After watching hours of art-films in Melbourne, Tan decided to make films himself and bagged a place in the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, where entry is by competitive scholarship.

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Previously beholden to the state for their 35mm cameras and reels, directors and film students are discovering that, by going digital, they can make films for a fraction of the price and without clearance from the authorities.

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Another tip: Security window films, such as the Hardglass window film sold by CHB Industries, can make it tough for a casual intruder to punch out a window.

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But while the country's stunning beaches, jagged mountains and lush vineyards have long served as a backdrop for films, as well as TV adverts, Cape Town Film Studios is now aiming to make South Africa a major destination for both location filming and top-quality studio productions.

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