Namibia: Snipes Launches Local Film School

AN opportunity for formal training in the film industry was the farewell gift from the makers of the Hollywood movie 'Gallowwalker' and its star, Wesley Snipes.

Filming of the movie in the Namib Desert has wrapped up and the cast and crew have departed, but not before launching Namibia's first On-set Film Training project (Noft) in Swakopmund just before Christmas.

The main idea is to establish a basis to provide on-set training in film making to Namibians, said Moses Mberira, National Co-ordinator for Noft.

Snipes, who plays the lead character, Aman, was overwhelmed with joy when the idea was put to him, and volunteered to be patron of the project, said Mberira.

The film industry is rapidly growing in Namibia, he said, therefore the aim is now to equip locals with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet international production standards.