adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
LOCAL film producers have welcomed M-Net’s new channel for Southern Africa — Zambezi Magic —saying it would provide a larger audience for their content.
Zambezi Magic, which launches on July 1 on DStv Channel 160, is a panacea for local producers who have been waiting to air their productions on international platforms.
In anticipation of the channel launch, online lifestyle show producer Trey Ncube said he had since submitted content to MultiChoice Zimbabwe for consideration. “This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. When we got the e-mail calling for content submissions, we sent all that we had. They (MultiChoice Zimbabwe) told us to send budgets for our shows and we’ve done that. We’re just waiting for feedback from them,” said Ncube.
He said Zambezi Magic would also create healthy competition among producers who would consequently come up with quality and engaging programmes.
“The onus is on us as produces to come up with good quality programmmes that’ll keep not only the Zimbabwean audience glued to the screen but viewers from across the region as well,” said Ncube.
Veteran documentary producer Priscilla “MaSithole” Ncube said she had documentaries about Zimbabwe that could be of interest to people in Southern Africa.
“I’ve documentaries about Zimbabwe mainly centred on social issues which I think would be appealing to all viewers. They’ve been locked up in our drawers,” said Sithole.
She said through the channel and the need to produce content, many job opportunities would be created for various talented people in the film industry.
“Set designers, makeup artistes, musicians and graphic designers have a chance to get jobs. With the high quality that MultiChoice will demand for the films, only the best will be considered,” said Sithole.
Zimbabwe Actors’ Equity (ZAE) president Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda said the introduction of the new channel was an opportunity for Zimbabwe to tell its own story using talent from the country.
“A lot of films about Africa that have made it to the global stage have been told by foreigners. Zambezi Magic will help us tell our own stories, be it historical or issues relating to current affairs,” said Mpofu-Sibanda.
Zambezi Magic, she said, would help some actors grow into directors and producers of films.
“I’ve a film that I’m working on and we were discussing with the crew how it would fit well on the channel. Zambezi Magic will enable some of us who’ve been acting for a long time to produce content,” said Mpofu-Sibanda.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe has been engaging local content producers to come up with productions that can be aired on new channels to serve DStv’s growing market.
Online Reporter