Inside the making of virtual reality film, Azibuye - The Occupation
02/03/2020
SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE:
It's not a secret that the issue of land redistribution remains a contentious and highly emotional subject in post-Apartheid South Africa.
According to South Africa's land audit of 2017, black South Africans who constitute 79 percent of the country's population own just one percent of the country's rural land and seven percent of urban property. This is while white South Africans make up only nine percent of the population, but own more than 23.6 percent of the country's rural land and 11.4 percent of the land in urban areas.
As a result, thousands of homeless South African people of colour are illegally occupying empty privately-owned homes and developments.
The virtual reality (VR) film Azibuye The Occupation follows the journey of two homeless people, Masello and Evan, in 360 view, as they take up residence in a vacant home in an affluent area in Johannesburg. As luck would have it, the pair discovers a crumbling mansion that has been vacant for nearly 20 years. They settle into their new home and proclaim their illegal occupation to be an artistic and political act in retaliation to the ongoing land redistribution issue.
The themes explored in the film include colonialism, dispossession, decolonisation and the role that art plays in addressing these issues.
According to Masello and Evan, the house is estimated to have been standing empty for 20 years. Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Dylan Valley, expands: I know Masello and Evan socially, through friends. The film is very much about the journey of this particular occupation, how they made this abandoned house livable, and the dilemma they face when they meet the owner of the house. According to Masello and Evan, the house is estimated to have been standing empty for 20 years.
The virtual reality film also delves into the backstories of the two occupants, revealing Masello as a well-known actress and Evan as a trade unionist. To me, they represent the long history of activism and self-organisation in South Africa, as well as protest art as they also view their occupation as an installation of sorts. It's hard to mention the underlying issues in the film without getting into spoilers, but I hope the film challenges viewers' assumptions about the issues and the characters, says Valley.
Valley is an associate lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, an editorial board member at Africa is a Country and an Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity 2019. He has been a commissioning editor for the South Africa Broadcasting Company (SABC) and has directed several pieces for Al Jazeera.
Valley's documentary style is a mix of music, art and performance that tells compelling stories about real people with a social justice focus. Trying to correct some sense of social injustice or misunderstood story very much informs the subjects I choose. My work tends to slant towards a racial equity lens, so the subjects I cover fall very much underneath this banner, he explains.
Using VR technology to tell immersive stories
It was only in 2017, while watching VR films at the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, that Valley imagined the extensive immersive possibilities that VR could add to his own documentary filmmaking career.
VR is still new here, and that's a good thing. There aren't many experts' and it's a great time for experimentation and play. I am particularly interested in the possibilities that these emerging technologies can offer to black filmmakers, he shares.
The search for more immersive experiences led Valley to Electric South, a Pan-African immersive media production studio. The Cape Town-based studio provides mentorship, production services, funding and exhibitions for a network of artists across Africa to explore their subject-matter through immersive, interactive stories including virtual and augmented reality.
A sponsorship agreement between Electric South and Facebook/Oculus saw Valley and other participants receive headsets and guidance in order to undertake their VR/AR projects.
Cultural producer at Electric South, Kirstin Erasmus comments: Immersive storytelling on the continent is climbing at a steady pace. Globally it is still in its infancy but, as knowledge about the industry grows, equipment and resources become more readily available and the opportunities present themselves. Those in the know are really excited about the possibilities of immersive storytelling, as it gives us as Africans the rare opportunity to curate and own our own stories.
Azibuye was shot in April 2019 on the Insta360 Pro camera, which films well in 8K and 3D; Zoom recorders were used for sound.
I wanted the viewer to feel like they were participants in the occupation. I was going for a very naturalistic documentary feeling and static 360 shots, informs Valley. I wanted to create a contemplative and reflective mood as the characters are talking about some complex socio-historical issues such as colonialism, laws of dispossession, Apartheid, etc. - and so the long, static takes in time-ravaged spaces helped with that.
Because we were in one location, the shoot was smooth sailing. In terms of the storytelling, we wanted to interview the owner of the house, which was challenging for a number of reasons but we managed to get the interview in the end! exclaims Valley.
Representing South Africa at Sundance
The film was produced by Caitlin Robinson under the direction of Valley, with editing done by Stephen Abbott. Post-production duties were handled by Yoav Dagan and Samukelo Mahlalela.
Since its completion, Azibuye has garnered much international attention and became the first South African film to be selected as part of Sundance Film Festival's New Frontier Exhibitions programme.
It's
LINK: | https://www.screenafrica.com/2020/03/02/film/film-content/inside-the-m... |
See more stories from screenafrica |
Most recent headlines
13/01/2025
Celebrating Excellence in British TV Innovation: YouView and Freely shine at HbbTV Awards 2024
Celebrating Excellence in British TV Innovation: YouView and Freely shine at Hbb...
11/01/2025
iWedia Expands ATSC 3-0 Stack to Elevate Broadcaster User...
Building on the success of its ATSC 3.0 broadcast stack, iWedia, a leader in software solutions for TV devices, has announced an enhanced product roadmap for 20...
11/01/2025
Registration is Now Open For The Largest Edition of The M...
The UK s authoritative event for the broadcast media, production and technology industry returns in 2025 with an expanded programme of content, an interactive e...
11/01/2025
ISE 2025 sees Amino Showcase Low-Latency ProAV Solutions...
Amino (ISE: 4.P860), a global leader in enterprise video and digital signage solutions, will demonstrate ProAV innovations at ISE 2025, the premier audiovisual ...
11/01/2025
Klvr solution to cutting huge single-use battery waste in...
Klvr will launch the Charger Pro at ISE 2025 (Fira de Barcelona, 4-7 February September. Stand #5.F100), creating a simple way to eliminate extensive use of sin...
11/01/2025
EMG Gravity Media Appoints Narinder Ball As Technology Di...
EMG / Gravity Media, a leading force in the broadcasting, production, and media industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Narinder Ball as Technology ...
11/01/2025
Grass Valley Chooses Custom Consoles Module-R and MediaWa...
Custom Consoles, a leading producer of specialist furniture for the broadcast, process supervision and security markets, announces the completion of a large Mod...
11/01/2025
EASY-IP by arkona and manifold Wins Gold Award from Digit...
arkona technologies GmbH and manifold technologies GmbH, leaders in IP core infrastructure solutions, are proud to announce that their EASY-IP platform has been...
11/01/2025
ACT Entertainment Technical Services Celebrates New Begin...
As the new year begins, ACT Entertainment is marking two promotions and a retirement in the company's technical service department. CTO Mario Collazo retire...
11/01/2025
EMG - GRAVITY MEDIA ITALY TAKES THE TRACK TO THE XXXII ED...
Over 125 hours of live TV production planned for 11 days of competitions. There are just three days to go until the opening ceremony in Turin, which will kick ...
11/01/2025
FCC: Women Have Majority Stakes in 10% of Commercial Stations
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has released a new study of U.S. broadcast TV and radio station ownership that shows women held a majority inte...
11/01/2025
Scripps Promotes Lyn Plantinga To Lead Local Media Operations
CINCINNATI The E.W. Scripps Co. has promoted veteran local television leader Lyn Plantinga to senior vice president of local media, effective immediately. In th...
11/01/2025
DirecTV Brings Programmatic Ads to Satellite Inventory
NEW YORK DirecTV Advertising is bringing programmatic ad sales capabilities to its linear satellite inventory in a move that it said will provide advertisers to...
11/01/2025
Updated: Disney's KABC-TV Los Angeles Returns to Air After Wildfire Outage
LOS ANGELES Disneys KABC-TV station has restored its broadcast feed after the Eaton Wildfire in Los Angeles knocked it off the air earlier on Friday, Jan. 10....
11/01/2025
Nexstar Stations Dropped from Altice USA's Optimum Cable Systems
IRVING, Texas Following failed negotiations for a new retransmission consent agreement, 63 local TV stations in 42 markets owned by Nexstar were blacked out on ...
10/01/2025
Hummingbird Acrobats Charm EVERY LITTLE THING Audience
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: Filmmaker Sally Aitken smiles at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival EVERY LITTLE THING premiere at The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Haley...
10/01/2025
Tune In, Tune Up: Five Creators Share Tips To Guide Your 2025 Wellness Goals
The new year is a time for fresh starts and a renewed focus on our well-being, and there is a wealth of podcasts you can stream on Spotify to find inspiration a...
10/01/2025
Venu Won't Launch After All
Five days after they unveiled a settlement with FuboTV over the proposed Venu sports streaming service, The Walt Disney Co., Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery anno...
10/01/2025
QNAP Super Fast NAS Solutions for Individuals and Workgroups
QNAP Super Fast NAS Solutions for Individuals and Workgroups Colin Smith January 10, 2025 0 Comments This tutorial takes a look at using a QNAP NAS in...
10/01/2025
How to Make an Infinity Loop in Resolve Fusion
How to Make an Infinity Loop in Resolve Fusion Simon Ubsdell January 10, 2025 0 Comments Quite a few useful techniques involved in this fairly simple ...
10/01/2025
Did You Know? Redshift for Cinema 4D: Streamlining Complex Shaders
Did You Know? Redshift for Cinema 4D: Streamlining Complex Shaders Marc Potocnik January 10, 2025 0 Comments The Did You Know? Redshift for Cinema 4D...
10/01/2025
European broadcasters lead the way in redundancy-driven SMPTE ST 2110 adoption
Chris Wright, vice president of business development EMEA, TASCAM, examines why European success in adopting redundancy-driven SMPTE ST 2110 is providing a road...
10/01/2025
Best of Show at ISE 2025: Submissions open
Awards from nine leading Future publications recognise standout, innovative AV products and solutions being exhibited on the show floor in Barcelona By Jenny P...
10/01/2025
Meet the marketing communications manager
Ilana Tchenko, marketing communications manager at TAG Video Systems, advises anyone interested in working in the media industry to embrace continuous learning ...
10/01/2025
CES: Sylvox Unveils ATSC 3.0 Outdoor TVs
LAS VEGAS Viewers who want to take the enhanced viewing capability of NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 outside to patios and other areas, will be able to do so with Sylvox&#...
10/01/2025
IBC2025 Opens Submissions for Technical Papers
LONDON IBC has announced that it is now accepting submissions for Technical Papers for the IBC2025 Conference, which will be held from Sept. 12-15 in Amsterdam....
10/01/2025
CES: Advanced HDR by Technicolor Makes Strides in 2025
LAS VEGAS Advanced HDR by Technicolor has made a series of announcements at CES here demonstrating support for its high dynamic range solutions ranging from con...
10/01/2025
UFL, Google Cloud Team Up on Data Analytics
ARLINGTON, Texas As the United Football League prepares to kick off its second season, the spring league plans to enhance its fan connection and experience with...
10/01/2025
APTS Promotes Jennifer Kieley to VP, Government Affairs
WASHINGTON America's Public Television Stations has elevated Jennifer Kieley to vice president, government and public affairs, effective immediately....
10/01/2025
Teatro TV Browser Surpasses 50 million Devices Worldwide...
iWedia, a global leader in connected TV software solutions, proudly announces its flagship product, the Teatro TV Browser, has reached a landmark achievement: s...
10/01/2025
Hollyland Unveils the LARK M2S: Ultra-Mini Wireless Microphone That Seamlessly Conceals into Your Outfit
Hollyland Unveils the LARK M2S: Ultra-Mini Wireless Microphone That Seamlessly C...
10/01/2025
NFL Playoffs 2025: Prime Video Makes Its NFL Playoff Debut; Newly-Implemented AI Feature, Pressure Alerts, Joins Graphics Lineup
NFL Playoffs 2025: Prime Video Makes Its NFL Playoff Debut; Newly-Implemented AI...
10/01/2025
Venu Sports Will Be Discontinued
Venu Sports Will Be Discontinued January 10, 2025 Venu Sports, the proposed virtual MVPD service from ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery, will be disconti...
10/01/2025
PCC 3.10.11 software is now available
PCC 3.10.11 software is now available, providing an easy way for users with multiple camera versions to get all our latest camera models on the same software le...
10/01/2025
Telos Alliance Announces Telos VX Duo Broadcast Phone System Is Now Shipping
Telos Alliance Announces Telos VX Duo Broadcast Phone System Is Now Shipping Search Cleveland, Ohio (January 10, 2025) - Telos Alliance , trusted global ...
10/01/2025
Lynn King Gambatesa, Former FOX Sports and EMG/Gravity Media Operations Executive, Dies on Jan. 4
Lynn King Gambatesa, Former FOX Sports and EMG/Gravity Media Operations Executiv...
10/01/2025
Venu Sports Will Be Discontinued as ESPN, FOX, and WBD Scrap Controversial Joint Streaming Venture
Venu Sports Will Be Discontinued as ESPN, FOX, and WBD Scrap Controversial Joint...
10/01/2025
CBS Sports' Jason Cohen on Starting 2024 With Super Bowl LVIII, Ending With Xmas Football on Netflix
CBS Sports' Jason Cohen on Starting 2024 With Super Bowl LVIII, Ending With ...
10/01/2025
Prime Video Makes Its NFL Playoff Debut; Newly-Implemented AI Feature, Pressure Alerts, Joins Graphics Lineup
Prime Video Makes Its NFL Playoff Debut; Newly-Implemented AI Feature, Pressure ...
10/01/2025
Ratings Roundup: NFL, Domestic Rightsholders Tally Final Numbers for Regular Season; Debut of WWE Monday Night Raw on Netflix Captures 2.6 Million
Ratings Roundup: NFL, Domestic Rightsholders Tally Final Numbers for Regular Sea...
10/01/2025
NFL Playoffs 2025: NBC Sports Heads to Warmer Weather for Commanders-Bucs in Tampa Bay
NFL Playoffs 2025: NBC Sports Heads to Warmer Weather for Commanders-Bucs in Tam...
10/01/2025
NFL Playoffs 2025: CBS Sports and Nickelodeon Go Beyond SpongeBob Universe, Boost AR Technology With Latest Slime-Filled Altcast
NFL Playoffs 2025: CBS Sports and Nickelodeon Go Beyond SpongeBob Universe, Boos...
10/01/2025
2025-01-10
At Apple, we are committed to protecting user data, and our products and features are built from the ground up with innovative privacy technologies and techniqu...
10/01/2025
Record Breaking 2024 for RT
RT Player has record breaking 142 million streams, up 42% year-on-year RT has highest share of TV viewing in Ireland in 11 years RT delivers 42 of the Top ...
10/01/2025
RT Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2024 Shortlist Announcement
RT Choice Music Prize In association with IMRO and IRMA Irish Song of the Year 2024 Shortlist Announcement Irish Artist of the Year 2024 - Shortlist Iris...
10/01/2025
AI Gets Real for Retailers: 9 Out of 10 Retailers Now Adopting or Piloting AI, Latest NVIDIA Survey Finds
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of innovation in the...
09/01/2025
Critical EO/IR Requirements in Maritime Special Operations
L3Harris' WESCAM MX -10 MS can be integrated and operated on board RHIBs in any operational environment....
09/01/2025
L3Harris Completes Preliminary Design Review for Key Components of New Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
L3Harris instruments onboard the Himawari-10 will enhance real-time disaster mon...
09/01/2025
aconnic concludes supply contract for gigabit infrastructure in Italy
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, concludes a major contract to supply optical gigabit systems for the further development and expansion of the telecommu...
09/01/2025
WWE Raw' Wrestles Up 4.9 Million Global Views in Netflix Debut
LOS GATOS, Calif. Netflix said the debut episode of WWE's Monday Night Raw' on the streaming platform got off to a strong start on Jan. 6, with the liv...