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Restricted UNDP/GAM/70/002 Terminal Report

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THE GAMBIA'

Project Findings and Recommendations

United Nations Development Programme

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Paris, 1981

‘s Project Findings and Recommendations

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b United Nations Educational , The Gambia United Nations Scient if ic and Cultural film Unit Development Orwizat ion Programme

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UIJDP/GAII/70/002 Terminal Re ort

Paris, 2 IrIarch .I981

0 UncGco 1981 Printed in France

TABU OF COIJ'I52TTS

ANNEXES

AIQEX A ANNM B - Gambia Film Unit Staff ANNEX c -Fellowships

- Unesco Experts and Consultants

Parapaphs

8 - 9

10 - 18 '

19 - 22 23 - 24 25 - 27

ANNEX D - Equipment Supplied under the F'roject by Unesco/lJNDP ANISM E - Non-Broadcast Video Equipment (Transferred from ANNEX F - Equipment Purchased by GFU ANNEX G - List of film produced by the Gambia Film Unit AlJlEX H - New Site of Gambia Film Centre, Banjul, June 1980 ANNEX I

UNFPA Project)

- Gambia Film Centre (June 1980)

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Photographs by Ebrima %qia

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Ebrirna Sagnia, Head of' the Gambia Film Unit edits film in the former quarters at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting-in 1974.

GAM/7O/oO2 - Gambia Film Unit

TERMINAL REPORT

I e INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

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the Department of Agriculture in 1967. The Oxford hmily Movement (Oxfam) donated The present Gambia Film Unit began as a modest cinema projection unit in

a camera and projection equipment.0n its own, the Department acquired a Land Rover equipped with a built-in power gemrator. The fledgling unit was able to produce and show to the villages a number of short films on a variety of topics. One particular film, "Two Years of Progress", highlighted the Government's achievements during its first two years of independence. It received great attention in the Gambia ar,d a copy waa provided for the exclusive use of the Gambia High Commission in London.

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2. was a logical move since this Department served the information needs of all ministries including those of Agriculture; the transfer also encouraged broader use of film and photography for the several development sectors of the country. Since the transfer, the unit has produced films on health, nutrition, the 1973 census, the state visit of the President of Nigeria in 1978 and other topics.

In 1969 the film unit was transferred to the Department of Information. This

3. appointed to work with a British OPAS expert and later was sent to the London Film Qchool on a two-year production course. He returned in 1972 to head the Unit.

By late 1969, a Gambian counterpart (Mr. Ebrima Sagnia) was officially

4. the sole means of relaying audio-visual information on development topics to the scattered villages along both sides of the Gambia River. Production work in the early stages w a ~ hampered by the lack of autonomous laboratory facilities and editing equipment, and the lack of nationals professionally trained in this medium.

Since the Gambia does not operate its own television service, this unit was

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The new site of -the Gambia Film unit, housing production and editing facilities, viewing theatre, and offices. Laboratory facilities are temporarily located at Gambia Radio seven miles out of the city, but will soon be- transferred to this site.

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5. Under these conditions, the Government requested assistance from the United Nations Development Programme for the development and expansion of the Gambia Film Unit.

60 On 1 1 May 1970, the Information Office of the Gambia presented a request to Unesco for consultants in film production and scriptingunder an OPAS arrangement, and for a film van. Although the OPAS expert actually began his assignment on 1 July 1972, the project document was finalized and signed by UNDP on 17 July 1972.

. 7. provision for a black-and-white film laboratory and training of technicians. Later that year, it was decided to subcontract the installation of the laboratory equipment and the training of technicians to the Ghana Film Industries Corporation both as a method of encouraging technical cooperation between developing countries and as a. means of assuring competent laboratory advice and assistance within the region.

On 23 May 1975, the project document was again revised in order to make

* 110 OBJECTIVES OF TBE PROJECT

8. The lonerange objective of the project was to provide information and advice on development topics, with special emphasis on agriculture and health, through the production and projection in the villages of carefully researched films. 'These films were to use language and idiom oriented towards the fullest understanding by the villagers and cinematic techniques within the capacity of the film unit and geared to enhancing comprehension.

9. The immediate objectives of the project included: development of a self- sustaining and autonomous film product ion unit, including laboratory facilities and editing; training of national personnel in the various skill6 required to operate a fully autonomous film unit; the selection of film production methods adapted to the local situation and needs; and preparation for an expanded film unit in the future.

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When the motorised editing table broke down, the film staff reverted to manual editing. This was a much slower process but avoided the complications of mis-timed motors and constant breakdown.

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1110 ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS

10, through the assigment of film consultants; provision of equipment; and laboratory training in cooperation with the Ghana, Film Industries Corporation; and fellowships.

11, other in script-writ ing (two months) were assigned during 1972-1973, They provided on-the-spot film training and assisted in developing suitable work methods.

12. (Arriflex camera and Nagra sync sound recorder), provide for mobile project ion (two equipped Land Rovers), and establish a basic monochrome developing and printing laboratory. This would make the unit completely independent of foreign laboratories, at least for the major stages of black-and-white film productions.

13. Laboratory Training. In order to tap existing African expertise and provide training that would be directly adapted to the local conditions, a subcontract was prepared with the Ghana Film Industries Corporation (GmC). This provided a number

The project provided assictance aimed at achieving the above objectives

Consultants. Two consultants, one in film production (18 months) and the

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Equipment. The principal aim was to complete the film production equipment

of consultants who visited the Gambia to assist in the installation of equipment at the Gambia Radio Station, seven miles from the Film Unit; and to train the new technicians in all operations of the laboratory. To round out the training, the technicians were later sent to Ghana to observe much larger scale. Though the work was completed by 1977, no report was filed by

similar operations but on a

14. at the Algonquin College in Canada,.but never returned. Another m s sent to Bell and Howell in the United Kindom of projection and technical maintenance. Finally in 1981, the Head of the Film Unit was sent to centres in the Federal Republic of Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and France to study laboratory design,

Fellowships. Early in the project another Gambian was sent for filmtraining

to study maintenance techniwes and is now in charge

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Preparing the Combilador film processor, also located at Radio Gambia. Two technicians have been trained in Ghana and onsite in Gambia.

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15, Outputo. Since 1972, the Film Unit has produced a total of ten films (see Annex G). While this may appear to be a comparatively low level of production over eight years, it must be remembered that the project provided training and equipment for only one production team, Films were not only recearched,together with adviserc,from the requesting ministries, they were entirely produced with the equipment provided bjt the project. After printing, the films were scheduled on a tour around selected villages, using the two equipped Land Rovers. Hence the Film Unit is not only reBponsible for research and production, but also handles projection and feedback, These additional responsibilities of the production team are the major cause of seemingly limited output of films.

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16, laboratory and handles all photo requirements of the Deparrtment of Information and its client ministries,

In addition, the same film unit also developed on its own a photographic

17. Late in 1979, the Film Unit inherited video equipment from a U?FPA project, "Hardrare experimentat ion in video for family planning and population activities". This comprised several sets of Son7 rover camera/recorder portapaks,. monitors, sound gear and lighting, As this project wound down, it was thought advisable to turn over the equipment to the Film Unit for any future follow-up and to integrate any eventual video work into the Film Unit. While much of the equipment is still workable, key components (video heads, video tubes, and belts) are worn out and difficult to replace, as these models are no longer in production.

18, cramped quarters at the Department of Information. The laboratory, however, was set up in 1977 at the Gambia Radio Station, just seven miles aut of the city. Since 1979, the production section of the Film Unit moved to a site next to the Department of Taurism. This meant considerable time and manpower in renovating< the old building and installing equipment. The new site, however, provides ample room, not only for the present operations but for future expansion, as well as several hectares for possible development as shooting locations. It is hoped eventually to re-install the laboratory facilities on this site for better '

Accommodation. Until late in 1979, the entire Film Unit was housed in

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Threadingthe optical printer. Equipment is kept in temperature controlled atmosphere; water supply is filtered and purified.

- 9 - integration and coordination of all aspects of film production. Space has also been provided for a photojournalism laboratory, a viewing theatre and a future video workshop.

IV. PROBIDIS EXCOUN’PERED

19. of all, regarding equipment, it has been extremely difficult to order spares due to non-standardization of components and to the sheer difficulty of assuring small orders from large companies. While the concept of providing autonomous developing and printing facilities was highly appreciated, the project did not include equipment for negative cutting and sound mixing. Thus, while the optical printer provided is capable of printing a sound positive, there is no equipment for producing a sound negative (negptive cutting and post sync sound mixing). Furthermore, the original equipment was selected for the most economical production of films at a modest level of production. Should production capacity increase, or later include colour production, additional planning and equipment will be required.

From the outset, the project was beset with a number of problems. First I

20. Second, as mentioned above, the location of the film laboratory outside the city has made coordination of operations difficult. It is hoped to re-install the laboratory at the new site as soon as possible.

21. complete team in production and laboratory was prepared for the operations. As production expands, there will be need for at least two film production teams, one or two teams for video, and at least two persons to handle photojournalism,

Third, training remains a critical need. During the project only one

including laboratory work. The lack of trained personnel plus the need to attend to administrative and operational duties is also a key reason for the low production schedule.

22. camerawork, film editing and sound recording, and post production sync sound. With the limited manpower available in the early stages of the project, all these tasks had to be done by one or two polyvalent people. As production increases, however, there will be a pressing need to specialize in the tasks of film product ion and concentrat e on quality workmanship.

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Nor has there been an opportunity to undertake specialist training in

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Two landrovers have been equipped with portable screen, film projectors, loudspeakers, and generator. Regular trips are scheduled to the villages along the Gambia River.

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- 1 1 - v, A C H I E W ~ ~ J T OF PROJZCI' OBJECTIVES

23. Despito the problems enumerated above, the immediate effect of Unesco assistance nas an improved quality of film production and reduced dependence on foreign laboratories. Most stages of monochrome film production process are now carried out in the Gambia. Overseas laboratories are resorted to only for

f initial colour workprints, sound mixing, optical sound tracks and release printing. In general, it can be said that the project achieved its immediate

.i objectives.

24, new Gambia Film and Audio-Visual Centre, as the present unit absorbs the tasks formerly undertaken by the video experimental unit and of photo journalism.

The new quarters give promise of an expanded film unit, perhaps even a

Ekpansion will st ill require building renovat ions, airconditioning and independent electric generators in order to ensure continuous operations.

VI , ilECOMKEXDATIONS

25, In view of the success of the project in achieving its immediate objectives, limited though these were and within a modest project budget, the Film Unit has now come to the stage where expansion is necessary, not only in order to keep pace with the growing demands for information assistance from client ministries, but also in order to regpond to these recfuests with the proper media - film, video or photojournalism.

26, following recommendations are put forward:,

Considering the present stage of development of the Gambia Film Unit, the

(i) An accelerated programme of recruitment and training should be undertaken, focussing attention on specialized training in camerawork, editing, sound recording, and post production sync sound, video production and editing, and photojournalism.

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Film projections always attract large village audiences. The mobile units, the only source of audio-visual information outside of Banjul, show films on hezlth, agriculture, nutrition, and various development programmes.

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- 13 - (ii) The present facilities should be completed for film editing, preview,

sound recording and video editing.

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

An audio-visual documentation unit should be established.

The photo journalism laboratory should be fully developed.

Film laboratory facilities should be expanded to include colour processing and printing, and quality control instmnts.

(vi) Facilities should be provided for non-broadcast video, including film transfer to video, U-matic editing, and EFT cameran/recorders.

(vii) At an opportune time, the present Film Unit should develop gradually into the Gambia Film and Audio-visual Centre, compriEing film, video and photography as well as an audio-visual documentation centre.

27. phase was prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for their consideration,

In support of these recommendations, a draft project document for a second

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Equipment Spplied under the Project by Unesco/hDP

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ITA 16 mnrm FIVE SPEED FADER SPATIC ELECTRICIlly ELIMINATOR SJPEZi-IMFOsE PRIN"R?G D[EvICE COMBaABOR A FILTil PROCESSOR tlATER COIrnOL PANEL REXOVDOR mCH1u m m CHILm I~~EDICO CUB mrsrromm PREMIER TAPE SPLICER 1000 ft. MAGAZINE l3R COICBILABOR AUXILIARY WATEZ PUMP 2 16 mm PROJECTORS rluarAmc BUX ERASER IUGNASYNC FTLM RECORIE3 NAGRA TBPE RECORDW A C U E EDITING TABLE ARRIFLEX 16 ~ I T I CAMERA BLIMPEI) ZEISS VARIO SOI~NU mrs AUTONATIC ZYEPIECE VIEbJEIJTSDw BODY B RACE' AND PIgPOL GRIP CANERA TRANSPORT CASE BATTEZY CHARGER WDODIEN TRIPOD 'ELIPOD SPIDER

Good - X X X x X X X X X X X X X X X X

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32. ELECTRICAL SANDGRIP 33, 1 AMP POFERPACK 34.. SYNCF'ULSGENEZWOR 350 METAL CASE 36. FLUIDTRIPoDHEAD

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1 MONITOR TELEVISION 1 MONITOR m m s I o i r 1 VIDEO !&W3 RECORCW ACfDC 1 VIllEo TAPE RECORDEX AC ONLY 1 VIDM) TAPE RECORDER AC ONLY 1 VIDEO c m m c R E R 1 SPNCHRO GEDERATOR 1 SYNCHRO -TOR 2 TRIPODS FOR MIDDLE CLASS 1 RDS KIT L I W 1 oscILu)scopE 6 6-CHANNEL MIXERS 6 POWER SUPPLY EDR Z I m S 4 BP 20 BATTERY PACKS 3 BP 30 BATTERY PACKS 2 VIZ-1 TRANSI3RNEEIS 1 3X'EREO CASSEIPTE: RECORDW ACbC 2 BATTERY PACKS IQR TC - 158 SD 7- ECX-220 I~~ICRORIOIES 1 PAlR SY3l3QJ

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