City of Cape Town circulates Standard Operating Procedures to local film companies

The City of Cape Town has circulated Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to local film companies as part of the reopening of the permit process.

Mayoral committee member JP Smith says the SOPs were developed to ensure all film workplaces adhere to regulations as required by the National Disaster Management Act.

The document is a guideline for the film industry in dealing with COVID-19.

Smith says the city is awaiting response from the film sector before the procedures are approved.

“This is an important industry because not only does it provide entertainment, it employs thousands of people and is a great contributor to the local economy with about R3.5-billion annually.”

“Ensuring the safe regulated return to work of this industry will act as a catalyst for the return to work of a broad range of service providers that support the film industry.”

In March, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced a R150 million relief fund to help ease the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the livelihood of those in the sporting, arts and cultural sectors.

In the video below, Minister Mthethwa discusses the COVID-19 Relief Fund:

However, some in the creative and cultural industries might miss out on the funds simply because they don’t have internet access.

This is the opinion of those who have applied and say the process is flawed.

The department emphasised that the fund was set up to assist all athletes and arts practitioners, based on a set of criteria defined for each of the two sectors.

Over 6 000 artists have so far applied for relief.