Even established production companies often find themselves running productions from makeshift offices in rented houses and hastily converted warehouses. Finding and setting up theses venues can become an unnecessarily budget-, time- and energy-sapping undertaking. The result is those crews often start a production stressed out by having to make do with an inconvenient and drab working environment.

Cellular Dynamics’ highly regarded Cheryl Whitehead has changed all of that – for Johannesburg, at least. Three years after expanding her communications service company to Gauteng, Cheryl was on the hunt for new premises when she found an answer to a need she had noticed during her years of working closely with feature film and commercials production companies across Southern Africa.

Within earshot of a clapperboard slap from the gates of Sasani Studios, Dynamic Space offers short-term fully furnished production offices to the film industry and still photographers. Strategically situated with easy access to Gauteng’s two main motorways and OR Tambo International Airport, Dynamic Space provides a “walk-in, sit down and switch on” production base. Facility houses, northern suburbs hotels and guest houses are also easy to get to.

The viability of the project was proved when two Cape Town based companies prevailed upon Whitehead to use the facility before it had officially opened. Big Picture has already run three commercial shoots from Dynamic Space, followed by Stillking who are also considering a return visit.

Ross Bryant, Production co-coordinator for Stillking on their Samsung “Big Momma” commercial, says: “It’s a breeze, especially on a short job like this – only four days. We walked in and everything was ready, so we were productive in half and hour”

Since Dynamic Space is also the Johannesburg base of Cellular Dynamics, clients benefit from their communications and IT expertise. Stillking’s IT/Operations Manager Stephen O’Reilly says: “It’s worked absolutely splendidly! Having the uncapped high speed internet connection made the uploads painless.”

It’s easy to see why even the “shakedown” clients are happy. Strategic telephone points, photocopier, fax and networked printers merely have to be switched on – and you can make a cup of coffee or tea or heat a take-away in the kitchenette tucked into every space. Each area also has its own toilet facility, and if you need a shower, there’s one near the studio. Studio? Yes, an L-shaped 114sq. m studio, with adjacent wardrobe and make-up area is ideal for pack-shots or small stills and corporate shoots.

Each office is individually alarmed, affording peace of mind when the facility is occupied by different productions working to different schedules. Electric gates provide secure access to two separate parking areas.

Practicalities aside, Dynamic Space is also quite simply a very pleasant place to work. Local artist Johan van Staden from XSF Creative, working with Egyptian artist Youseff Matta has designed each office with an individual and distinctive flavor.

Van Staden has used earth colours and a variety of finishing techniques on creatively recycled and re-purposed materials to give the facility a distinctively “Pan-African” feel.

Apart from the elements required for an efficient production, Cheryl Whitehead’s Dynamics Space also provides a variety of places where production staff can relax or entertain clients and crew, such as the “bring your own drink” bar area with gas fireplace. Take a lunch break in the Atrium, swap stories in the ‘Mozambican’ lounge, or watch a spectacular Highveld sunset while sipping sundowners on the first floor deck