First phase of CT film studio underway

THE first phase of the R400m Dreamworld Film Studio project in Cape Town has commenced with bush clearing services on the site near Faure, about 20km from Cape Town, starting last week. It is expected that the bush clearing will take approximately three weeks, after which the environmental impact assessment of the site will take place. Construction of the film studio is expected to commence in early 2005. The bush clearing is being done by FM Clearing Services, a BEE company owned by Michael Mfanya. All the people working on the site are drawn from the vicinity of the development, including Khayelitsha, Harare, Guguletu and Mfuleni. Phuti Tsukudu, Dreamworld director assigned the responsibility of empowerment rollout and monitoring for the project said the bush clearing phase was the first real sign of the commencement of the project. "This bush clearing phase is a small but tangible example of how residents of immediate townships will benefit from this development. We look forward to making this project a success not only for Dreamworld, but for the thousands of people and their families who will benefit from the jobs it will provide,” said Tsukudu. "This development is set to dramatically boost South Africa as a destination of choice for international filmmakers who will not only have access to spectacular locations, but who will now be offered a one-stop, highly advanced facility where an entire production can be produced from conception to completion,” added Tsukudu. (Lucy Siebert)