Madagascar, a unique film location
Africa has its pretty powerful exception... a pristine land no brilliant words can describe. Only heart can see, only eyes can experience, only brave steps can walk by.
A land where melty sunshine meets angry rain...
A land you need to get the approval from, before accessing some of its secrets.
#madagascar was always meant to be a unique #filmlocation
It has never been easy for #filmproduction but thoughtful for the mind of any poet.
Finding inspiration of undisclosed stories is natural for any #filmmaker set foot on the Red Island...
But #madagascar to be explored in any film needs more than a camera.
Will you dare to discover how ?
Meet you soon in #madagascar
#RoughRiders #filminginmadagascar #filminginafrica #islandvibes #fim
Why scouting locations in Madagascar is more valuable with a local location manager than an intermediate agency recruiting a local film fixer, or, in some cases, a travel agent ?
Productions should always keep in mind that :
1) A travel agent...
- Doesn't know about film production requirements, he's specialized in individuals coming to a country for leisure,
- Business travelers travel agents deal with are not business people dealing with film equipment, film production deadlines, weather constraints, b-roll list to shoot, etc.
- Doesn't provide pre-production results on research, on character scout (in the case of a documentary for example), on crew selection (scouting a competent hairstylist for a commercial isn't a travel agent job),
- Doesn't have to know about the filming permit process and necessary follow up once application is delivered at the designated national authority...
The above examples explain why the travel agent is not the most appropriate partner's to a foreign producer willing to film in Madagascar.
Etc... etc...
2) The intermediate agency (generally own by an expatriate in Madagascar)
- Doesn't speak the native Malagasy language which is a vital passport to communicate, scout, meet, ask, negotiate, translate, deal with arrangements to film in Madagascar,
- Doesn't know about the hyper-local fomba (customs) which are complementary to the national filming permit to have a piece of mind to process to a film production in Madagascar... when those fomba needs to be investigated, findings and answers are better understood and are interpreted quite accurately by a Malagasy national than an expatriate,
- Hires local film professionals perfectly aware of an international film production standard requirement,
- Doesn't know the do's to get the best tips to find out about hidden suppliers for film equipment, secret film locations, etc.
Talking to a Malagasy national film professional is a worthy consideration to enhance the efficiency of pre-product