And action! Red Tape Reduction Unit helps producer to film falcon on Atlantis dunes

Background

In May 2014, a commercial film producer requested permission from the municipality to use a trained falcon in a shoot on the Atlantis dunes. The request was declined by the municipality due to a decision by its Bulk Water Services Division to implement a ‘no animals and plants on the dunes’ policy for fear that the presence of animals and plants might contaminate the aquifer. This blanket ban was instituted in 2012.

Challenge experienced

The Commercial Producers Association (CPA), of which the film company is a member, met with the official responsible for implementing this policy. After various appeals, the municipality would still not allow filming to proceed. After due consideration, the Unit took up the matter on behalf of the film producer. It argued that the filming constituted a low risk because the falcon would be screened by a vet and handled by a professional, trained animal handler. The municipality accepted this and approved the application to film at the dunes. In addition, the municipality abandoned the blanket ban and agreed to consider future applications on merit.

Intervention by Red Tape Reduction Unit

Thanks to the Red Tape Reduction Unit a film producer was granted leave to film a falcon on the Atlantis dunes. The unit’s intervention also contributed to the lifting of a blank ban on film shoots with animals on the dunes.

Outcome

According to an article in the Sunday Times (“The curious case of the falcon and the water aquifer”), it was not just a happy day for the trained falcon, but also for a quintet of celebrity camels. Phantom, Musa, Hassan, Ali and Sindbad featured in numerous international shoots, but could not continue with their acting careers due to the ban. As a result of the decision to revoke the ban, the camels will soon be in action (or is that acting?) again.