During the height of the 2021 lockdown, Marcelle du Toit and her team at Stage 5 Films shot a 1920s coming-of-age period drama set in Mauritius. To make it all happen though, they had to take some big risks and make some very brave business decisions.
The entire crew flew out on a private charter in July. With both countries under level 5 restrictions they spent six months on the island and produced a full feature film. It was a monumental risk and there were various unforeseen stumbling blocks along the way. You might not be about to take a multi-million dollar risk in a foreign country, but you can learn from Marcelle’s story.
Remembering ‘why’ you’re making a particular decision is crucial. You need to have the reason behind making a courageous decision well thought out. For us (as Stage 5 Films) this was an opportunity to take a leap forward. I’m always strive for progress and seeking opportunities and challenges most people wouldn’t consider. In addition, ‘people’ were a big ‘why’ for us. Making this bold business decision gave us the means to provide a significant amount of employment in a time when the film industry was at a standstill. We had a crew of 200+ South Africans, British and Mauritians for six months.
One needs to constantly look at the bigger picture and how making that courageous business decision could shift your future forward, faster. This project gave us opportunities that few would have. It ticked all the crazy boxes! Being our largest production to date it scaled Stage 5 Films and has opened us up to larger markets. We were able to expand our services both locally and abroad.
Not everyone is, but I am fuelled by a desire to improve systems, to challenge industry norms and to try things differently. Can we improve on previous systems? Is there a better way to do this? I apply this thinking to small and large business decision making. This film was the perfect opportunity to do what very few would do and to see how we are able to create without our usual structures. Our open mindedness, willingness and courage to try new things resulted in the success of the production.
I strive at all times to use our platform and business to empower others and contribute towards job creation. As mentioned, this project was in production during Covid. The film industry came to a standstill and many freelancers were out of work and savings. By making that one very courageous decision, we had the opportunity across the territories to provide employment for 200+ people. More importantly, the 200 families of those freelancers. The reach was impactful at such a critical time and there’s a great responsibility to lead and seize opportunity on behalf of others.
Marcelle and her team seized the opportunity and took the risk. They made the courageous business decision and Prisoner’s of Paradise will be released in the Spring of 2021. The next time Marcelle travels to Mauritius, it will be for the premiere of the film.
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