and successful music and dance television show in Nigeria and rivals the likes of America/Europe/Britain’s Got Talent. What differentiates the Nigerian show from international talent searches is that the organizers not only discover but also manage and promote the winning acts, and the key criteria for auditioning is that all songs must be original.
Nigerian Film-Making Celebrates Heroes and Heroin’s
Two original Nigerian films make their debut and highlight topics that do not often find their way into commercial movies: Citation premieres in Lagos and Walking With Shadows is enjoying a two-day premiere at the British Film Institute Festival in London.
The Best of Nigerian Film Talent
The Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 African International Film Festival in Lagos was presented to Nigerian film producer and actor Oludoton Baiyewa Jacobs, whose career spans five decades of work in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Expediting Filming in Tanzania
Obtaining a permit to shoot a film in Tanzania has always been an expensive and time-consuming process. Film producers need to allow plenty of lead time, as the permit usually takes eight weeks to process. An expedited permit, arranged by an African Fixer, costs $ 3,000 but only takes two weeks.
The Resurrection of Ghallywood
Ghallywood can be considered the ‘grand-daddy’ of Filming In Africa, with a history reaching all the way back to the cinema of Ghana established by the British Gold Coast Colony in the 1920’s. This type of cinema was branded Black Star Films and was widely distributed to all corners of The Gold Coast Colony. However only the affluent were able to enjoy the development of this type of cinema and it was dominated by colonial influences.
Cameroon’s Film Industry Set To Take Off
For many years Africa’s film industry has been dominated by productions coming out of Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, but in the past five years Cameroon has begun attracting the attention of film producers, and last year, their first film came out on Netflix.
The Cameroonian film scene is still developing, and is seen as having huge growth potential. As a location, Cameroon offers a wealth of diversity with beaches, game reserves, tropical rainforest and urban settings. In 2021, the first Cameroonian Netflix movie, Therapy, came out. It was shot by the director Musing Derrick, and has set the stage for more productions to follow with profitable opportunities being offered by Netflix. It is evident that Cameroon is enjoying healthy development with over 200 movies produced since 2008.
International production teams have chosen Cameroon before to host their productions including Chocolat (1988) and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), as well as a few documentaries. With the advancements in the Cameroonian film industry in the last decade, the country is now emerging as a stronger player on the scene, though there are still a number of considerations when planning a production in the country.