The NFVF releases the 0 graduate absorption study findings

The study revealed that amid the rising unemployment rate, the South African film sector is able to absorb graduates with film related qualifications.

The study revealed that from the surveyed graduates; 69.2% were able to find employment, and a further 83% of those who found employment were absorbed within the film sector and therefore there is no human resource that is lost to other economic sectors due to lack of job opportunities. It was only 16.7% that reported to be working in other fields not related to the industry.

While transformation has been distinguished as one of the challenges in the local film industry, the survey revealed some progress towards its achievement with more black graduates being employed in the industry. Out of the 52 graduates that responded to the survey the sector employed them as follows: Blacks (21); Coloureds (5) Whites (9) while the unemployment figures revealed the following Blacks (13) Coloured (2) Whites (1) and Asian (1). While their qualifications allow them to work either in the film or television sector, the graduates revealed that they prefer working more on feature films than working on television. Another revelation from the study is that youth on the 22-25 age cohorts are the most absorbed at a rate of 61.1%. Most of those who are employed start at junior positions and thereby giving them an opportunity to hone their skills and progress in their respective fields.

Without overlooking the evident positive graduate absorption rate it is important to note that as graduates are being absorbed in the industry, there are some challenges confronting the graduates in their quest to find employment.

Among some of the challenges raised by graduates were that there are some exploitative tendencies practised by some companies, a factor that they blame squarely on the films schools as they seem to perpetuate and prepare them for exploitation by encouraging them to be prepared to work for free as part of their in-service training.

The graduates also raised concerns that the industry uses word of mouth to recruit employees, according to them you have to know someone in order to be able to find a job and further they revealed that the film schools should focus more on providing practical training rather than focusing on theory.

The study recommends that the NFVF co-ordinates networking sessions with film practitioners for its bursary recipients in order to expose their work to the other filmmakers and potential investors, or employers. It is further recommended that the NFVF expands its recently launched internship programme by partnering with more production companies.

To view or download the Graduate Absorption Study, click here.

LINK:	http://nfvf.co.za/article/the-nfvf-releases-the-2013-graduate-absorpti...
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