News

Meet the Etana Film Guarantees team

28 September, 2011

Etana's Paul Raleigh, one of the heads of the company's Film Guarantees team

Visiting the cinema is a favourite pastime for many. But while taking in the latest blockbuster, very few people probably turn their minds to the potential risks associated with making a film.

Making films is an expensive business, and there is a lot of pressure on those who invest money in the production and on the directors who have deadlines to meet. If the making of a film extends beyond the allocated time, then extra costs will be incurred for leasing equipment and paying film crew and caterers for that extra time, while logistics and actors are also affected.

Paul Raleigh and Romy Nomis from the Etana Film Guarantees team, based in Woodmead, Johannesburg, provide cover against this. They insure the investors and ensure the completion and delivery of most South African feature films or co-productions with international production houses. If there is a delay, Etana will cover the extra costs.

The pair was recently involved in a film directed by The Fast and the Furious actor Paul Walker, called Vehicle 19. They also provided guarantees for the Academy Award-winning film, Tsotsi, and have worked with directors like Quentin Tarantino and South African comedy genius Leon Schuster.

“We make sure that the budget, schedule and script are realistic and doable and we monitor daily call sheets and production reports,” says Paul. “Romy and I regularly chat with producers and make sure all parties are kept abreast of what is happening.”

The pair schedules weekly cost-report meetings with all the production houses to ensure that filming remains within the projected costs. An interesting and exciting aspect to their job is visiting the sets every day when a film is in production.

“Romy and I are fortunate enough to have met some incredible people and top celebrities,” says Paul. “It is fantastic developing a working relationship with the likes of Paul Walker and local comedians such as David Kau, Joey Rasdien and Chris Forrest. However, the glamour is tempered by all the legal documentation that needs to be drawn up. We deal with a lot of paperwork regarding completion guarantees and budget processes.”

Currently the Etana Film Guarantees team is working on local shoots such as Blitz Patrollie and ZA News.

The next time you visit your local Ster-Kinekor or Nu Metro, consider the risks involved in the production of the local movie you are watching and the integral role that Paul and Romy played in ensuring it reached the big screen on time.