Zambezi wants your story

The month of October is about to come to an end and hope you enjoyed and learnt a lot, especially it being the Cancer month. For starters, I think this is where we get it wrong because we are always behind especially on television. I don’t remember watching more of the advertorial on the particular subject rather here and there on our ZBC TV. But checking on DStv, I would salute the station because of well marketed logos of cancer awareness on every programme or maybe it is too expensive in Zimbabwe to have such. By way the logos didn’t appear everyday.

I am not sure if any of the film producers, actors or directors are aware of the AfricaMagic Viewers’s Choice Awards (AMVCAs), an initiative by AfricaMagic (DStv channel 114), in association with MultiChoice and sponsor Amstel Malta, which honours outstanding film and television talent across Africa.

There might know the awards ceremony but ignorant to apply or don’t have the content but after the show we are the first to complain yet the door was always open.

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director for M-Net (West), said: “We are pleased to announce the call to entry for the 2016 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. At Africa Magic and MultiChoice, we have continued to show our support to the film and television industry across Africa even as we continue to provide world class entertainment for Africa by Africans. For the 4th edition of the AMVCAs, we are inviting all entries for film and television works that are produced and broadcast or publicly exhibited from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015.”

There you have it but unfortunately the closing date for submissions is October 31 and it is free. Won’t it be good to have some Zimbabweans on the categories. We know there is talent, so where is our problem?

Again, information is power and try to use it. Staying true to the channel’s payoff line “Sharing our stories”, Zambezi Magic (DStv channel 160) is launching its first movie project under Zambezi Magic Original Film Productions.

Working closely with local scriptwriters and producers Zambezi Magic wants to produce 12 films over the next 12 months. The channel is therefore calling on all professional and budding scriptwriters to be part of making Zambezi Magic the true home of Southern African entertainment TV by submitting their best script for a feature film.

Zambezi Magic is looking for outstanding feature film scripts that the channel can turn into Box Office success. Each film will be released onto DStv’s movie rental service, Box Office, before being aired on Zambezi Magic at a later stage. According to the Head of Channel, Addiel Dzinoreva, Zambezi Magic is looking for original and compelling stories that will resonate with audiences. The channel wants authentic hyper local stories that are driven by strong narratives and characters and are a reflection of our diversity.

“Over the past few months we have been engaging and consulting with various filmmakers and industry bodies and they have been urging us to invest in the industry by commissioning projects. This film project is a response to that. The challenge for the filmmakers will be to make a high quality movie for $25 000,” said Dzinoreva.

Likewise, the first step in the process is to find that great story. The closing date for submission is November 30 2015 and good luck to those who honour the platforms.

Last Sunday I had a chance to watch two shows, “Idols SA” and “MTV European Music Awards”. The fifth singer to leave the massive eleventh season of “Idols SA” was 22-year-old Dineo Moseki from Nothwest province, which she fondly calls “the capital of the Middle of Nowhere”. The show’s Little Miss Dynamite was sent packing in a week that produced a record-setting 7,5 million votes.

This brings the total number of votes cast for this season to more than 32 million, which is already way more than last year’s entire season grand total of 24 million.

The special guest artiste was a shining example of the type of career that can await a Top 5 Idols contestant. Just like successful South African Top 5 contenders like Graeme Watkins, L’Loyd Cele, and Andriëtte Norman, Billboard Music Award winner Carly Rae Jepsen was once a Top 5 Idol herself, placing third in Season 5 of Canadian Idol in 2007.

Enough of the “Idols SA” but the result of this week’s vote will be announced during the live broadcast of the Top 4 Spectacular next Sunday November 1, on M-Net, channel 101 on DStv, and Mzansi Magic, channel 161 on DStv.

It would be myopic not to talk about one of the favourite programmes so far on Mzansi Magic – “Our Perfect Wedding”.

Well last week’s episode has gone viral on social media with many women, understanding and relating to their love lifestyle. The main highlight was of the Nigerian groom who cried. I won’t dwell much on the crying part but it is you who make the perfect wedding.

Back to the second issue this week, the “MTV European Awards” which came and have gone but have left a memory in the history of Zimbabwe. Our boy from Star FM Napoleon Nyani – Napstar rocked at the red carpet in Milan. Well done for representing us and this is a first, we can’t wait to hear those interviews, especially with our favourite international celebrity. Hope you managed to get them, but truth be told, you were amazing from the fashion sense.

The biggest winner at the MTV’ s EMA was Justin Bieber scooping five awards. The pop star won Best male, Best North American act, best collaboration for “Where Are You Now?”, with Skrillex and Diplo, biggest fans and Best look.

One Direction won the prize for Best pop, Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” won Best song and Rihanna was named Best female. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran hosted the ceremony in Milan on Sunday – and took home the prize for Best live act.

He also won the Best world stage award for his performance at last year’s V Festival.

Accepting his Best male award, Bieber said: “It’s been a long couple of years, um, I just feel like this is pretty awesome to be recognised for my music.”

He has had a number of legal run-ins, including being arrested last year on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Sydney pop punk band 5 Seconds of Summer scooped the Best worldwide act (Australia/New Zealand) award for the second year in a row.

The “She’s Kinda Hot” singers, who supported One Direction on their Australian tour, thanked their fans via video message. Ruby Rose, fellow Australian export and star of “Orange is the New Black”, opened the MTV EMAs alongside Ed Sheeran. Veteran pop stars Duran Duran were honoured with the inaugural MTV Video Visionary Award.

“When we started there was us and MTV and we blazed a trail and we were there for each other,” said singer Simon Le Bon as he collected the award.

A surprise winner in the Best video category was hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

“I had no idea we were going to win an award,” said Macklemore.

“We’re not on a major label; we don’t have a big budget. What you guys give to us, we give back to you in the art we make.”

Below are the winners:

Best song – Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar: Bad Blood

Best pop – One Direction

Best female – Rihanna

Best male – Justin Bieber

Best live act – Ed Sheeran

Best new act – Shawn Mendes

Best video – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Downtown