THE PLAYERS
Anant Singh
Sudhir Pragjee
Sanjeev Singh

CORPORATE PROFILE

Videovision Entertainment is a diversified company whose operations have grown from its core business of film and television production and distribution to film exhibition, live entertainment, property and film studio development.

The company is amongst the largest independent film production and distribution companies in South Africa.

FILM PRODUCTION

Videovision Entertainment has produced over 60 motion pictures since its founding 15 years ago. All the films produced by Videovision are distributed worldwide. The company has been responsible for bringing to the screen South Africa's major anti-apartheid films, some of them made during the apartheid era. They include A Place of Weeping, The Stick, Sarafina! and Cry, the Beloved Country. In 1996, the company produced, Paljas which was accepted as South Africa's first official entry for Oscar consideration while Yesterday, the first Zulu Language film released internationally was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award in 2005.

The Long Run stars Oscar Nominee, Armin Mueller-Stahl opposite popular South African stars Nthati Moshesh and Desmond Dube. The music was composed by former Capetonian Trevor Jones (Notting Hill, Thirteen Days) and additional musical contributions were made by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, diva Sibongile Khumalo and Amampondo. The film was released in South Africa on July 20 and was acquired for worldwide distribution by Universal Focus, the speciality division of Universal Studios.

Mr Bones starring South Africa's Number One Boxoffice Star, Leon Schuster in the lead, was produced in 2001. Set against the backdrop of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, it is a classic slapstick comedy and is the highest grossing South African film of all time, earning more than R32 million to date.

The Zulu language feature film, Yesterday which received South Africa's first-ever Academy Award Nomination in the Best Foreign Language Category in 2005, is written and directed by Darrell James Roodt (Sarafina!, Cry, The Beloved Country) and stars Leleti Khumalo. The film focuses on the character Yesterday, rural village woman who contracts HIV/AIDS from her mineworker husband and her dream of seeing her daughter start school. Yesterday was also selected for the prestigious Venice and Toronto Film Festivals and won the inaugural Human Rights Film Award at the Venice Film Festival. It recently won the prestigious Peabody Award in the United States of America and received an Emmy nomination in the "Outstanding Made For Television Movie" category.

Red Dust, a suspense-filled courtroom drama which explores the effects of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The film stars Academy Award Winner Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry) and BAFTA nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things). The film had its World Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2004 and won the coveted Audience Prize at Miami Film Festival in 2005. The film was also presented at the Bangkok International Film Festival, the Palm Springs Film Festival and the Human Rights Nights Film Festival in Bologna, Italy and closed the inaugural Dubai International Film Festival. The Film was nominated for the BAFTA Television Awards in the category, Best Single Drama in March 2006.

Dollars And White Pipes, a stylish Cape Flats film produced by Videovision Entertainment, was written and directed by Donovan Marsh won the Best Director Award for a First Feature at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles in February 2006. The film was also featured at the Montreal World Film Festival, The Rotterdam Film Festival, The Cape Town World Film Festival and the Durban International Film Festival. Dollars And White Pipes is based on the true life story of Bernie Baatjies who grew up in the Cape Flats suburb of Hanover Park. The film stars a host of Cape talent, among whom are Clint Brink (Generations), Joey Yusuf Rasdien, Shaun Arnolds, Genevieve Howard and Kevin Smith.

Faith's Corner is a powerful story about a woman and her two young sons who live on the streets of modern day Johannesburg, eking out a living by begging from passing motorists. Written and directed by Darrell James Roodt, the film stars Leleti Khumalo and introduces Sibonelo Xulu and Thobani Khubeka, two primary school children from KwaMashu, who made their acting debut in the film. Faith's Corner has been featured at the Rotterdam Film Festival, the Cape Town World Cinema Festival, the Prague International Film Festival and the Durban International Film Festival where Leleti Khumalo won the Best Actress Award for her role in the film.

Released in November 2005 was Mama Jack, a further collaboration with Leon Schuster. The film was the top performing South African film of 2005, grossing more than R28 million at the boxoffice.

Prey which is directed by Darrell James Roodt and co-written by Roodt and the writers of Cry Wolf, Beau Bauman and Jeff Wadlow was produced in 2006. The film follows an American family who travel to Africa for their dream holiday. During their drive in a game reserve they get lost in a maze of dirt roads and encounter a pride of lions which begin to stalk them. The family desperately tries to outwit the lions, marking the beginning of their African nightmare. The film stars Peter Weller of RoboCop fame, Bridget Moynahan (I, Robot, The Sum Of All Fears, The Recruit) and Carly Schroeder (Firewall, Mean Creek).

Former President, Nelson Mandela awarded the coveted film rights to his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, to Anant Singh and Videovision Entertainment. The film script is written by renowned screen-writer William Nicholson (Sarafina!, First Knight) and Mark St. Germain.

Videovision Entertainment has developed to become the largest, most consistent and prolific film production company in this country and certainly one of the leading film production companies in Africa.


CO-PRODUCTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Videovision has had successful co-production relationships with international partners, the product of which are a number of quality films with internationally recognisable cast and renowned directors. Most of these pictures are released in the major territories including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Captives starring Tim Roth and Julia Ormond, directed by Angela Pope; Bravo Two Zero, based on the world-wide best selling book by Andy McNab, starring Sean Bean and directed by Tom Clegg were distributed by Miramax Films in the United States. Face starring Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone, directed by Antonia Bird and The Theory of Flight with Helena Bonham Carter and Kenneth Branagh, directed by Paul Greengrass were distributed by Fineline Pictures in the United States.

Get Real starring Ben Silverstone and directed by Simon Shore was distributed by Paramount Classics in the United States and UIP in the United Kingdom. Twin Dragons starring Jackie Chan was distributed by Miramax in the United States and by Buena Vista International (Disney) in the United Kingdom, while Black Mask with Jet Li (Lethal Weapon 4) was released by Artisan Entertainment in the United States.

The Legend of Zu, a co-production with the Hong Kong based China Star Entertainment, stars Ekin Cheng, Sammo Hung, Zhang Zi Yi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Cecilia Cheng and is directed by the renowned Tsui Hark. The film is choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping of The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame and has been acquired by Miramax Films for North America, the United Kingdom and Mexico for release later this year.

Happy Now which was shot in the United Kingdom, is an off-beat thriller set in a remote Welsh village and stars Ioan Gruffudd, Paddy Considine, Richard Coyle, Om Puri, and newcomer Emmy Rossum. The film premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in August 2001.

I Capture The Castle produced in the United Kingdom, is a love story set in 1930's England and follows 17 year-old Cassandra Mortmain and the fortunes of her eccentric family struggling to survive in a decaying English castle. The film stars Romola Garai, Marc Blucas, Tara Fitzgerald and Bill Nighy. The film has also been nominated for three BAFTA awards: Performance by an actress in a leading role (Romola Garai), Make-up & Hair (Lisa Westcott), Costume Design (Charlotte Walter).

FILM ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION

Videovision Entertainment is South Africa's leading independent film distributor and over the years has developed strong relationships with studios and independents around the world. The company has acquired over 2 000 films in the past 15 years for distribution in South Africa, most of them released in cinemas, on video and television.

FILM EXHIBITION

In December 2000, Videovision Entertainment established a cinema chain with complexes at the GrandWest and Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Complexes in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth respectively. The Cinema Starz complexes are aimed at being unparalleled facilities offering patrons the ultimate cinema experience.

TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS

The company holds the South African rights to the international game show phenomenon Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? which it also produces. The show has had two successful seasons on pay television channel M-Net and an additional two seasons on SABC 3.

Videovision Entertainment produced the drama series, titled The Res, in association with Egoli creator Franz Marx. The series focuses on a once grand house which becomes the residence for a culturally and ethnically mixed group of twenty-somethings who attend a nearby technikon. The Res is a hotbed of student issues, agendas, traumas and love affairs that is characteristically South Africa. The series was broadcast on SABC 2.

Videovision Entertainment has produced a range of socially responsible and relevant television programmes. Recent productions include:

- Nkosi - The Voice Of Africa's AIDS Orphans documents the courageous campaign waged by Nkosi Johnson against the dreaded AIDS disease

- A Hero For All was produced as a tribute to Nelson Mandela as he stepped down as President of South Africa
- A profile of Nelson Mandela

- Countdown to Freedom, made at the invitation of President Mandela, which documents the 10 days preceding the first democratic elections in 1994, culminating in the inauguration of the President

- Prisoners of Hope, which documents the reunion of 1250 former political prisoners, led by President Mandela, on Robben Island, where they had been imprisoned

- Ahmed Kathrada, the youngest treason trialist and trusted advisor to former President, Nelson Mandela

- Profile of the eminent South African playwright, Athol Fugard

- Profile of pioneer anti-apartheid activist, Dr Goonam, who was one of the leading politically active Indian women

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Videovision Entertainment entered the live entertainment arena with the promotion of the first ever stadium extravaganza in South Africa, the Amitabh Bachchan Concerts at the ABSA Stadium in Durban and the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in January 1991.

In March 1997 Videovision Entertainment and Showtime Concerts brought Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine to South Africa as part of the Evolution World Tour and also presented the South African leg of Michael Jackson's History World Tour in 1997.

Videovision Entertainment brought the giants of Indian Cinema to Durban, South Africa for a once-in-a-lifetime musical extravaganza on Saturday, December 28. The show billed as Now Or Never Live! saw legendary Indian actor, Amitabh Bachchan lead a star-studded troupe that featured Bollywood's top stars Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, Preity Zinta, Shilpa Shetty and Rani Mukherjee. The Now Or Never Live ! show was without doubt the most astounding live stadium extravaganza Bollywood fans have ever experienced and certainly the largest that South Africa has ever seen.

In November 2003, the company acted as consultants on the production and staging of the 46664 Mandela Concert which featured a host of international and South African artists, among whom were Bongo Maffin, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Johnny Clegg & Sipho Mchunu, Ladysmith Black Mombaza, Danny K, Zola, and Ready D, include Anastacia, Baaba Maal, Beyonce, Bono, Eurythmics, The Corrs, Angelique Kidjo, Moloko, Paul Oakenfold, Queen, Youssou N'Dour and Zucchero.

In August 2005, the company promoted the South African tour of India's leading choreographer, Shiamak Davar and his troupe. The tour, entitled, Shiamak: The Spirit Of Song And Dance wowed audiences at the International Convention Centre in Durban and Sun International's Carninval City in Johannesburg. Davar's award winning work can be seen in Bollywood films "Dil To Pagal Hai", "Taal," "Kisna" and "Bunty Aur Babli" and a number of high profile events, including film industry awards ceremonies, among which are FilmFare Awards, Sansui Awards, Stardust Awards and the IIFA Awards. Davar also choreographed India's extravaganza presentation at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in March 2006.

THEATRE

Videovision Entertainment produced its first theatre production, Bombay Crush in November 2005. The Westend-styled stage musical, inspired by Bollywood, written and directed by renowned theatre and film director, Junaid Ahmed, was choreographed by award-winning choreographer, Jay Pather. The production featured a troupe of South African dancers and actors with popular Mumbai-based television heartthrob, Gaurav Chopra in the lead. Bombay Crush played to more than 30 000 people over two and half months during its run at the iZulu Theatre at the Sibaya Casino And Entertainment Kingdom in Durban.

SPECIAL EVENTS

In May 2003, Videovision Entertainment was engaged by the SA2010 Bid Company to produce the launch of South Africa's bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup at the International Convention Centre in Durban. Videovision entertainment produced the entire programme of events which included all the Entertainment. The performing artists included South Africa's top musicians, Vusi Mahlesela, Busi Mhlongo and Brendan Jury as well as rousing dance performances by seven dance companies including Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre, Indlovana Dance Company, Siwela Sonke Pansula Company, Shwibeka Gumboot Dance Company, Nateshwar Dance Company, Celtic Dance Company and Linda Vargas Dance Company.

In December 2002, Videovision Entertainment organized a formal banquet for 1500 people at the International Convention Centre in Durban. The event was designed around ten of Bollywood's top stars that were in South Africa for the Now Or Never show. The banquet was the social highlight for the South Africa's Indian community and the Jacob Zuma RDP Education Fund benefited from an auction of Bollywood Memorabilia at the event.

In June 2001, Videovision Entertainment produced the Entertainment segment of the World Economic Forum's Southern African Summit at the ICC in Durban. This multi-cultural event was choreographed by Jay Pather of the Siwela Sonke Dance Company and was set to Ravel's Bolero and received a standing ovation.

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

The company is currently in the process of developing film studios and related facilities in Cape Town and Durban. These developments will provide state-of-the-art facilities with the latest technology and are situated in Faure in Cape Town and the Natal Command site on Durban's beachfront (next to the SunCoast Casino).

In construction at present is The Pearls of Umhlanga a lavish residential resort that has set new standards of luxury in South Africa. Situated in Umhlanga, north of Durban, it comprises of seven-star luxury apartments, duplexes and penthouses in close proximity to the beach than any other residential development on the KwaZulu Natal coastline.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

Distant Horizon, wholly owned by Videovision Entertainment, is the company's international arm with offices in London and Los Angeles. These offices control all the group's international film production and distribution activities.

EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY

Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is designed to bring historically disadvantaged people into the mainstream of the economy and this is one of Videovision Entertainment's core goals. The company's vision of being a significant, profitable, black-controlled and owned company, lends itself to the development of an economic and social order reflective of the country's demography. Certainly the fortunes of South Africa, and the company, depend greatly on the implementation of this vision into sustainable reality.
It is against this backdrop and given the imperatives to broaden the base of Black Economic Empowerment that this has become one of Videovision Entertainment's most important goals and has been assimilated into the company's business strategy.
Videovision Entertainment occupies a unique position on South Africa's business map as one of the most successful empowerment companies that is 100% owned and controlled by previously disadvantaged individuals.

Videovision Entertainment has actively promoted empowerment through the following initiatives:

1. Videovision Entertainment was the first South African company to sign the Sullivan Code, and lobbied South African owned companies to do so as well.

2. Videovision Entertainment's employee make-up is 60% is black and 53% female. The heads of film production and post-production are both female and on the last few productions key cast and crew represented a 50/50 gender split.

3. Videovision Entertainment has illustrated its commitment to empowering previously disadvantaged groups through job opportunities on its various productions - at least 40% of the hired crews are black.

4. Videovision Entertainment has a staff share trust in which its employees participate in ventures with the company, thereby providing empowerment opportunities.

Videovision Entertainment occupies a unique position on South Africa's business map as one of the most successful empowerment companies that is entirely owned and controlled by previously disadvantaged individuals.

CONTACTS

DURBAN
Street Address: 134 Essenwood Road, Durban, South Africa
Postal Address: P.O. Box 3253, Durban 4000, South Africa / +27-31-204 6000 tel / +27-31-202 5000 fax

JOHANNESBURG
Street Address: Building 38 & 48, 44 Stanley Avenue, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg
Postal Address: PO Box 2245, Saxonwold 2132, South Africa / +27-11-482 4550 tel / +27-11-482 4631 fax