Namibia’s beautiful landscape and access to locations will allow for more production values and versatility in the cinematography of our local productions and increase earnings for filmmakers, creating a truly profitable industry in the economy.
Mondjila Studio’s Tjuna Kauapirura Daringo told VIBEZ! that Namibia has amazing landscapes and resorts that can strengthen the country’s tourism industry.
“We are cognizant of the need to protect and preserve our environment; however, a film such as ours, which was shot in a National Park, is sadly a first of its kind in the Skeleton coast (specifically). We believe the Film Commission has over time established functional measures that aid filmmakers in safeguarding our environment during film productions,” stated Kauapirura-Daringo.
The actress is part of a production, called The Skeleton Coast Movie, a pan-African collaboration between Nigerian film producers Playnetwork Studios and Namibian film producers Mondjila Studios.
Mondjila Studios is a bonified film house, founded by young Namibians, who are passionate about the industry. The members are deeply rooted in the film and entertainment industry on productions such as the Katutura movie in 2014, Fish Out of Water movie in 2016, as well as the popular series, The Third Will and Dreamers television series.
The synopsis is a group of scientists arriving on the Skeleton Coast in search of Blunamite, a never-before-seen gem that is rumoured to be on the coast. When one of them ends up dead, they are not sure whether one of them is the culprit or whether the coast is sending them an ominous message.
Kauapirura-Daringo said, through this movie and apart from wanting to tell our own stories as Africans, create training, jobs and exposure for our talents and industry experts, their main objective is to evidence new possibilities by collaborating with other countries with larger viewership.
She said this is a great opportunity to use the available platform as a steppingstone to the arts and film industry, while promoting African cultures and stories globally.
Kauapirura-Daringo further said the production they are busy with is anticipated to be 1h30 minutes long, starring her, playing the lead role of Samantha Gold, as well as Armas Shivute, who plays a supporting role as the lodge manager.
“The rest of the main cast encompasses top and influential talents from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and America. If postproduction goes according to schedule, we should be set to release early Quarter 2 in 2024,” she said.
Namibia has been a marvel host for movies such as Mad Max, Fury Road, The Mummy, some scenes in Bollywood’s Dhoom 2, Beast starring Edris Alba and Flight of the Phoenix – to mention a few.
One of the producers, Rogers Ofime, in an interview with NBC at the shoot of the movie, said if Hollywood has come to Namibia to make movies, there must be something about the landscape and scenery.
“They just don’t go anywhere; there must be something here. Why can’t we harness what Africa has for Africans? And that is the purpose here; there can be no better place to start this pan-African vision than Namibia,” joyfully said the excited Ofime.
He stated the country has everything to offer in terms of the locations, landscape and scenery. “Everything is amazing, and we are happy to write a story that suits the ambience, and I think we have done a good job,” he said.
A collaborator of the movie, Playnetwork Studios, is a production house, based in Nigeria and established in 2019 with an unrivalled approach to bringing cinematic quality to every project they take on for audiences around the world to enjoy.
Their high level of professionalism in every area of production and exhibition of intelligent craftsmanship is a major strength.
Play Network Studios is a subsidiary of The Play Network Africa, which is Africa’s leading business and luxury lifestyle networking platform.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na