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Talent Bope
Arts Reporter
Police officer and filmmaker, Stephen Mutsago, is targeting a release of his new movie titled “Vicious Circle” next week.
Mutsago, inspired by his career as a police officer stationed in Manicaland at Mutare Central as a community relations and liaison officer, wrote an exciting play which is expected to hit the screens before the end of this month.
In an interview, Mutsago said he was driven by his passion for his job and the movie is about an investigating officer who infiltrates a criminal syndicate in order to get the finer details of a murder case.
He started as a novel writer and later developed into movies after realising that very few people were interested in reading hard copies owing to technological developments.
“My passion derives from my career and work experience, there are so many things that we encounter as police officers in our quest to protect property and save life, however they go unnoticed and I felt the need to express them through film,” said Mutsago.
“I started as a novel writer, and cognisant of the deteriorating reading culture, I opted for screenplay which has now become the modern form of entertainment and source of information.
“As a writer who has written and published two novels recently, I decided to adapt one of my novels into a movie. The story follows a cop named HOD, meaning head of department who investigates the mysterious murder of his sister and links it to another robbery case and has to infiltrate a notorious criminal organisation to unveil the truth and bring the culprits to book.”
Mutsago is fast becoming a prolific writer after authoring “Vicious Circle” and “Bone of Contention” and he adopted of the fist novel into a screenplay which is mainly of crime.
The movie is expected to be aired on PlayAfrika TV which allows one to watch after paying a certain amount.
Despite art being his secondary profession, Mutsago is dreaming to be an internationally acclaimed filmmaker and to see his artistry work being recognised internationally.
“I wish to become a consistent filmmaker and star and also to gain recognition on the international scene as well as becoming a world figure in the production of movies,” he said.
“The film is going to be premièred on PlayAfrika TV which is an online VOD. You pay to view. It will première next week.”
Mutsago is yet to get recognition in terms of awards since his first production started in March this year.
Although he said it is no easy to balance his creative career and police duties, Mutsago strives to give equal attention to both professions as he writes during his off and vacation days.
He said like any other career, in film production he faces a litany of challenges, chief among them inadequate finances, adding he would sometimes get assistance from well-wishers.
“The challenges we faced were mostly financial, we had two thirds of the production budget at hand when we started, we had to live by the day and it slowed our pace. We, however, managed to mobilise funds through bank loans and local business people who chipped inhelp,” said Mutsago.
“I make use of time off, vacation and occasional leave to shoot my projects and sometimes I apply for permission from the Commissioner General of Police.”
As for script writing and novels, it’s something that I can do during the night.
The film was directed by Igie Matope and produced by Cleopas Murabowa, while fights were choreographed by Wilfred Mashaya of ZimNinja Academy and Grayton Chibonga of Sankos Martial Arts Academy Mutare.
Online Reporter