Sustainability lies at the heart of Desert Star. The ever-increasing global population and demand on limited natural resources weighs heavily against a backdrop of dated development methodologies and values. This means sustainability doesn't just make good business sense; it also forms an essential consideration for humanity's collective future well-being.
However the rising concern for the welfare of the planet has presented itself as a global culture, obsessed with reducing critical and complex issues to headline-friendly buzz words and this has ultimately led to a general substitution of balanced 'sustainability' with 'green' thinking – which features purely environmental concerns as its key focus.
This is not the Desert Star philosophy. For us 'sustainability' rests on complementary developmental methodologies that incorporate economic, social, and environmental considerations into everything we do. In other words, we actively support the triple bottom line which denotes a balance of People, Planet and Profit.
As the only country in the world to specifically address conservation and the protection of natural resources in its constitution, Namibia is the ideal location for implementing this developmental paradigm.
The diverse nature of the Desert Star project will profoundly impact the gross domestic and gross geographic product of Namibia, as well as provide substantial soft and hard sustainable investment opportunities.
The biosphere will be enhanced and maintained to ensure ongoing protection of this pristine environment.
The film industry has an admittedly high carbon footprint, with millions of dollars or Rands being expended on temporary sets that are eventually discarded, travelling far distances to different locations, using scarce resources and sometimes even damaging the surrounds during filming.
These are only some of the environmentally unsound activities producers engage in – all in the quest for film perfection. In contrast, Desert Star has undertaken to consistently minimize damage and waste.
By employing a variety of energy-saving measures such as ensuring amenities are located within close proximity of a permanent film set, we eliminate the need for the construction of new sets each time and reduce travel cost and time. Our example will be the blueprint for the implementation of similar environmentally conscious practices within the film industry worldwide.
The positive impact on the people of Namibia will be evident through a significant increase in employment opportunities, skills development, education, health and the overall economic and social upliftment of this presently underdeveloped region.
Both the film and tourism industries are renowned for their substantial economic multiplier or knock-on effects. The multiplier effect is an effective formula that measures the overall economic and social impact as a result of direct spending by visitors.
Research has proven that production can be reliably multiplied up to a factor of 3, which will determine the overall impact of tourism. In other words, for every 1USD spent, 3USD is generated in the regional and national economy.
This increase in production is attributed to the simple act of spending. In filmmaking for example, the spending that occurs will boost a region’s economy and thus lead to additional economic effects. The construction of props can lead to increased demand for construction material, such as steel and wood. This in turn leads to increased demand for mining output that uses wood, water, electricity and so forth. As this process unfolds, each industry employs people and pays wages. In turn, employees spend their wages, causing a further ripple effect throughout the economy. In making a film, basic needs are met such as accommodation, food and so forth. The positive economic ripple effect is therefore substantial.
When a region is able to attract a consistent flow of filmmaking activities to a region, economic growth is evidenced in the form of increased employment opportunities, increased development, higher wages – the list goes on.
For the equivalent of every +/- $1 million spent on film production, it is estimated that 77 jobs will be created. These jobs will be indirect and direct, on a regional, as well as national level. For example, an average Hollywood production of $35million will generate approximately 2,700 jobs.
The above multiplier effects are derived from an independent study prepared for The Cape Film Commission by Barry Standish and Antony Botting: A Strategic Economic Analysis of the Cape Town and Western Cape Film Industry (2007). At present, no such study exists for Namibia.
Desert Star's national vision is to develop the Namibian film and tourism industries through creating sustainable and uniquely spectacular motion picture destinations throughout Namibia that will attract world-class film producers and tourists alike.
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