Mad Max movie affects CT
2003-04-15 07:44
Cape Town - Cape Town businesses could suffer financial losses if the Namibian shoot for the latest Mad Max movie Fury Road starring Mel Gibson - is cancelled because of the Iraqi war.
Caterers, car hire firms and production companies would be hardest hit.
The Namibian leg of the R730 million movie is in jeopardy because filmmakers fear it could be dangerous to travel in a time of war.
Mr Philip Key, owner of Moonlighting Filmmakers, says filming should have started outside Swakopmund next month but was postponed because of the war.
"We've been given no indication if the movie will still be filmed. We hope to know after June or July if production will continue," Key added.
The Cape Town based production company has already made five international movies in Namibia. The most recent is Beyond Border, filmed at the end of last year.
By February this year Moonlighting's art department had begun building sets in Walvis Bay.
Ms Theresa Jones, owner of Theresa Catering, has submitted a quote to the film's producers. She was informed the film has been postponed, not cancelled, but has no idea why.
It is not known how much companies stand to lose if the Namibian shoot is cancelled.
Car hire company Imperial would not reveal what it would lose, but sources say hundreds of its vehicles were booked for filming.
Fox Studios had planned to shoot Fury Road in Namibia and Sydney, Australia.
Gibson, 46, would have earned more than R180 million for the lead role.