A new, state of the art film studio is under construction in South Africa, and it is hoped to draw increasing numbers of actors, producers and directors to the country to shoot their movies. Cape Town Studios is being constructed 25 kilometers east of Cape Town on 200 hectares of ground near lush vineyards. The new studio will rival anything in Hollywood or Bollywood, according to news reports.
The project is estimated to cost R430 million and the Western Cape government is investing some R30 million. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2010, and the first stages should see action within a year.
As many as 20,000 people are employed in the film industry in South Africa, making it the largest such business on the continent. Parts of the recent Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond were filmed in the country, and stars such as Steven Seagal, Nicholas Cage, Andi McDowell and Juliette Binoche have filmed on location in recent years.
One of the benefits to shooting in South Africa is the great year round weather, which will help movies get made in time and on budget.
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