Unjamming traffic: The film industry takes action

The cadets will be extremely beneficial to shoots planned for Gauteng. They will replace the city's traffic police who are themselves logjammed by manpower shortages and more pressing priorities, particularly during the silly season.

This "jam-breaking" initiative is testimony to the support from private companies and government who acknowledge that vast benefits generated by the film industry. And irate residents will no doubt be delighted to discover that professional services are in place to reduce traffic logjams during the increasingly congested film season

The training programme has been jointly sponsored by the CPA and the JMPD. The CPA has designed a comprehensive course structure in traffic management. Training will commence from December and the cadets will be available from January 2004.

The Cadet Training Course represents one of the most proactive initiatives spearheaded by the newly formed GFO. It underscores the GFO's commitment to effectively marketing the province to the global film industry, and co-opting filmmakers to formalise the production market in Gauteng.

"Our industry needs these professionals to prove that we are a properly geared service industry," says CPA member, Peter Carr, who is executive producer of Velocity films. "Gauteng has seen the great potential of the film industry. Provision of such services means money generated into our economy. This in turn will create greater employment opportunities."

The course will be covered over a three-day period and targeting 20 cadets, the training schedule will include:

1. Lectures by Peter Carr, CPA Executive Producer on the film production process.
2. Lectures by Consulting Dynamix's Heather Setzen - a specialized training provider in the film sector - on Self Management / Life Skills and Occupational Safety.
3. Lectures by a CPA appointed Assistant Director - selected from an accredited list of Gauteng based professionals -. on the running of a set and set etiquette.
4. Lectures by Dale Edwards, a Gauteng-based freelance locations and unit manager on the specific job function of the Traffic Cadets.
5. Lectures by the JMPD on traffic control procedures and pointsman duties.

The cadets will also receive a document on the production process incorporating their lecture material to take away with them. In addition, each cadet will attend at least one day of filming on street locations. Nissan will provide the transport to these shoots.

Industry insiders have greeted the GFO's traffic cadet course with enthusiasm. "This is one of the most exciting developments in our training initiatives so far," says Consulting Dynamix's Heather Setzen. "The continued upgrading of our film and television infrastructure on all levels ensures professionalism in all we do."