FRU Salutes And Honours Visionary Pioneer Richard Ishmail As We Mourn His Senseless Deat
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The Staff, Management and Board of the Film Resource Unit wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, loved ones, and former colleagues of Richard Ishmail who died as a result of brutal stabbing last weekend. The loss of this life is immeasurable in its immensity, to the film, entertainment and media industries, and to all those whose lives he touched and inspired with absolute humility.
The Film Resource Unit has been in existence for 21 years, and ironically, as we prepare to celebrate our ‘coming of age’ with the imminent launch FRU Enterprises Pty.Ltd. - the last element of Ishmail’s vision for the organisation - we mourn his death while celebrating his life. We will salute and honour his extensive contribution all in our celebratory activities.
Richard Ishmail took up a position as coordinator of the Film Resource Unit in 1992. Prior to his entry, FRU had been operating as a community video library collective that disseminated banned and anti-apartheid films. Ishmail quickly transformed FRU from a library into a fully fledged professionally operational distributor through a policy he introduced that respected the right of filmmakers to benefit from the distribution of their works as much as it respected the right of audiences access to them.
Under Ishmail’s leadership FRU phased out its library and proceeded to enter into proper distribution agreements with filmmakers. In April 1993, FRU unveiled its first photocopied catalogue of films for sale. Overnight FRU grew up as its catalogue soon expanded to include the definitive pieces of African -produced films spanning a variety of themes and genres.
A marketing and events magician, Ishmail developed a number of sassy and savvy marketing campaigns and began to exploit the rights of FRU films through video sales to existing community and institutional networks, later to retail and rental markets, and eventually to broadcasters. This was possibly the first time that documentary producers in South Africa could get returns from their rights on intellectual property.
Ishmail pioneered FRU’s move to the Newtown Cultural Precinct, soon to be followed by numerous other cultural NGOs and projects. His work at FRU also catalysed a number of critically important film industry initiatives and shaped the policy landscape that we have today. Most notably, he conceived, birthed and grew Sithengi, a keystone event for our industry which has enshrined its independent operation.
On his exit, Ishmail plotted an expansive vision for FRU, which was successfully implemented by Mike Dearham, this took FRU to heights as a powerful NGO distributing African Films and running immensely successful audience development programmes which continue today, across the country and in the SADC region.
Rest in light and peace Richard, mentor, colleague, boss, brother and friend to so many of us who worked with you. Thank you Richard Ishmail for touching our lives with inspiration and vision. Your ever shining smiles and legacy live on.
