PE Fim and Model Expo

PE FILM AND MODEL EXPO PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA, 26-30 MAY 2010: 

Port Elizabeth has a wealth of untapped industry talent, locations and industry resources. SAMDB is proud to announce the first PE Film and Model Expo, to be held at Uptown Theatres in Port Elizabeth, an SAMDB initiative, in collaboration with Uptown Theatres, Port Elizabeth. AFDA Cape Town is lending support by making their student short films available for screening. The aim of the expo is to showcase the talent of PE and surrounds, facilitate networking between those in the industry, and to assist in creating synergy between Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg industry players. 



This will promote the flow of industry information and provide a channel for talent in PE so that they will have the opportunity to be cast and be booked on jobs shooting in PE, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Working with the talents’ respective agents, SAMDB is shooting Webcast and Photo shoots, which will be showcased at the Expo, and placed on the SAMDB website. A casting facility will soon be available to talent in PE, eliminating the need for them to travel out of town to auditions. 



SAMDB’s vision began with showcasing South African model and film talent, industry professionals, companies and related services. SAMDB takes pride in their country and what it has to offer. Cape Town has proven to be a top destination for international shoots, second only to Hollywood in many aspects, and creates revenue for South Africa, that expanding on that, can only create more job opportunities. Through various networking forums, one point has always come to the fore; South Africans are hungry to create, hungry to perform, but do not know how to get in touch with other relevant and willing industry parties. This surely means there is enough talent and resources available to establish South Africa as a forerunner in the arts. 



There has always been a serious lack of funding for the arts, and yet there are benefactors out there who are just waiting for the right script, talent and professional teams to make it happen. From this, a platform to showcase entertainment industry talent, companies and services was born, namely a professional website, SAMDB (The South African Movie Database), for professionals. SAMDB is the brain child of co-founders Martéz Saporta-Rothuysen and Andrew Germishuys. Martéz (Fusion Model Management and Emma Ress Management) has been a top professional model for 21 years, including a title for Miss PE 1989 and a finalist in Miss SA. Andrew is an actor, appearing in several feature films and has an extensive background in IT. 



The Expo will feature workshops, talks, slots for amateur standup comedians, fashion shows, live bands, exhibitions by industry-related companies, film screenings (including shorts, features, and the SA Talent Film Festival), an awards evening for Most Promising Model, Most Promising Actor and Most Promising Film. Nominees for the awards will be selected from those shooting webcast and photo shoots, and those on the Intro to Film workshop. Zaheer Goodman-Bhyat (of Greener Grass – to be filmed in PE shortly, Jacob’s Cross, Scandal) will present the Intro to Film Workshop (commencing one day prior to the Expo). 



Stand up comic Kurt Schoonraad will perform a nightly show. Louw Venter (of Corné and Twakkie, Greener Grass short) will be giving talks on acting in South Africa. Independent film makers looking for funding will have an opportunity to screen their short films. Uptown Theatres will be launching their new Jazz bar as part of the Expo. The Expo aims to help boost awareness of the amazing talent Port Elizabeth has to offer and showcase PE and surrounds as an attractive shoot destination. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Missionvale Care Centre in PE, towards the upliftment of their youth. 



WEBCAST AND PHOTO SHOOTS As part of the run-up to the Expo, SAMDB has been shooting Webcast and Photo shoots in PE. The Webcasts are similar to a casting, and take the form of a video clip that is hosted on the SAMDB website. This allows an agent to send potential clients to the site to view footage of the talent. The Photo shoot is similar to a mini-portfolio shoot. Both shoots comprise of a few different looks, and are shot by the SAMDB team, with the assistance of professional make-up artists and photographers. Those shooting with SAMDB will receive a one year’s Gold membership on the SAMDB site, and be showcased at the Expo. 



Talent who do not have agents will receive a year’s Gold membership on the Talent and Audition Warehouse site, to be launched at the Expo, which will provide a means for agents to scout talent, and for the talent to be showcased. INTRODUCTION TO FILM WORKSHOP The Intro to Film Workshop (25 & 26 May) will be hosted by top South African director, producer and writer Zaheer Goodman-Bhyat at Uptown Theatres. As part of the workshop, students will create a one minute movie. Entry: R50 (students, scholars and pensioners R20) includes all talks. Workshops: R200 Feature screenings: R25 Short and student film screenings: R10