South African San Institute PO Box 12995, Mowbray, 7705 Cape Town, South Africa Tel: (27 21) 686 0795 Fax: (27 21) 685 4223 e-mail: sasi@iafrica.com 7th August 2000 To whom it may concern "The Great Dance - A Hunter's Story" 1. The Working Group of Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa (WIMSA) is the official umbrella organisation representing all the San of southern Africa 2. The San Institute of Southern Africa (SASI) is a service organisation dedicated to providing assistance to the San as represented by Wimsa and other organisations 3. The Producers of the film "The Great Dance - A Hunter's Story" (TGD) have with the assistance of SASI signed a media contract with WIMSA and the San, thereby agreeing to abide by certain conditions of conduct relating to the production and promotion of the film and giving WIMSA and the San an equity share in the film 4. TGD is the first film ever to have been fully co-developed by the San, with collaboration at each stage of the process 5. The Producers of TGD, whilst retaining full creative and editorial independence have consulted fully, particularly regarding factual content with WIMSA and the San, in the making of this film 6. Rough assemblies of the footage were taken back into the field and the San individuals who appear in the film were given the opportunity to comment on the portrayal and deepen their interpretation of the sequences 7. WIMSA and the San were given full opportunity to comment on all aspects of the film prior to the final edit, and their views were taken into account 8. The manner in which the producers interacted and worked with the San was exemplary 9. TGD is a unique film, which stands apart from other films made about the San for the reasons above and in terms of the accuracy, integrity and sensitivity with which they and the issues that affect them are portrayed 10. The issues which face the San throughout southern Africa are nurerous and challenging. It is our hope that through films such as TGD, local and international audiences will gain a better appreciation of them 11. We believe that, in celebrating the various aspects of San culture as well as their special skills and moreover the traditional connection with the environment, this film will be an inspriration to broader audiences and the San themselves, most of whom no longer live by the traditional ways 12. WIMSA and the San heartily endorse the broad promotion of the film and strongly encourage broadcasters and distributors to give it as wide a screening and as much publicity as possible 13. Any constructive feedback on the film would be most welcome and should any party be interested finding out more about the San, WIMSA or SASI, please contact WIMSA or SASI at the following addresses WIMSA: at wimsareg@iafrica.com.na SASI: at sasi@iafrica.com Yours Sincerely Roger Chennells Legal Advisor South African San Institute

 

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