About the Organization

South Africa's political transformation in 1994 vastly benefited the film and television production industry. Not only did it broaden and liberalize the South African market, but it also opened the world to national film producers and vice versa. The film industry - still mainly dependent on overseas producers- is one of the top five growth industries in the Western Cape.

Movies that have recently been shot in the Cape included Country of my Skull featuring Juliette Binoche and Samuel Jackson, Lord of War with Nicholas Cage, Ultimatum with Vinnie Jones and Eddie Griffith, The Piano Player, featuring Christopher Lambert and Dennis Hopper and Manhunt with SA-born mummy star Arnold Vosloo.

The opportunities for filming in the Western Cape are almost unlimited. The Western Cape has Alpine-style mountains and lakes, tropical beaches, rugged rocky coastlines, rolling wheat fields and mysterious forests. Within a short distance from the international airport, filmmakers can find a Roman colosseum, a Hong Kong street market, a Paris fashion show, South Beach Miami, 1960's London as well as numerous other generic American cities. And, of course, there is the weather. It is nearly guaranteed that the sun will shine for at least fourteen hours a day in the Cape, in the middle of the European winter.

In addition, shooting a film in Cape Town is at least 30% cheaper than in Europe and the United States and 20% cheaper than in Australia, making it all the more attractive to overseas film producers.

To engage the industry of filming, the Cape Film Commission and thirty film companies in Cape Town are trying to develop the market. Film industries in Europe and the United States are highly-developed and offer South Africa big competition, especially in post production facilities.

The most lucrative part of the film industry in the Cape is the international commercials business with over 400 film shoots per year. Cape Town offers 6 equipment rental companies, more than 25 stills production companies and around 45 commercial service companies. The city attracts 58% of all commercial shoots.

A R30 million post-production facility opened in summer 2003, enables international film companies to complete their total film productions in Cape Towns and solidifies the city’s prominence in the international film industry.

Job Description

Interns will be individually placed in a specific company within the film industry, based on their experience and interests. Opportunities include advertising, film production management, television, photography, advertising, post-production work, etc.

While internship availability varies, some past interns have been placed at the following organizations:
Stillking Films (film and advertising production)
Brainstorm Projects (advertising agency)

Many other options exist. Be sure to indicate your area of interest in your cover letter and/or essay.

# of Positions per term

Varies

Start Dates

Advertising available year round, film internships only available fall and winter terms

Duration of Internship

1-2 Terms

Academic Background

Film and video, photography, journalism, advertising, media studies

Skills/Experience

Strong client interaction skills and pervious work experience in service based industries, hard-working and willing to work beyond normal work-day hours during shoots, filming etc. Must demonstrate skills directly relating to the internship role desired: (e.g., as an intern with a photography production company, knowledge of photo theory and coursework with photography).

Language Ability

English. Experience in a European language is a plus for placement with production companies that serve European clients.

Other Requirements

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee for the first term of any internship is $2,750 - $2,950. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
Host Site Fees	An additional fee of $1900 applies to this program, and covers accommodation, airport transfers, local orientation, internship management, 24-hour local support, and placement. IMPORTANT BUDGET NOTE: Due to limited housing availability during the 2010 World Cup, there will be an additional $42/week accommodation surcharge between May 30 and July 17, 2010.
International Travel	$1,800 round trip from Oregon to Cape Town, South Africa
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations	$400

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing
Food	$300-$400
Local Transportation	$100-$200, varies by placement
Recreation	$150
Personal Expenses	$120

Additional Expense Information

Accommodation: Interns will be accommodated in private student-oriented housing in the Observatory neighborhood. Interns will have a fully-furnished private room, kitchen and laundry facilities, 24-hour security and wireless internet connection. (Shared rooms are occasionally available at a lower cost.) Accommodation and local support is provided by Volunteer Adventure Corps. Interns will need to pay a $50 lease fee and a refundable $350 housing deposit upon arrival in South Africa.

Cost of Living: Interns should plan to spend $300-$350/month for food, entertainment and personal expenses.

Note: Students who have participated in Africa internships have suggested that interns may want to bring additional money so that they may participate more in uniquely African activities, such as visits to game parks, buying local clothing and crafts, contributing to local organizations, and bringing home gifts for friends and family. Therefore, depending on your interests, you may want to budget additional funds.

Interns will be living in Observatory, and will be supported by local host organization Volunteer Adventure Corps. Observatory, or “Obz” as locals call it, is one of the most exciting student neighborhoods in all of Cape Town. It features an eclectic sundry of nightspots and restaurants, and an atmosphere that is surprisingly cosmopolitan given its intimate size. Much of this unique vibe is attributed to the presence of many international visitors. It is not uncommon to overhear conversations in several different languages while walking along the street. Yet, Obz is also intrinsically South African. Living in Obz and experiencing its cultural and political vibes will help interns better understand, on a greater scale, the complexities of the “new” South Africa.

Observatory is popular among the international student/ volunteer community because it is located halfway between the city center and the False Bay coastline. Visitors have an endless selection of outdoor activities to choose from, such as hiking, surfing, scuba diving, golfing, outdoor concerts and wine tasting. Cape Town is surrounded by oceans and is home to many beautiful beaches! The city centre, known to Capetonians as the “bowl”, is the ideal place to go on cultural excursions.

Following are several student-produced videos about the internship opportunities in Cape Town through the IE3 program.