Stage 32 Is Now Certifying The Writers Guild South Africa

On behalf of the Writers Guild South Africa (WGSA), it is my great pleasure to extend a heartfelt thank you to Stage 32, David Zannoni, and Sam Sokolow for the outstanding webinar recently hosted for our WGSA members, and for your decision to partner with the Guild to offer Stage 32 Certification courses to our writers. As someone deeply committed to the advancement of South African screenwriters and storytellers, I am genuinely excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to our creative community.

The Stage 32 Certification program is more than just a training badge - it is a powerful means of equipping WGSA members with practical, globally recognized skills that are essential for building successful careers in today’s film and television industries. Our recent session went far beyond a standard webinar, providing WGSA members with clear insight into international production standards, career development tools, and expert guidance on navigating the real-world challenges our writers face both on local productions and in the global marketplace.

We were particularly grateful for how the webinar addressed the distinctive needs and aspirations of South African writers, offering resources tailored to our unique cultural, economic, and creative environment, and showing an understanding of the hurdles our community strives to overcome.

By opening doors to Stage 32 Certification, you are breaking down barriers that have historically limited access to top-tier industry training. This partnership directly supports our vision of empowering South African writers not just to tell their stories on their own terms, but to compete and collaborate internationally with confidence. The tools, mentorship, and network available through Stage 32 Certification are already sparking new ambitions and practical plans among our membership.

Why does Stage 32 training make a difference in South Africa?

• Real-World Skills: The training covers everything you’ll actually need in the jobs that you will be doing on productions. No fluff, just the stuff you’ll put to use on set every day.
• Career Boost: Participants finish with a credential everyone in the industry recognizes. It’s the kind of thing that opens doors - producers and studios are always looking for people who are ready to work.
• Connections that Matter: Once someone is certified, they become part of a global network of crew, so finding work (even beyond South Africa) gets a whole lot easier.

Thank you, David and Sam, for your unwavering commitment to nurturing South African talent, and for your belief in the world-class potential of our writers. Your support inspires us to invest in our craft and professional growth, and your engagement demonstrates what is possible when organizations like Stage 32 ally with local guilds to drive real progress.

We greatly look forward to strengthening our relationship, learning together, and witnessing the transformative impact that this partnership will have, not just for individual WGSA members, but for the future of storytelling across South Africa’s film and television landscape.

What Has Filmed In South Africa?

South Africa has become a prime destination for international film and television productions, thanks to its diverse landscapes. Notable movies filmed in South Africa include Avengers: Age of Ultron, which featured explosive scenes in Johannesburg’s CBD; Mad Max: Fury Road, with key desert sequences shot in the Northern Cape; and Safe House, starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington, which made dynamic use of Cape Town’s urban settings. Other major films include Bloodshot with Vin Diesel, Tomb Raider starring Alicia Vikander, District 9 - the Oscar-nominated sci-fi hit set and filmed in Johannesburg - and Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, which brought the story of South Africa’s 1995 Rugby World Cup victory to the big screen. TV shows have also made their mark, with Black Mirror (Season 6’s “Demon 79”), Outlander (Season 3), and Netflix’s One Piece all utilizing South Africa’s unique locations and studios to double for a wide range of international and fantastical settings.

The Two Types of Stage 32 Certification

Master Certifications: These are a group of courses that make up a master's knowledge of a particular discipline. You will need to take all of the courses in a Master Certification track and pass a test in each course in order to be Master Certified.

Current Master Certifications Include:

• Production Accounting Master Certification
• TV Production Management Master Certification
• Feature Film Production Management Master Certification
• Line Producing Master Certification
• Producer Key Legal Agreements Master Certification
• Script Supervising Master Certification
• Location Management Master Certification
• Production Coordinator Master Certification
• Production Assistant Master Certification
• Assistant Director Master Certification
• Post-Production Supervision Master Certification

Individual Certifications: These are individual courses that focus on a particular skill set, in which you will watch the course and then be tested at the end to receive your certificate.

Current Individual Certifications Include:

• Budget Creation
• Production Scheduling
• Call Sheets
• Production Accounting 101
• Payroll Accounting and Management for Film & TV
• Cost Reporting
• US Tax Incentive Management
• Script Supervision 101
• Script Supervision: Script Timing & Page Breakdown
• Script Supervision: Continuity Breakdown
• Script Supervision: Script Notes & Lined Script Pages
• Script Supervision: On Set Continuity
• Script Supervision: Progress Reports & Work Flow
• Production Wrap Deliverables
• Final Delivery Elements Of A TV Show
• Final Delivery Elements Of A Feature Film
• Option/Purchase/Shopping Agreements
• Feature Film Financing Agreements
• Investor Agreements
• International Co-Production Agreements
• Crew Agreements
• Talent Agreements
• Distribution & Sales Agency Agreements
• Fundamentals Of Location Management
• Location Scouting
• Location Management: Budgeting & Scheduling
• Location Management: Contracts, Risk Management & Negotiating
• The Fundamentals of Production Coordinating
• Production Coordinator: Logistics
• Fundamentals Of Production Assisting
• Production Assistant: On Set Protocols
• Production Assistant: Paperwork & Department Interaction
• Fundamentals Of Assistant Directing
• Assistant Director Scheduling
• First Assistant Director On Set Protocols
• Key 2nd Assistant Director Protocols & Call Sheets
• 2nd 2nd Assistant Director Protocols
• Fundamentals of Post-Production Supervision
• Post-Production Supervisor Protocols for a TV Series
• Post-Production Supervisor Protocols for a Feature Film
• Post-Production Supervisor Scheduling & Budgeting
• Post-Production Coordinator & Production Assistant Protocols

What Happens After You Get Certified?

Once you complete a Stage 32 Certification, you will:

• Be included in a global database searchable by industry professionals, film commissions, and studios.
• Receive a certification badge on your Stage 32 profile, which is visible to over 1.3 million members worldwide.
• Gain credentials to display on your social media, resume, and LinkedIn profile.
• Be recognized as a qualified industry professional, making it easier for you to get hired and advance your career.

Get Certified. Get To Work. Start By Clicking Here!

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